BUYER’S GUIDE: Imaging

BY MICHAEL ANTONIAK

Digital, in focus

2004 could be called the Year of the Digital Camera. Prices are as attractive as the selection of features, provided you don’t want them all in one package: higher-resolution image sensors for better prints, longer battery life, simplified settings, and direct printing from the camera. There are also more models with wide-angle lenses or adapters for showcasing a whole house or room.

At the low end, between $100 and $200, are entry-level models and last year’s closeouts—good basic cameras for those with simple photo needs. Bunched between $200 and $500 are an abundance of cameras comparable to point-and-shoot 35mm cameras to satisfy most real estate needs. If you’re serious about digital photography, you’ll want the versatility, creative control, and lens-swapping options found in the digital equivalent of a single-lens reflex camera. Expect to pay well over $500 for the camera body and more for accessories.

What features should guide your choice? People are easily oversold on big image sensors, measured in megapixels (MP). If all you want is images for posting to the Web, you don’t need more than a 2MP camera. For printing and posting real estate photos, a 3MP or 4MP sensor is adequate.

A better guide may be the camera’s lens. Nearly all models now offer a 3X optical zoom lens, enough to highlight features of a home. If you want to snap the whole house or various rooms, you’ll want a wide-angle lens.

Direct printing from the camera is worth having if you distribute a lot of prints. If you send a lot of pictures by e-mail or post them to the Web, you’ll want features that compress images. And a large LCD screen with zoom that lets you enlarge images on the screen makes it easier to know you have the best image before you leave a site.

All cameras ship with software to get you started. For even more control, you can invest in a relatively inexpensive program that offers more features for organizing and editing images. (See chart.)

Unless you’re sure what you want, shop stores with a knowledgeable staff. You’re more likely to find these folks in a camera, computer, or electronics specialty store than at the local discount or mass merchandise outlet.

 Other options

You don’t necessarily need a digital camera to take advantage of digital imaging.

For those who prefer film, there’s always the scanner. Scan your photo prints into computer files to distribute online or incorporate into flyers and brochures.

Most one-hour photo shops and film-processing centers now offer the option of converting your photos to digital files, which are saved on CD, when you drop off film for processing.

Those loyal to Polaroid instant cameras may want to check out the new Image 1200. Built into this new wide-angle model is an LCD screen that lets users make sure they have the image right before clicking the shutter.

Phones and PDAs with built-in cameras offer another alternative for quickly sharing images or posting them online. In Japan, camera phones boasting 2MP and 3MP sensors are already available. It’s only a matter of time before they appear here.

 Voices of experience

Richard Tegley, broker, National Realty Group, Riverside, Calif.

Tegley bought his first digital camera six years ago and currently relies on a Pentax Optio555 with a 5X optical zoom lens. He sees an economic advantage to going digital: “Digital cameras eliminate developing costs.”

He’s realized several other practical benefits. The camera gives him an easy solution for capturing pictures to upload to the MLS and to the Internet. “Clients often ask me if I can e-mail them even more pictures of a house that really interests them,” he notes.

Tegley especially likes the camera’s powerful zoom. “It provides the ability to highlight features of a home,” he says. “And when taking pictures of land I can get close-ups of [inaccessible] property markers or landmarks.”

Glen Baird, broker, VirginiaMLS.com Realty, Fairfax, Va.

For Baird, it’s the wide-angle and fish-eye lenses that make his Nikon 995 camera such an effective tool. “Some of the lower-end cameras take beautiful pictures but when you’re trying to take a picture of an entire room, there’s just no way around the need for a wide-angle lens,” he says.

He uses the images he captures to promote listings online and in printed brochures. But, he says, it’s a mistake to use the same image files for both applications. He reworks image files in Corel Painter before uploading them to the Web. “You need to know how to crop, resize, and compress images so the page will load within 30 seconds,” he says.

 Digital Cameras

Easyshare CX6230 $149.95
Eastman Kodak, www.kodak.com/go/easyshare, 800/242-2424. Entry-level digital camera for basic imaging needs. Includes 2-megapixel (MP) image sensor, 3X optical/3.3X digital zoom, 16MB internal memory, 1.5-inch LCD screen with 2X and 4X magnification, SecureDigital (SD) card slot, five preset shooting modes,
and audio/video record capability.

FinePix A330 $199
Fuji Photo Film USA, www.fujifilm.com, 800/800-3854. Compact camera with extended battery life. Features 3.2MP sensor, 3X optical/1.6X digital zoom, 1.5-inch LCD, xD card slot, optical viewfinder, USB and video output, and A/V record capability. Takes average of 250 pictures per pair of AA batteries.

DC-T50 $249.99
Gateway Inc., www.esource.gateway.com, 800/207-7580. High-resolution compact camera. Features 5.25MP image sensor, 3X optical/4X digital zoom, 1.5-inch LCD monitor, SD memory card slot, eight shooting modes, USB and A/V output, A/V record capability.

PhotoSmart R707 $349.99
Hewlett Packard, www.hp.com/go/nar, 800/888-8177. High-resolution point-and-shoot camera with 5.1MP image sensor, 3X optical/8X digital zoom, 32MB internal memory, SD card slot, 1.5-inch LCD monitor, A/V record capability, and automatic and manual control. Select intended use of images—print or online. Panorama mode for wide-angle shots.

