I would appreciate some advice on getting a new digital camera. I like the one I have but it doesn’t have a viewfinder. I take all pictures for our many listings, and have found it is nearly impossible to get the exterior of a home without this feature and just using the large display. Maybe I'm doing something wrong. Either way I take a lot of pictures and want a viewfinder I can look through on my next camera. I prefer not to spend more than $150. Thanks in advance.

I'd look for a used Kodak V705 if you can find one. I don't think you'll find anything worth buying new at that price point.

(edit)
Ironically there's one on Ebay right now for $150.

Thank you. I will look into the one on eBay.

Just confirmed I am a camera dinosaur. Went to Best Buy, Target, and Fry's. All basically said they don't have cameras with a display and viewfinder, that is very outdated. Should have started my search online like I normally do. There has to be one out there without breaking the bank.

If you want a viewfinder you will have to go with a digital SLR, but then you only have the display show when the picture is taken. And you won't find a digital SLR anywhere near $150.

I would go with the camera ManFromTheBand mentioned - you need an ultra wide angle lens to take decent interior photos (standard lens makes the room look small - wide angle shows more of what your eye actually sees.)

Go for something with a wide angle of about 18mm. I have a 10-20mm zoom lens on my Eos Digital Rebel. Most often I have it set at 14 - 16 mm.

The pictures are important - thus, the camera is important. I wouldn't use anything else.

Well it is an investment and write off. I will start my research before using more gas driving to these stores. Thank you very much.

You probably won't find a suitable camera in stores. Most of them don't carry a point and shoot with an ultra wide angle lens (that's what you need to look for - an ultra wide lens!)

I have never been able to find them in stores, though I think one of the new Nikons has an ultra wide angle lens - but it's over $250. It's not a digital SLR but close. Even 18 - 23 mm is better than a standard lens. Anything more than 23 mm is not wide enough.

That wide angle lens you have there Perky is some money. I've been wanting one of those for my Rebel. I splurged on a 18mm-200mm though and love it. Fairly good for interior shots, and great for zooming in while doing bpos from distance. But I still want a wider angle on.

I bought a Sigma brand instead of the Canon which helped cut the cost significantly...it was still expensive. Not so sure I like it; should have bought the Canon brand - I am not impressed with the clarity of Sigma lenses. I have a Sigma zoom (28mm - 300) and this 10mm-28mm and I have to sharpen and fiddle with the images w/ software to make them sharp enough for my liking.

I'm finding I have the NICEST images with the kit lens that came with the camera - because it's a Canon! If I sell a luxury property I'm buying a Canon ultra wide lens!

BTW, my camera is more than a tool of the trade to me; it's an appendage, love it more than I love my right hand. Course, I couldn't use it without my right hand...lol

The $700+ pricetage of a Canon wide angle is what is keeping me back from one. My 18-200mm one is a Canon and it's great. Though it did break, but since it was under warranty it took Canon one week to fix it. It was pricey too though, but so worth it. My property pics are so much better with the Canon when with my previous Panasonic wide angle digital cameras. As are the pictures of everything else. A friend of mine who is a commercial photographer suggested just getting a wide angle filter instead of the full lense. I bought a cheap one and it isn't that good. Once you get used to the speed you can't go back. My wife has become an agent recently and we used the Canon for her agent picture. I'm sure it turned out much better then a professional in a studio would have done.

$700? I have spent about $6,000 on my setup (Canon EOS 5D2). And I am not done yet. Still need more lenses and some remote flash units. Now I don't expect the typical broke agent to go that far, but the idea of spending $150 on a camera for shooting listings (one's bread and butter) offends me.

I hope the $1200 I've spent on camera for real estate doesn't offend you.

I'm the top agent in my area, and certainly far from broke, but currently using my $100 camera--hopefully that isn't offensive to anyone. Thanks everyone for the feedback. It has been really helpful.

I just bought the Canon EOS Rebel T2I and I love it. I was about to buy an different brand wide angle lens to save a couple of hundred dollars, but maybe I will see if I can see a demo of that one vs the Canon. Thanks for the tip Perky!

I think Panasonic Lumix is a pretty good point and shoot digital, I just looked on line and they had one that was 14 megapixels w/ 28 mm wide angle for $199.00 new. I never had one but have heard a lot of good things about it!

I have the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35, a new model last year. It has 12 Megapixels, 18X zoom, and a viewfinder in addition to the digital display. I paid about $400. By now, you could probably find a refurbished one on eBay for much less than that. It's a great compromise if you aren't ready to invest a grand or more on a DSLR, but want the best quality you can get in a point and shoot.

For real estate purposes I would not hold back on the Sigma lens - the difference in price between that and the Canon lens is significant!!! Very significant!!! I'm only considering getting the Canon one because I like to dream and I do love photography - it's my hobby along with my business. For my business the lens is sufficient - I just need to sharpen my images more than I'd like when I load them on the computer.

Regarding being a top agent and using a $100 camera - of course it can be done and I am sure your pictures are way better than a lot of the images I've seen online (OMG, I could write a book on awful MLS photos.) Pictures of the inside of refrigerators, rooms so dark you think that they're advertising homes for vampires, blurry shots, pictures with people and pets in them...it's just bad and it reflects poorly on our profession and helps make people question the necessity of a realtor...

What galls me is that agents who don't give a crap about the kind of pictures they put online not only get listings but sell them. It goes to show that when all is said and done, what sells a house is the price and the location, really. Excellent pictures help but bad pictures don't always hurt if the home is priced right and buyers decide to look at it.

Do I think you need to spend $1,000 on a camera and equipment? Not really. Do I think you should take excellent photos? Yes, because it helps buyers see the true picture of the home and it gives us the air of professionalism. I have had people contact me and asked me to list their homes because they love the pictures I posted on my blogs. It kills me when I see someone else get a listing I wanted and they butcher the house with awful photography....lol...it pains me!

Good photography is but one tool. If you're going to do it, I say you should do it right. My camera cost me about $500 or so when I bought it, the Sigma Lens was around $400....I already had my tripod and my 28-300mm zoom lens was a gift (but I still don't like it..lol). I could also do real estate just as well with the Lumix or Kodak point and shoots with ultra wide angle lenses....I just love my camera! I can't take the kind of hobby pictures with a point and shoot that I can with my DSLR....

The Panisonic Lumix line is what I used to use. I've had two of them. They are good as they are about the widest lens out there for a more afforadable camera. We still use ours when we don't want to tote around the big Canon.

I have heard good things about the Lumix. Here is an older review on one of the Lumix cameras:

Lumix DMC LX3

I LOVE taking pictures for my listings. I spend a lot of time at each home, and take tons of pictures. I really enjoy picking the best ones and putting together the marketing, etc., and always put the max on the MLS and everywhere else. Get lots of positive feedback, but realize I need to upgrade my camera even though it has been fine. Thank you again everyone. I have some good information to work with now.

I did some research and found a new Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35 on sale at Fry's for $297, and only a few miles away. Only three left so I ran out and bought one. I'm excited!

Good luck!! Have fun with it!

Thank you. I will be happy if my pictures look half as good as yours!