[mdvaden]

I saw the title of this forum and the first thing that came to mind is digital cameras. The latest greatest tools of the trade.

You can:

-Establish a hard copy photo album / portfolio.

-Reduce measurements for designing by capturing small features.

-Email digital imaging concepts to clients in minutes.

-Modify a website.

-Make an online album.

-Photograph unlicensed workers.

-Document work procedures.

I went with a Canon 3.2 megapixel with 10x zoom.

Another I almost got (but it didn't have compact flash cards) was the Panasonic LZ15 with 4.0 megapixels and 12x zoom - great lense quality too. $400 and the LZ20 is 5.0 megapixel for about $500.

Good midrange cameras.

I may get another camera in the higher range next year or the following year.

Have any of you been out shopping the digital camera shelves?

[mdvaden]

Can't edit after 60 minutes - that's FZ15 and FZ20 on those cameras.

[Stonehenge]

I haven't shopped for about a year, but I already know my next digital cam purchase. It'll be the Canon 10D. Truly a 'prosumer' model, it has the features and durability of a camera a professional photographer would use (I had a photog show me a few of her cameras so I could tell the dif).

I dropped $800 and change on a Minolta DiMage a couple years ago, and that is a really nice camera, but I can see where this Canon would be better. However, at $1K (without any lenses), it's not something to jump into on a whim. Probably put together a good package (one or two lenses, bag, misc camera stuff) for $1,500-2,000. Gotta have a love for photography to justify that one.

[mdvaden]

Getting a lesser cost camera first and a more expensive one later can work out well.

When I upgrade, I'm keeping ;my old one. A lot of my photos are in deep forest and I walk and stumble over stumps without putting the camera in the bag.

I don't think I would want to do that with a $1,000 camera.

When I get time tonight, I'll look up that Canon you mentioned.

[Stonehenge]

I have four, and the Minolta was the most recent purchase. I don't even touch the first two anymore; too slow, poor res, clunky. I have a daily use camera (Nikon Coolpix), and then the Minolta for the "After" shots.

[site]

I'm thinking of a new camera this winter. I have no idea what to choose. I'm willing to spend about $400 for something decent. Should I go for the best brand name? for the most megapixels? for the most zoom? Also, it can't be particularly fragile. Any reccomendations?

[Stonehenge]

I've had the opportunity to give advice on this issue a few times - here's the best advice I can give with the experience I've had with my 4 cameras:


1) Choose a company for which cameras are their main priority - Nikon, Canon, Minolta, Kodak, etc.

2) Choose optical zoom over digital zoom. In other words, a camera with 10X digital zoom is not as good as a camera with 5 or 6 times optical zoom. Optical zoom means the lens actually moves and changes the image that is received on the CCD. Digital zoom means a chip inside the camera guesses at what the picture would look like if you could actually zoom in. The real thing is always better than a guess.

3) Know your intended use - don't get a 6 megapixel camera if you're only going to use it for the web, for jobsite progress photos, or for pre-sales meetings. You only need 2 Megapixels for that. Do get a high resolution camera if you intend on making good sized prints from your 'after' photos, either for a portfolio, or for blow-up pics for trade shows, etc.

4) Buy the extended warranty. I never, ever, ever do this. But I had a moment of weakness when I bought my most recent camera (which gets almost daily use), and it has already paid for itself - I got dust in the moving parts and it gummed everything up. They just gave me a new camera.

5) After the pruchase, invest in high speed memory cards and the new 1-use batteries made just for digital cams. These two things will greatly reduce your cycle time between shots and ensure that you don't run out of juice just as you're taking the important shots. Expect to pay triple (or higher) the usual cost for the batteries, and 1.5 - 2X the cost for the memory. But they are both worth it.

If I have to name a brand - I've been happy with my Nikon CoolPix. The name sounds like a kiddie camera, but it's extremely fast, small, durable...everything I want in a daily-use cam. But there are other equally good cams for the same money.

If you are looking to spend $400, spend $300 and put the rest on high speed memory cards (with a lot of memory) and good batteries.

[justgardens]

I have had the Olympius camedia c700 with true 10x zoom. I can't tell you how great this camera has been. Takes a beating and keeps on ticking. I use it for:
1. Before and after landscape shots
2. "I brake for plants" shots. I am always seeing beautiful specimans in my daily travels. A digital is perfect for multiple angle shots. delete the ones you don't like.
3. Website downloading
4. PowerPoint pics
5. For shots of plants at the nursery. Great in bloom shots
I have even downloaded before and after shots to an online album so a clients kids could see their finished landscape 2000 miles away. They loved it. Walmart now has a CD where I can at home and my leisure download, edit, save to albums and send them all my edited pics and then I can go to my local Walmart to pick up in an hour.
I used to spend a lot of time editing and messing around with their in store machine. It is GREAT to do it all from home and just pick them up when I am in the area.
I had a Kodak digital before, it didn't hold a candle to this Olympus.

[site]

Thanks, that's just the kind of information I was looking for.

[VoodooChile]

I have the same camera as Julie, and have found it durable and convenient too. I also really like its ability to take very clear macro shots, like my bumble-bee avatar.

The only drawbacks probably aren't inherent to the camera, but a fact of life in taking outdoor pictures: 1) mixed exposure situations (i.e. dappled shade) make for very washed out images, and 2) any portfolio shots need to taken from a tripod, cause the clarity isn't there; maybe it's that lack of resolution-- 2.1 Megapixel--, maybe it's that an active lifestyle and good strong coffee make for shaky hands.

I've had the C-700 for two years, and expect that now you could get a whole lot more machine for what I paid, $400.

[agla]

We sent the survey crew out with the Nikon coolpix885. It now will not retract the lense, or shut off, or do anything. The screen says "system error".

I thought we should have a cheap camera for them to use, but that never happened. I'm guessing we will all be using a cheap camera from now on.

I think there was great advice up above about using the right camera for the right job (and the right users).

I carry a Olympus that cost 200, takes AA batteries ( I use rechargables), and it goes forever without a battery change. I use it mostly to reference on the monitor, but have made prints as well. (2 megapix with electronic zoom). - much closer to disposable than the Nikon.

[daren_r]

What an interesting thread. I was thinking about this the other day. I take pics of almost all my work. For reference and for my web site. It also can be a CYA tool. If you have ever been in a situation where a customer says your job is not complete you have the pics to show that it is.

I currently use a Fuji Fine Pix 3.2 Mexapixel. Great for all around shots and everyday use. I love to shoot pictures and having a digital camera in the truck is great.

I have used it to take pics of improperly maintained properties that I can use as a comparison if I were to bid on those properties. I've used to do before and after shots on jobs and also just used it to take pics of things I have seen just riding around.

[justgardens]

daren- I also take the digital shots to cover my butt just in case there is ever any dispute as to how the property looked when we left. A picture is worth a thousand words ....someone once said!