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Posted By Tom Allen on 17 Feb 2013 03:41 PM

I do a fair amount of interior work and use a Fuji Finepix that is allegedly water / shock / and dust proof. Problem: I'm tired of my interior shots not telling the story of the damage in overviews. The upshot is this is a great camera for exterior work. Blows for interior work.

Does anybody have a recommendation for a point-and-shoot with a built in wide angle lens? Or do you use an SLR with a wide angle lens attached? That's pretty pricey for me (I'd go used) but these shots suck.

Any help would be appreciated.

Tom

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I have long used a SONY Cybershot with solid results. I also carry a simple Kodak digital camera (149.99) as a backup. I have owned a Fuji Finepix a few years back and had some similar issues as to what you are discussing above.

Before purchasing another camera, try this.

 Select a photo (on your computer) that was taken indoors (without flash) and is blurred.

You want to read the EXIF information that is stored in the image file.

Using Microsoft Explorer or My Computer, find that picture file on the computer.
Right click on the picture file.
Click Properties
Click Summary Tab
...If you see a blank page....click the button called "Advanced"
Now you will see the EXIF information for that photo.
Copy down the Shutter Speed - Lens Aperture - and ISO speed.

If the ISO setting is low (50 to 100) it is likely that you have the camera set to that ISO number instead of "Auto". I would expect to see a setting of about 400.
If the aperture is f/2.8, that is what I would expect to see.
That the the brightest lens setting for your camera.
If the shutter speed is slower than 1/60th of a second, you should be using a tripod. It is difficult to hand-hold a camera at speeds slower than 1/60th of a second. You are very likely to get a blurred photo due to camera movement.

You can improve your steadiness by using the viewfinder instead of the LCD to frame your shot. That causes you to press the camera against your head.
Your head is steadier than two outstretched arms.To further improve your steadiness.
Also lean your shoulder against a wall, doorway, pole, tree.

Let me know if this helps

Robby -

Blurriness isn't the problem (most of the time)...smoke damage on a 3' wide by 4' long hallway is. Or bedrooms with water damage in mobile homes. I need more in my shots to tell a better story. My FinePix is good for outdoor work but is marginal for interior and useless for narrow. If I can't tell what I was taking pictures of when I see images back to the hotel, I can't use them. That's why I'm interested in the wide angle lense.

Carrying an SLR for interior might be the only way to do it...but its another bag I can't leave in my car, etc. etc.

Thx for your help. If I find a solution, I'll post it here.

Posted By Tom Allen on 20 Feb 2013 11:11 AM
Robby -

Blurriness isn't the problem (most of the time)...smoke damage on a 3' wide by 4' long hallway is. Or bedrooms with water damage in mobile homes. I need more in my shots to tell a better story. My FinePix is good for outdoor work but is marginal for interior and useless for narrow. If I can't tell what I was taking pictures of when I see images back to the hotel, I can't use them. That's why I'm interested in the wide angle lense.

Carrying an SLR for interior might be the only way to do it...but its another bag I can't leave in my car, etc. etc.

Thx for your help. If I find a solution, I'll post it here.

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In all honesty my friend, when I had those issues it was not whilst I was working as an adjuster.

As such, with the Sony and even the Kodak (I dropped and replaced the Sony a few times. I have since learned the value of the wrist leash ), I have never had the issues you and I BOTH have with the Fuji.

I would suggest putting the Fuji out to pasture, you can't afford NOT to. I mean if you are continuously having issues and have yet to rectify the situation with regard to interior damage, how are you properly documenting said interior damage?

I think my Sony (Cybershot) was no more than $250.00 or so and my back up was around $150.00

Call Adorama, a large camera and electronics store in NY.  Let there highly knowledgeable staff help you pick out the right camera.  For anyone that is not familiar with Adorama, I highly recommend checking out their website (google it).  They have an excellent selection of new and my favorite, refurbished cameras that usually come with a 90 day warranty. If you join Adorama for $8/year you get an additional 1 year warranty on all purchases made (including the refurbished equipement.  I just bought a another refurbished Nikon SLR and could not be happier with it.  (only 220 on the shutter count)  You can get crazy deals on point and shoots that are excellent for our needs.  I would never consider carrying my SLR on claims.  To expensive and the last thing I want is something bulky to carry around.  I do take it on cat, but only as an excuse to take a break and go explore the area.

I know what you a referring to in regards to needing a wide angle lens for small room overviews.  In my opinion, a wide angle lens would be the only solution if you feel you need to show a proper overview of a small area.  There are small point and shoot cameras that have wide angle options.  For those of you that use your i-phones, a very small and inexpensive wide angle lens can be attached quickly.

Check out adorama.com and kenrockwell.com.  Ken Rockwell has a wealth of camera info and also post a lot of equipment deals.  If refurbished cameras scare you, read Ken's experience with buying refurbs. 

You will find your solution at one of the above.  Hope this helps!

 

I have had good luck with my Nikon AW100. It weather resistant and has a wide 28mm lens out to 105 or so, uses the standard SD card and the battery last a good while. I also used a Sony cyber shot for years with good results. but that is now my backup camera.