Looking for a low budget camera with 0.5 zoom.

[Zoe]

These new cell phones/iphones can take professional quality pictures if you know what you are doing.

You may have to put it on a camera stand so it is not moving and make al the adjustments. It has good flash on it too. Pretty decent flashlight if you need it at night.

Battery charge last longer on the newer models. Of course you can charge it while your riding too. Or even use a small backup mobile charger.

they can do video. You can video on the subject.

 

[Zoe]

You see all these reports on news now where somebody videoed the subject and probably sell it to the news station.

Police will pay for information like that in some cases.

 

[Tom4value]

I started using a digital camera back before we sent appraisals digitally, in the 90’s. Had one camera for about 6 years….ancient for a digital camera in those days. Finally, half way though an inspection, it remembered that it wasn’t supposed to last that long and quit. In a pinch, I used my phone to finish the inspection and appraisal. I was amazed that it took better photos than my camera! In my come to Jesus moment, I realized that I always had my phone (no forgetting the camera at home), it was always charged (no batteries to die halfway through an inspection) and I always upgraded the phone every 2 years.

For single family appraisals I now use my iPhone with Inspect-a-Lot and my phone for condos and multis. Haven’t looked back.

 

[Fernando]

I'm very picky how my photos look in my report.
When I go on driveby and have my daughter or wife take photo of comps, I'm not satisfy with their photo takin from the car. It takes skill to take that "perfect" comp photo to be put into my report.
Anyone can randomly take photos with cell phone but iphone doesn't capture the photos interiorly and exteriorly I desire.