Kodak vs. Canon

[T. Lynn]

Does anyone have a Kodak digital camera and like it?

I see a lot of suggestions for the Canon A620.

I'm going into Real Estate this year and we use Kodak at work. If I get a Kodak camera, they can use their plug and transfer the photos directly from my camera.

If not, I'd have to come home, download the pictures onto my computer and then email them.

Is Kodak a good brand or should I get a Canon?

 

[RadioNate]

You'll get some really harsh comments from people about Kodak here. Just be forwarned. I personally think Kodak is ok and definetely fills a need in the market. But may disagree with me.

I do however wonder why you couldn't download the photos at the office. A USB cable is a USB cable?

 

[T. Lynn]

I have a pentax right now and the kodak cord/plug won't fit into my camera. The end is totally different and won't fit in the slot of my camera.

Maybe it's not a USB plug???

 

[RadioNate]

Maybe not - I'm not sure how all Kodak's connect. Maybe they have some sort of propriatary connector.

But with an open port you could connect your USB cable to the computer or wouldn't they allow that?

I think overall the Canon is a better camera but if you are only going to use it for work then I wouldn't rule out an inexpensive Kodak for work so you don't have to go back and forth. But I'm also not sure all Kodak's connect the same.

Do you not like your Pentax?

 

[jbdreamer]

I just got a Kodak 6.1 mega pixel digital camera for Christmas. I am shocked at how good the picture quality is. Even in dark rooms the color comes out wonderful. Thumbs up!

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

It's totally possible that the one at work is a USB connector but the end that connects to the camera can be totally different. My DD's Sony has a different connector than DS's FujiFilm and my Kodak. But if the computer has card reader slots in the tower, you could upoload your pictures from there as well.

I happen to love my Kodak Z740. I find it to be very user-friendly and it takes a high-quality picture in average to strong light. In low light and night time shots, it does only a fair job. The color balance is good and the shutter speed is excellent for action photos. It has a 10x optical zoom, which I find to be more than adequate for the pictures that I take.

I would have to say that for the money, it's a darn good camera.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

A major and far too common misconception about using cheap camera and do-it-yourself in the real estate business. Use a real camera (dSLR), a good lens, learn about photography, or hire a professional to take the pictures.

I do photography for real estate agents selling houses around $400K (not much for a house in Canada, dunno about US) and they'll get more inquiry about the house when the pictures are taken properly.

It's not about snapping a picture, it's about snapping the right picture the right way.

 

[T. Lynn]

Maybe not - I'm not sure how all Kodak's connect. Maybe they have some sort of propriatary connector.

But with an open port you could connect your USB cable to the computer or wouldn't they allow that?

I think overall the Canon is a better camera but if you are only going to use it for work then I wouldn't rule out an inexpensive Kodak for work so you don't have to go back and forth. But I'm also not sure all Kodak's connect the same.

Do you not like your Pentax?

I LOVE my Pentax and it takes great pictures as well. DH just came home last night and said that he wanted a digital camera for hunting season. It was the perfect timing to offer him mine so I can get a new one. Maybe something with more megapixels. I have a new printer, new computer, so why not a new camera for me since he wants one (he'd be happy with the one I was using)?

I work as the Assistant at the real estate office now. The end connector is totally different and on our computer tower, I didn't see any card reader spots.

I'm also going to use the camera for personal use as well. We have a camera at work that the agents use (cheap Kodak) but I want mine to be better.

I'm looking for an overall camera to use for personal and business.

 

[MICKEY88]

if your computer has a usb port, you can get a card reader and connect that via usb cable to upload your pictures..

although many cameras have a propriatary connection on the camera end for the usb cable, walmart sells a neat little usb cable with adapter ends, that can come in handy when using different type cameras...

 

[Kelly Grannell]

If I may, Canon S3 IS (will be released in May). You WILL need the ISO800 capability for indoor shots. The more available light you use, the more natural the picture will look, the more crowds you'll entice to see the house... and invest on a tripod, even just a $50 ones (your camera is light anyway).

But still, my recommendation is to hire a pro real estate photographer. I only charge $200 per house, there's gotta be at least one pro photographer in your area that can do it.

 

[AZ JazzyJ]

Kodak makes a very adequate camera that is easy to use and get results. My wife's mother who is 70 and very technology illiterate has a Kodak and just loves it. She can take pictures, put the camera in its little dock and the photos are moved to her computer. The color rendition of her pictures are very good and for a point-and-shoot it takes a decent picture. My wife has a point and shoot Canon that she uses when she doesn't want to lug around the Nikon D70 DSLR. It too takes very good pictures and is easy to use. She has been very happy with this camera given its small size. The key is to find something that feels good to you and gives you the results you are looking for. It's true that some real estate agents will hire a photographer either because they are not comfortable behind a camera or they would rather spend their time selling houses than taking pictures of them but I know several agents who take their own photos so that they can capture the details they feel are important to sell the house. It depends on which way you want to go. Just think of the camera as another tool and find the one that fits best for your style and personality. Anything over 3 megapixel should be quite adequate for capturing what you will need in real estate sales photography. If you are doing magazine layouts of exteriors or interiors then you start to get into an area where more features and lighting becomes important.


