April 5th - 2009

WIRED OFFICE: What to look for in a digital camera

Digital cameras are still one of the top tools used regularly by REALTORS®. According to the National Association or REALTORS® NAR’s latest member profile, 96 per cent of REALTORS® use a digital camera in their business.

Digital cameras are still one of the top tools used regularly by REALTORS®. According to the National Association or REALTORS® NAR’s latest member profile, 96 per cent of REALTORS® use a digital camera in their business.
 
Technology for digital cameras, like computers and cell phones, continues to change at an almost bewildering rate. With so many options and price ranges available, choosing the digital camera that’s right for you can be confusing. To avoid buying more camera than you need, or worse, not enough, take the time to think about how you will use it and what features are important to you.
 
Megapixels
When you look at ads for digital cameras, the number of megapixels appears to be the most important feature. But experts say unless you are a professional photographer and need to reproduce your photos in large formats, most digital cameras today have more than enough megapixels. Most REALTORS® will use their digital camera to take pictures of their listings. These pictures are then usually used to communicate with clients and potential clients in printed flyers or reports, or on a website as individual images or a virtual tour. For this type of use, 2 to 3 megapixels is adequate for printing photos, and far more than you need if you're sending photos by e-mail or putting them on your website. Since the average camera on the market today has 5 or more megapixels, you can focus on other more important features.
 
Wide angle lens
The majority of photos a REALTOR® takes are interior shots of a home. For this reason, the most important feature a camera can have for your business is a good built-in wide angle lens. There is a big difference between a good 28, 29, or even 30mm wide angle lens and the much more common 35-38mm normal lens. With a proper wide angle lens you can simply take better, wider angle images that show off more of a room than you can with a normal lens.
 
Although you can purchase a camera with an add-on adapter that will give you wide angle capabilities, these often create an undesirable “fish-eye” effect.
 
Optical zoom
The ability to zoom in and out on a room or feature of a house is important as well. When buying a camera, it’s important to understand the difference between optical and digital zoom. Optical zoom measures the ability of the camera's lens and other parts to capture more light, and more detail, from a particular faraway point. That means that you get better-quality pictures taken from a distance. Digital zoom works by capturing only the central portion of the entire image received by the sensor. Digital zoom is really only a cropping tool, since it cuts off the parts of the image that would be out of the field of view if a longer focal length lens had been used. Many manufacturers will tout extra digital zoom in their product features, but it’s optical zoom you should be looking for.
 
Other considerations
Ever see those listing photos on a REALTOR®’s website that are just too dark to make out? Keep them in mind when camera shopping and be sure your new camera has a low-light setting and an adequate flash. Some cameras also have auxiliary lights that help you to focus in dim settings. Rechargeable batteries and a charger are desirable options for your camera because the cost of disposable batteries adds up over the long run. Portability is another consideration. Do you want to be able to carry your camera wherever you go in your pocket or purse? And, don’t forget to factor in accessories when you look at camera prices. Most cameras don't come with a memory card or a card reader and if you need a camera bag, that’s extra too.
 
Finally, be sure to try before you buy. Spend some time researching different cameras on the Internet to compare desired features and prices first. Then head out to a few camera shops to make a hands-on comparison. Some cameras have commands and menus that are easier to use than others.
 

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Ontario Real Estate Association

Jean-Adrien Delicano

Manager, Media Relations

JeanAdrienD@orea.com

416-445-9910 ext. 246

Ontario Real Estate Association
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