This topic has come up several times. I want to give a shout out to the folks that recommended the SONY Cybershot. If you are cheap, very aware of the cost of your time and not a TECH expert this device is a homerun! Easy to use, easy to transfer, good quality, long batt life, all the ingredients for the BPO lunatic.

Got it on sale at Staples $189 and they threw in a free printer. Probably paid for itself in 3 days. If you are a boutique operation get one, if you are a big wheel, get your agents one, you will be satisfied.

Thanks again. Here's to "Good News"

Sony Makes some of the worst digital cameras I have seen. Cannon is good but the Panasonic Lumix brand is excellent for close up address pics.

I second the Panasonic Lumix suggestion. I don't really have an opinion on Sony cameras.

Several years ago I had a super cheap digital that had very limited memory (non-removable) that had to be down loaded to save, then cleared to reuse. Got to an appointment scheduled interior BPO only to find I hadn't down loaded and cleared the memory. Excused myself to go buy a cheap "use it once" film camera at a nearby Wal-Mart. They had the Sony Cyber Shot on sale and I bought it instead (considerably more than Mike paid, I must have got it soon after they were introduced). Never regretted the decision, it has done lot of work over the last few years; very satisfied with it! Bought a more recent version, at a lower price, for a gift for my wife.

I love sony products, but I dont care for their digital camers. I have a panasonic lumix dmc-lz3 and never had a problem. Zoom is incredible for it size, and its almost impossible to take a blurry picture. You can get them on ebay for really cheap now.

I have a Cannon Powershot that I used to really like, but now that I'm busier than ever I'm realizing how slow this camera is. I've caught myself yelling at it - 'Come on you stupid camera, take the friggin picture already!!' It used to always take perfect, clear photos but lately I've had quite a few blurry photos. It's probably operator error due to impatience.

I would really like a new camera. I like my Cannon because it's really easy to use, but I'll have to check out the Panasonic Lumix cameras since they seem to be highly recommended.

I made the mistake of buying a Kodak easyshare C530 because I needed an emergency replacement.It takes good pics, but there is such a delay in shutter speed its ridiculous and the software is made for a 10 year old. Im currently using the software from my first Fuji digital which I bought almost 10 years ago. The software Photowise really rips, has all kinds of manipulation features, but since its so old it hangs sometimes in WinXP.

I've had 2 Panasonic Lumix cameras, very happy with both of them.

Had the cheaper model with 5x optical zoom. Sold that to Dad with a family discount and bought the model with 12x optical zoom. Now I sometimes wish I had more zoom... don't know how I made it with my first camera that only had 3x (an HP...)

Got both cameras on open box special, er no, first one open box second one clearance... at Circuit City. Just ask to see open boxes they always have some even if they're not on display at the moment.

I've got the 10x op zoom panasonic lumix. I love this camera. Although I agree do you ever have enough zoom?! My only complaint is sometimes it's a bit slow, however pretty sure that is operator error! Last night I was trying to sneak in 1 last interior at dusk, with the back light the pic's were absolutely perfect!

As I have posted on this website before, I have a Sony Mavica. It is very large by todays standards and uses a floppy disk. I even had a 12 year old laugh at it the other day, but it is the best camera I have ever owned. I have had the same original batteries for over 10 years and I have a floppy disk for my records for all the photos I have taken. It can zoom in from literally 2 blocks away which comes in handy for those BPO's where someone is standing in front. I even bought a backup just in case mine ever stops working. Maybe someday I will catch up with the rest of you and use a camera that can fit in my shirt pocket.

Gman, with all due respect... I've used a Mavica, when they were new and cool, and afterwards too...

You don't know what you're missing, you really oughta replace that thing. You could improve your quality immensely (not so important for BPO's but for flyers and such the difference would be VERY noticable), save time moving files to your computer and lighten your load all for $200 or so. Don't hang that thing around your neck or you'll be heading to the Chiropractor.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it, but looking for another for backup in this day and age really isn't a good thing.

Does anyone recommend a small camera with a 12x or more zoom?