Jeff

 

[T. Lynn]

At home I have the HP printer with all the card slots. I was just trying to find a way to have the assistant (once I'm an agent) upload them from work.

We don't have a card reader there. I might suggest that they buy one but I'm not going to supply it. If anything, I'll put it in my printer card reader and email them.

Thanks for your help. I'll check out some more Canon's in more detail.

 

[T. Lynn]

I cannot find any info on that Canon camera. Do you have a website?

 

[T. Lynn]

Kodak makes a very adequate camera that is easy to use and get results. My wife's mother who is 70 and very technology illiterate has a Kodak and just loves it. She can take pictures, put the camera in its little dock and the photos are moved to her computer. The color rendition of her pictures are very good and for a point-and-shoot it takes a decent picture. My wife has a point and shoot Canon that she uses when she doesn't want to lug around the Nikon D70 DSLR. It too takes very good pictures and is easy to use. She has been very happy with this camera given its small size. The key is to find something that feels good to you and gives you the results you are looking for. It's true that some real estate agents will hire a photographer either because they are not comfortable behind a camera or they would rather spend their time selling houses than taking pictures of them but I know several agents who take their own photos so that they can capture the details they feel are important to sell the house. It depends on which way you want to go. Just think of the camera as another tool and find the one that fits best for your style and personality. Anything over 3 megapixel should be quite adequate for capturing what you will need in real estate sales photography. If you are doing magazine layouts of exteriors or interiors then you start to get into an area where more features and lighting becomes important.


Jeff

Thanks for your suggestions. NONE of our agents hire photographers. They all take their own pictures. Even ones at our other office take their own. I worked at the other office for a week and have to upload their photos in the MLS as well.

Guess I'll just go store shopping.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

I cannot find any info on that Canon camera. Do you have a website?

S3 IS is not yet released, but you can see S2 IS on Canon's website. They will be virtually the same with better noise level and ISO800 capability. That will really give you the edge versus the rest of the other agents. Most do-it-yourselfers will be using flash and everything will look harsh. If you use ISO800, the flash power will automatically be reduced and you'll get a more natural looking pic.

another tip, NEVER take the picture from your eye level, take them from chest or waist level, it will create the illusion of a more spacious room.

 

[BeckWhy]

What does ISO800 mean?

 

[Kelly Grannell]

higher light sensitivity. The higher the ISO, the less likely you'll need flash and/or tripod. Also for low-light scenes, if you choose higher ISO, you'll get more of the background instead just the picture of the subject.

 

[manning]

A major and far too common misconception about using cheap camera and do-it-yourself in the real estate business. Use a real camera (dSLR), a good lens, learn about photography, or hire a professional to take the pictures.

I do photography for real estate agents selling houses around $400K (not much for a house in Canada, dunno about US) and they'll get more inquiry about the house when the pictures are taken properly.

It's not about snapping a picture, it's about snapping the right picture the right way.

I know several people who take excellent real estate pictures and don't use ....DSLR. I would say the important things are knowing your equipment and what type of photos to take.

I know people who are happy with Kodak, Canon, Sony and Nikon. I have been shopping around for a new camera and have come across a couple of Panasonics that have piqued my interest because they appear to fit my needs.

Take a look at the Panasonic tz1 coming out about May. It is compact, has 10X zoom (35-350mm) for personal use . It will sell for around 349 dollars.

http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wc...rogram=11002&cachePartner=7000000000000005702

 

[Kelly Grannell]

that model looks enticing (ISO800 with boost mode to ISO1600, although they mention that it's only good for prints up to 4x6, so it must have lots of digital noise --- which you can easily remove using Noiseware Community Edition --- a freeware)

That's the camera not for me, though. I have problems holding a camera that thin.

 

[handicap18]

I have a pentax right now and the kodak cord/plug won't fit into my camera. The end is totally different and won't fit in the slot of my camera.

Maybe it's not a USB plug???

If you have a computer and have a least 1 USB port then it doesn't matter how many different camera's you have. They can all be downloaded to the same computer. There are a few ways of doing it. Get a USB port switch (as low as $20 at Wal-Mart). Allows you to use more then 1 or 2 USB devices on a computer (I have 2 USB slots, 1 is taken a printer, the other I have a switch connected, this gives me a total of 5 USB slots).

On my computer I have the software for my canon digital and my nikon digital camera's. So long as you have enough memory you can have the software for just about every digital camera. As you plug each camera in to the USB port the appropriate software will open. (both my canon and nikon happen to use the same type of cord to connect to the USB, but we also hook up an MP3 player and video camera with a USB slot).