OptioMX $399.95
Pentax Imaging Co., www.pentaxusa.com, 800/877-0155. Combination digital camera/video camcorder. Features 3.2MB image sensor, 10X optical/10X digital zoom, SD memory card slot, automatic and manual shooting modes, and USB 2.0 port. 1.8-inch LCD monitor swivels for viewing at range of angles. Direct printing to compatible printers. Optional wide-angle conversion lens.

Cyber-shot DSC-W1 $399.95
Sony Electronics, www.sony.com/di, 800/222-7669. Deck of cards sized with extra-large LCD screen. Features 5.1 MP sensor, 3X optical/2X digital zoom, 2.5-inch LCD monitor, MemoryStick card slot, automatic and manual settings, six preset shooting modes, and optional wide-angle conversion lens.

EX-Z40 $399.99
Casio Inc., www.casio.com, 800/706-2534. Compact camera with extended battery life. Features 4MP image sensor, 3X optical zoom, 2.0-inch LCD screen, 9.7MB internal memory, and SD card slot. Direct printing from camera to compatible printers. USB and A/V output, A/V and audio record capability, and aluminum body. Take up to 360 pictures before batteries need recharging.

DiMage G600 $499
Konica Minolta, www.konicaminolta.com, 877/462-4464. Compact high-resolution camera. Includes 6MP image sensor, 3X optical/3X digital zoom, 1.5-inch LCD screen, SD and MemoryStick card slot, 16MB SD card, A/V and audio record capability, USB and A/V output, and automatic and manual control of camera settings.

PowerShot S60 $499
Canon U.S.A. Inc., www.usa.canon.com, 800/652-2666. Compact camera with built-in wide-angle lens. Features 5MP image sensor, 3.6X zoom lens with wide-angle setting equivalent to 28mm lens on 35mm camera, and CompactFlash card slot for Type I and Type II CF cards. Includes 1.8-inch LCD screen, automatic and manual settings, 13 preset camera modes, USB and A/V output, A/V record capability, and extended-life lithium-ion rechargeable battery. Supports direct printing.

DMC FZ-10K $599.95
Panasonic, www.panasonic.com, 800/272-7033. Features powerful zoom lens with optical image stabilization for steady shots. 4MP sensor, 12X optical zoom lens, 2-inch LCD screen, SD memory card slot, 16MB SD card, USB and A/V connectors, automatic and manual settings of all functions, and audio/video record capability.

CoolPix 8700 $999.95
Nikon U.S.A., www.nikonusa.com, 800/645-6687. High-resolution full-featured camera. Features 8MP sensor, 8X optical zoom Nikkor lens, 1.8-inch LCD screen, CompactFlash memory card slot, automatic and manual control of all settings, 12 preset scene modes, and high-resolution electronic viewfinder. Supports direct printing via USB. A/V record capability. Compatible with accessory lenses, including wide-angle and fish-eye.

C-8080 Wide Zoom $999
Olympus America Inc., www.olympusamerica.com, 888/553-4448. High-end camera with built-in wide-angle lens. Features 8MP image sensor, 5X optical/3X digital zoom lens, and wide-angle lens setting equivalent to 28mm lens on 35mm camera. Compatible with xD and CompactFlash I and II memory cards. Multiposition 1.8-inch LCD screen. Automatic and manual controls. Supports direct printing. A/V record capability. Optional converter lenses for wider-angle and zoom images.

 Imaging Software

CompuPic $39.95 for standard version, $79.95 for pro version
Photodex Corp., www.photodex.com, 800/377-4686. Image management and editing for Windows. Includes effects and borders for enhancing photos. Compresses files for e-mail. Pro version includes Web design features, batch file conversion, and creation of Picture CDs.

Corel PhotoBook $39.99
Corel Software, www.corel.com, 877/652-6735. Image management and editing for Windows. Organize images for quick search. Simple corrections of common image problems. Create thumbnails, slideshows, and screensavers. Export to e-mail, Web, or CD.

ACDsee $49.99
ACD Systems, www.acdsystems.com, 866/244-2237. Image browsing, organizing, and editing for Windows. Create thumbnails, categories of images, and keywords for simplified searching as well as text attachments. Create and export slide shows.

Picture It! Photo Premium $49.95
Microsoft Corp., www.microsoft.com, 888/218-5617. Photo-editing software for Windows. Includes tools to help improve and highlight photos, change backgrounds, and crop images. Can be used to resize and prepare image files for display on cell phones and PDAs.

Nero PhotoShow Elite $49.99
Ahead Software Inc., www.nerophotoshow.com, 818/956-5930. Digital photo management with photo editing tools. Add captions and music to photos or slide shows. Export images and slide shows to CD or save as HTML for posting to Web.

Ulead PhotoImpact XL $89.95
Ulead Systems Inc., www.ulead.com, 800/858-5323. Image-editing package for Windows. Includes tools and tutorials for enhancing images and adding special effects. Also includes graphic design and Web design tools.

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE

More about digital cameras:
Buyer's Guide Main Page
Tech Watch Main Page
Hardware Q&A

FACTOID

Sixty-two percent of REALTORS® surveyed said that digital cameras made a large contribution to their productivity.
—2004 NAR Technology Impact Survey Report

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