12x zoom requires a pretty good sized lens, so you wouln't find any thing real small... Check out the Panasonic Lumix. There's a cannon and a Kodak about the same.

I purchased a cheap digital from Walgreens. I believe its an Aiptek. It takes great pictures and includes a voice recorder, video camera, and mp3 player. I purchased two. The second one I purchased on a home shopping show. You can even look at the finish video or picture on you tv if you like. $99. I takes an SD card.

Yep 12x will require a larger camera. Thats if your looking for a 12x optical zoom. The lumix series has a 6x optical, and 4x digital so its 24x total zoom. I can pull address shots across the street a few houses down. I guess that doesnt really help when you dont know my neighborhoods, but average is 50-80ft wide lots.

I have a Fuji Finepix 5100. It only has 10X zoom,but is a great camera. It's shaped like a SLR camera,great for me(I could never get used to the small cameras and love the feel). Before I purchased this my husband reminded my to find out how quickly the camera reset itself for shots before I bought one. This thing reset faster than many of the big name brand cameras I was looking at at the time. It also has a movie mode which is great for taking short movies of the kids. I've had it for about four years and I'm very happy with it. With all the talk on the board about backup cameras I am in the market for a backup one since the only other one I have is a sony that has horrible zoom.

I am also a fan of the mavica. $50 on ebay.

I don't have a backup camera... well I could borrow dad's I guess... I wouldn't invest in camera #2. My Treo has what they think it a camera in it too, in a pinch. I can buy a camera any day of the week. I do have a backup SD card though, and of course 2 batteries (my camera takes it's own shape battery.)

Through a strange turn of events I now have a backup (actually 2 extra) GPS's. Awful expensive item to have two of, but I tell ya when #1 died I paid extra to have it sent 2 day and they were a miserable 2 days.

I have a Nikon D50. It works really really well for BPO work, though that isn't what it was intended for when I bought it. But it works so well I use it all the time. I can recharge my battery, reload my SD card a million times, and burn anything I need to keep. And it never costs me a dime. I can zoom from a mile away. It doesn't fit in my pocket though which kinda sucks, but the pictures are great and I'm able to show damages and whatnot easily. Go Nikon.

It's interesting to see what everyone is using. I hope these cameras do well for you. Personnely, I use a Cannon digital Rebal with a wide angle lens and a quantum flash, all mounted on a frame.

While all the cameras list will take good general photos and fair real estate photos. I would not recommend any of them if you want to best show you home.

Nikon D50 user too ... Superb pictures and can shoot over 500 pics on a card and much more before I have to recharge the batteries. Terrific camera!!!

More expensive than a point and shoot ... but worth it if you use a camera outside of your business too.

I woulb be interested in see example of photos from the different cameras.

Having a camera with a wide angle lens is an absolute MUST for taking good interior photos. The Kodak v705 is an affordable point and shoot digicam that is very small and quite powerful.

I have found its performance to be less than stellar for more up close photos such as portraits - but the price is more than worth it for excellent interior shots. I have my Olympus Camedia 770 for my personal/family use, and use the V705 strictly for real estate purposes.

Without a wide angle lens your rooms will look small and cramped and not very appealing (i.e., bedrooms will appear to be just beds and a corner.)

My apologies if someone already posted about this, but coming from personal experience, one thing to stay away from (if you can) is camera's with digital zooms. I bought one with digital zoom a while back and all the pictures where I zoomed in came out horribly. For the extra money it would cost to go with an optical, I would say it is definitely worth it.

A wide angle 23mm is a must for shooting interiors. You don't know what you are missing until you try it.

Just wondering if anyone has purchased a wide angle converter lens. I saw one by Sunpak online at Circuit City and Best Buy.

I have stopped accepting interior BPOs because I don't like the limited view that I get from my digital. No complaints for the companies that I have worked for but I would like to be able to have better pictures.

