What Appraisal Camera Do You Recommend?

[erockinaz]

Phone and tablet cameras are just as good as most cameras now. I took these a few days ago to what kind of difference there is with the devices I have.

Yes and no. My Not 4 takes great pics, but it does not have a wide angle lens and does not take pics of rooms that are dark or have too much sunlight as well as a camera. I appraise a lot of homes on small lots, and the wide angle lens gives a better picture in tight areas (ie subject rear photos). Most phones are a great backup camera, just not a great primary one.

 

[Mike Ault]

I've been very pleased with the Canon power shot series of cameras, I have been using an S100 and then an S110 after my 2nd trusty Kodak V705 finally bit the dust. Extremely easy to operate the zoom and take pictures one-handed as well as being speedy and having an excellent flash and picture quality. The 24 mm lens is not quite as wide-angle as I would like however unless somebody has any better suggestions my next replacement camera will probably be this.... http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/canon-g7x/canon-g7xA.HTM.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

I actually want a Hasselblad digital back camera, unfortunately I don't have $15,000 laying around...

 

[Mike Ault]

I actually want a Hasselblad digital back camera, unfortunately I don't have $15,000 laying around...

That is definitely a "better suggestion". Maybe we should put together a group buy and see if they would shave a little off that asking price for us......

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

Actually Hasselblad makes some cheaper cameras...but I want one of the big guys - medium format, digital back...

 

[Randall Garrett]

FWIW, in a related note, I got an attractive offer on microSD cards (with SD adapter) to some might want to check out for their new cameras. See my post here for a summary of the prices, discounts and link: Windows 8 Tablets For Fieldwork

Hope this helps!


-Randall Garrett-
+Apex Software+

/end/

 

[Sid Holderly]

I have a Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 right now, 12x zoom with additional digital zoom and 25mm lens. Adequate for inside, could be wider field, good flash for totally dark rooms and crawl areas. Good for house shots a quarter mile up the lane (needed quite a bit in my area). Large enough file size so when the quarter mile shot is clipped you still have good resolution. It is now about 3 years old and original battery still takes a charge. Small enough to hold in one hand and take a quick drive by when needed.

 

[Pat Butler]

I really think that the small point and shoot cameras have become commodities. The manufacturers of these cameras introduce so many models that it becomes nearly impossible to shop for one based upon a review you may have read online. I've owned models from most of the popular companies.

I once had a nice Samsung camera that communicated wirelessly to the PC and that was really nice because it eliminated the cables. I bought another Samsung camera to replace that one, and they ended up dropping the wireless feature.

I used to buy the Nikon point and shoot cameras and have some images from many years ago that are actually better than the photos that I get from my newer cameras. The trend to go more compact with cameras really affects the quality of the pictures when they make the lens much smaller. My main feature that I look for is a very wide angle lens. Everything else is secondary to that if I simply can't get enough of each room in my photos.

I just inspected a really high end house and brought my Olympus 4/3rds camera to take the photos. I found out that my wide angle lens attachment blocks the flash and my photos were pretty low quality as a result. So much for expensive cameras.

 

[OSU Beavers]

I have a Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 right now, 12x zoom with additional digital zoom and 25mm lens. Adequate for inside, could be wider field, good flash for totally dark rooms and crawl areas. Good for house shots a quarter mile up the lane (needed quite a bit in my area). Large enough file size so when the quarter mile shot is clipped you still have good resolution. It is now about 3 years old and original battery still takes a charge. Small enough to hold in one hand and take a quick drive by when needed.

That was my last Panasonic. After a few months of use it got dust inside the lens. Yep, all photos had a nasty watermark caused by dust on the inside of the lens. I guess it got sucked in when the lens was retracting. It appears to be a common problem.

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/40267278

 

[Michigander]

Actually Hasselblad makes some cheaper cameras...but I want one of the big guys - medium format, digital back...

I rather fancy the Leica mirrorless rangefinder but don't have a spare $7,000 for just the body...