Business Digital Camera
Business Digital Camera
(OP)
I searched the posts for this issue, hope this isnt a repeat. I find my el-cheapo digital camera is not adequate for the field situations I run into. I need:
- at least 20 ft flash capability (typ unfinished rooms or crawl spaces, or attics), preferably built in, not outboard
- voice record notes for each flash (example beam size, failure description)
- high quality color 8 x 10 for final reports
- about 30 shots per field trip
- take zoom close ups (example crack monitors)
- take wide shots(example might be a 10 ft high x 20 ft long retain wall
- easy to use editing software
I would be glad to hear what you are using.
- at least 20 ft flash capability (typ unfinished rooms or crawl spaces, or attics), preferably built in, not outboard
- voice record notes for each flash (example beam size, failure description)
- high quality color 8 x 10 for final reports
- about 30 shots per field trip
- take zoom close ups (example crack monitors)
- take wide shots(example might be a 10 ft high x 20 ft long retain wall
- easy to use editing software
I would be glad to hear what you are using.






RE: Business Digital Camera
RE: Business Digital Camera
For detailed 8x10 photos, suggest going with at least 4 Megapixel camera.
Number of photos is dependent on the size of the easily replaceable storage card (CompactFlash, SecureDigital, etc.) Thirty photos, even at the highest resolution, should be no problem for a modest size media card. If you get a flash card reader, you don't even need to install the camera's software on a computer, you can "pick" the photo (files) directly off the card.
For photo editing, "The GIMP" (freeware) is considered as good, or better than most "Big Name" photo suites
http://www.gimp.org/
The most difficult requirement that you specify is the 20 ft. flash capability. Even the best digital cameras don't approach the light gathering of 35mm film. You will almost certainly need a digital camera that has a hot-shoe for an external flash - that means moving up to the "serious" quality cameras. Having interchangeable lens (only available in the high-dollar cameras) will also help with your wide-angle shots.
Take a look at this website, in my opinion, it has the most objective camera reviews available
http://www.steves-digicams.com/default.htm
www.SlideRuleEra.net
RE: Business Digital Camera
www.dpreview.com
RE: Business Digital Camera
i use an HP733 (3.2mp) with a 256meg memory card & get about 64 pictures that are 8X10 quality. it also has a 2 part zoom feature (visual zoom & digital zoom). i have not run across a situation that i have not been able to capture what i need using the above non-flash method.
RE: Business Digital Camera
Also has a macro mode to get up close. Been a real workhorse, each charge on the battery is good for 150 pics or so at full resolution. On lower quality it supposedly can take 1500 pics per charge.
RE: Business Digital Camera
I still use a 35mm camera with 400 speed film, a flash and
I can use a variety of interchangable lenses. The film, as you all know, comes in 12, 24 and 36 pictures to a roll. I take the film to my local One Hour developer and have a set of prints made AND have the pictures put on a CD. The CD costs under $5.
I've been told that the 35mm pictures in digital form have upto seven (7) times the pixels that the "normal" digital cameras have. That is important when you want to zoom in on a photo for more detail and gives very good definition when printing photos for a report.
Just a thought, it works for me.
RE: Business Digital Camera
RE: Business Digital Camera
If you want a flash that works at 20feet, you should consider getting a tripod. I bought my old manual 35mm SLR camera to photograph machinery, and I always got better results with a tripod and a time exposure. Fujichrome Sensia slide film looks fine with exposures up to two minutes. Kodachrome has colour problems after about one second.
I have a Canon PowerShot with 4 megapixels. I am very happy with it. My only complaint is that it does not have a hotshoe for the flash. I never got red-eye when I photographed people with my 35mm. You don't get red-eye when you photograph machinery, with a tripod or flash. :)
You can get voice recording if you use video mode. You can get flash cards with up to 1GB of memory, so you can actually store this stuff. I hope you have a DVD burner.
JHG
RE: Business Digital Camera
Sony has the best low light performance. Look at the DSC-H1.
I like using small memory cards. They have gotten cheap. I own about 24 of them. I put them in sleaves and mark the job on them.
Swing past Walmart on your way home, plug your memory card into the self serve kiosk, tap a few screens, and presto, one hour prints.
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