The converter lens are priced around $40.00, seems to me to be a good deal if it will fit my camera.

karole:

With all due respect to your wanting better quality pictures... why are you turning away BPO business if they have been happy with what you've been providing them? I mean, for the limited amount of $$$ that the companies offer, it does not warrant spending extra dollars on special lenses and adapters to attempt to give them magazine quality photos when they don't want/need them. Trust me, appraisers don't use special wide angle lenses or cameras and their reports are considered to be much more thorough and more costly.

Please don't think I'm bashing you. It's great that you are concerned with providing the best quality for your clients! Send them more photos than they ask for rather than buying a special lens.

Good luck!

Gulf Winds, It's just my pursuit for excellence in all I do. (smile)
Without a wide angle lens I am not able to get the full room in one shot. Sometimes especially if there is a California King size bed, and the room is small. I can only pick up the bed in the bedroom.

The cost of the converter lens is so minimal ($40.00). when I am offered a good interior assignment I would not hesitate if I feel confident about my camera. _________________________

You could justify the expense if it helps you in other areas of your real estate practice but not for BPOs. As for being offered interiors, don't hesitate unless it's due to fee or time frame issues! Your camera and lenses will not make any difference. If you can't get everything in one shot, take several. They are not looking at the photos the same way a buyer looks at them. They are mainly concerned with the condition of the property and to help substantiate your comments. They would rather be able view a photo of ceiling water damage than a nice shot of the entire room. That's what they are truly concerned with is condition and damages.

$40 is pretty inexpensive and if you want to buy it, go for it! Just don't think that you'll impress a QC person or their client. I've done this for 15 years and go back to the days when we had to develop film and overnight along with the typed BPO to the company. Trust me, they won't notice or even care if you use the lens or not.

Buy it because you want it or that it will help you elsewhere, not for BPOs.

Take care & post a few shots with and without the lens.

Thanks, I appreciate your experience and comments.

What is the going rate for a decent camera these days? roughly a $100?

I have a sony and will sell it cheep first quarter gets it. I should mention it is prone to freeze up and the screen well lets say if you live at the north pole your shots will look nice like the screen that is white. Sony only covers some white screen with extra warranty not all most don't die for a year or two.

I'm sold on the Panasonic Lumix with the big 28-200 lens. The only thing I don't like are the prices in Canada. $399 Canadian and only $239 in the US. Hello the money is at par. That is my mission for the week to find a US retailer who will ship me one of those in any color (blue, black or silver like who cares what color it is along as the screen is not white)

I am thinking of a new book "The rise and fall of Sony".

I have a Panasonic DMC-FZ20, which is more camera than I need for BPO work, but I love the zoom capabilities. I bought it (and the Olympus I had before that) from eBay as reconditioned from the manufacturer, at a considerable discount from paying full retail.

I would say closer to $225. Of course, what you determine as "good" and what I determine as "good" may be two different things.

lol

Gary has a point, GMAN...

Like you I have the mavica from way back as a long distance zoom backup to my aging cybershot. In looking for a new replacement camera I have not found many with a date/time stamp feature which works throughout the camera's range of picture pixel sizes. I would dislike resizing all the photos taken on a new camera just to have the date/time stamp working all the time.

I do miss the feel of my old AE 1 I used long ago when having to develop the film for the overnight delivery of the BPOs...but then I am dating myself.

Does this Panasonic have rapid fire shooting?

I can set to do a burst of 4 shots but I forget how quick they are...perhaps 1/2 sec between shots. I have never used the date stamp feature, and have never had a company refuse to accept my photos. If I ever had to prove when I took them, there is a thing called the EXIF file embedded in your original shot that can be retrieved so long as your camera has been programmed to know date and time. I absolutely hate seeing the date stamp on MLS listing photos.

canon s3is 12x optical zoom, discounting as s5 is coming out. movies, etc. it is a must see and check out dp reviews. Think rechargable batteries too, i keep a charger in the car pugged in and always have a fresh set ready to go when need them.

I've got a Fuji S5000 that i've had for a while- 10x optical zoom, 4x digital (all digital zoom is basically useless though). It's a good camera and have got lots of good shots with it but not the smallest camera on the block.
dpreview.com is a great site.