Appraiser Cameras

[Randall Garrett]

The initial text below is (edited) from an earlier post I made on a Kodak v570 thread, but I am using it to begin a new thread on "Appraiser Cameras" where I plan to post information on various cameras we run across which appear to be of particular interest to appraisers and other inspector types. We don't sell cameras - I am just posting this in hopes it will be of help to the appraisal community. To keep this thread from being too bloated, lets try to stay on topic ;-)... I am already known to be pretty verbose anyway, LOL...

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I noticed that Panasonic has announced yet another round of cameras out soon. The FX35 is being replaced by the FX37 which is reportedly the same camera with better electronics/image engine. I note that they list the lens is now upped from:

FX35: 25mm - 100mm (equiv)
FX37: 25mm - 125mm (equiv)

Perhaps of more interest to some appraisers, though, is the newly announced DMC-LX3, which has a 24mm - 60mm (equiv) zoom. While the tele is shorter, the big thing is the faster F2.0 - F2.8 rated lens. Note that this camera does NOT appear to have a built-in flash but does appear to have a "shoe"... I see no model-dedicated flash unit mentioned, though there is an add-on optical viewfinder (a rarity today.) I have not seen nor used this camera in retail or sample form.

Link to info: http://tinyurl.com/6zyxpo

[Update] - I was wrong about the flash. This unit DOES have a built-in flash unit. See attached composite image ganked from dpreview.com

I received a retail example of the new Pentax Optio W60 a couple of days ago. This is basically a 28mm - 140mm (equiv) camera that is water/dust/drop resistant. The lens does not protrude, which greatly reduces the chance of breakage on one of the most common elements in these "$300-ish" appraiser-friendly cameras.

I've only made a few casual test shots - nothing really "conclusive" so these are just my initial impressions. Size is virtually identical to the Panasonic FX35. Layout is typical of this type camera. Overall, the W60 feels more "plastic-y" than the FX35 and the controls are a little more "gimmicky" IMHO. Battery is much smaller (physically) than the FX35. Lots of shooting "modes" to choose from. Goofy "home town" selection with arbitrary (and too few) choices vs. traditional GMT-type time zone setup. Overall, not a bad camera, but I prefer the feel of the Olympus Stylus 1030sw (another low-priced "ruggedized" camera) over the W60.

Link to info on the Pentax Optio W60: http://tinyurl.com/5kw89w

Link to info on the Olympus Stylus 1030sw: http://tinyurl.com/4z8pur


Hope this helps!


-Randall Garrett-
..Apex Software..

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[Randall Garrett]

Panasonic DMC-LX3 Review

This camera is still not officially available, but I ran across some more info from a respected reviewer. The first is descriptive text and pictures from a product announcement/launch and the second is a mini-review following an afternoon of use. This camera is not for everyone, but the specs on the lens are great for a camera of this size and price range, leading the reviewer to say the image quality is almost "DSLR-like"...

Description: http://tinyurl.com/5pwm8e

Mini-review: http://tinyurl.com/5vkott

Hope this helps!

-Randall Garrett-
..Apex Software..

 

[Randall Garrett]

Pentax Optio W60 issue

FWIW, I do not seem to be able to get a full 10 MP image out of the W60 in 16:9 aspect ratio - it is only available in the older 4:3 format. If you want to use a 16:9 "wide screen" format, you drop the image down to a 7.5 MP setting.

Question: Do any of the forms software photo pages support 16:9 images or are they all still 4:3?

I would think this would start to be an issue with more and more people starting to use 16:9 aspect ratio as standard now. I know it is for me as almost all of our monitors are 16:10 now and all my TVs are 16:9. Looking at your photos in 4:3 format on a 16:10 or 16:9 display is not very satisfying...

-Randall Garrett-
..Apex Software..

/end/

 

[Ariba]

I received a retail example of the new Pentax Optio W60 a couple of days ago. This is basically a 28mm - 140mm (equiv) camera that is water/dust/drop resistant. The lens does not protrude, which greatly reduces the chance of breakage on one of the most common elements in these "$300-ish" appraiser-friendly cameras.

Why would any appraiser need a $300-ish camera?

I have a Fujifilm FinePix F480, 18.4mm, 8.2 mega pixel, wide zoom for less than $125.00. With amazing results.

See: http://www.vifp.com/p/panorama.php?Branded=1&agent=6634&MLS=639707

 

[Couch Potato]

Quite impressive.

 

[Randall Garrett]

Ron,

Thanks for mentioning the F480. Your feedback on your experience(s) with this camera will be, I am sure, of interest to other appraisers - much more germane than the more generic information from general reviews, etc! I hope you will consider giving us the benefit of learning more from your usage of the F480 in real world appraisal use. That is just the sort of responses I was hoping to elicit in this thread...

In the interim, and for those who want the specs on the F480, here are a couple of links:

Specs from DPreview: http://tinyurl.com/5p97sg

Review from Steve's Digicams: http://tinyurl.com/55phko

As for why I got the W60, I thought it might be of interest to some who are looking for a small wide-angle camera that is semi-rugged. We appraisers are not always so careful with our tools, LOL. Drop damage is an issue and one of the issues we see from our customers a lot seems to boil down to the zoom lens housing/mechanism common in low cost digicams today. We all have our favorites, but I hope to stay out of that myself and try to stick to passing on what we're seeing from other appraiser/inspector types. That said, I believe input from real world appraisers like you - why you like or dislike this or that is most appropriate...

-Randall Garrett-
..Apex Software..

/end

 

[bishop]

Panasonic DMC-LX3 Review

this camera is ground breaking for a wide angle compact.
for a sub 500.00 camera it is able to handle raw which is awesome.
i also like the fact that it is f2.8.
this is good for both work and play.
i been looking to upgrade my camera.

 

[Randall Garrett]

Nikon Coolpix P6000 w/GPS

Another interesting camera coming soon. The Nikon Coolpix P6000 is a 13.5 MP mid-sized shooter with a 28mm - 112mm (equiv.) zoom and adds a GPS sensor that encodes the current location into the EXIF data for geo-tagging. Some other features popular with appraisers are an optical viewfinder in addition to the typical LCD on the back and a shoe for external flash.

More detailed info on this camera can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/59l3gg
and here: http://tinyurl.com/5sl268

MSRP is projected at $499


-Randall Garrett-
..Apex Software..

 

[Ariba]

Ron,

Thanks for mentioning the F480. Your feedback on your experience(s) with this camera will be, I am sure, of interest to other appraisers - much more germane than the more generic information from general reviews, etc! I hope you will consider giving us the benefit of learning more from your usage of the F480 in real world appraisal use. That is just the sort of responses I was hoping to elicit in this thread...

That is why in my post #4, I posted a link to show what this camara is capable of. Go to: http://www.vifp.com/p/panorama.php?B...634&MLS=639707 . How is that for real world use? I was hoping for some feed back!

 

[Wendy]

That is why in my post #4, I posted a link to show what this camara is capable of. Go to: http://www.vifp.com/p/panorama.php?B...634&MLS=639707 . How is that for real world use? I was hoping for some feed back!

What I want to know is how you got pictures of my vacation house?

Seriously, looks like it does a nice wide shot.