business digital camera

huangyhg

business digital camera
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.
i have an olympus c3040z (3.4 megapixel).  kinda bulky compared to more current models.  has a strong built-in flash and can take good photos in very dim light.  with a 64mb smartmedia card, i can take about 80 hi-res (2040x1540 pixels) photos that are suitable for reports.  i have used the camera since 2001 and like it.  i can use it to take short video clips, but no audio ability.  camera came with camedia photo editing software.  the camera has digital zoom, but can be set up like a normal 35mm camera for zoom and f-stops.  i haven't learned how to do that yet, but the owner's manual says it's possible.  
i have a pair of canon powershot, a four year old a10 (1.3 megapixel) and a two year old a70 (3.2 megapixel) - they are fine for my needs (actually prefer the simpler a10). both use aa batteries. i use rechargeable nimh cells, but if they give out on the job site, it is nice to be able substitute readily available alkaline aa cells.
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
another site that is very informative with camera comparisons:
i have found that using a tripod or bracing the camera against s solid foundation of some sort and not using a flashfff"> allows me to capture pictures without a flash of the entire inside of a boiler (+/-100ft).
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.
sony dsc-85, not sold anymore but 4.1 mp, any size card you want, excellent low light ability especially the non-flash mode if you toss a bean bag in your case to steady the camera on.  also has a flash shoe to put a real flash on.  none of the little ones on the camera are rated for more than 25 ft or so.
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.
here is another thought to consider:
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.
i have a nikon d-50 slr and love it. at 6.1 mega pixels it can do large size prints. it is similar to a 35mm cammera in manual mode, has several automatic modes and really does a great job. it is cheaper than most digital slr's and supports interchangable lenses with a nikon mount. the major difference between fim and digital is that the diagonal of the image sensor of the digitals is slightly smaller (varies by manufacturer) than the film plate on a 35mm camera (standard dimension of 50mm). this tends to make lenses slightly  more telephoto than they would be with film. i got mine online at ritz cammera which seems to frequently have specials. time it right and they are $600 or less.
manofstl,
   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
dpreview is the palce to go to compare features.
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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