A good bomb proof surveyors field camera with GPS tagging and an equivalent of a 28-140 mm lens plus 5 levels of macro.
$400 is a bit rich for me. You can get 10mp cameras now for $50-75. That stings a lot less when they disappear, as most of my field cameras tend to do.
to much emphasis on megapixels in marketing I think but yeah for a digital compact it is pricey. But it does have a lot of unique features such as the GPS tagging that would be useful in my work. If it can show azimuth of photo direction it would be super valuable.
speaking of cameras ... here's some random shots for a saturday afternoon ...
> If it can show azimuth of photo direction it would be super valuable.
The Ricoh G700SE with the GPS module can do that. Of course, it costs twice as much.
>too much emphasis on megapixels
I'll agree with that. When we were talking about the difference between 1 and 2M that was important. After they got past about 4 Mpixels, it just doesn't matter unless you are making big enlargement prints.
Buy the lens, and take whatever camera it is on if the features suit you. Optical zoom and macro capabilities are the most important specs. Digital zoom is near worthless in the camera, if you have any photo editor program which can do the same thing.
Is the I-phone or I-pad any good for taking a picture of a deed page?
Thanks D, I was looking at the Fujifilm FinePix XP30, but that Pentax is pretty nice.
Great photos as usual but are you sure you didn't do some photo shop editing on the picture of the buzzard giving a piggy back ride to a crow?
> Great photos as usual but are you sure you didn't do some photo shop editing on the picture of the buzzard giving a piggy back ride to a crow?
no...some of those photos are not mine John ... but I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the piggy back was a true image ... ravens and crows have a somewhat bold tenacity ...
I've taken pics of deed records with my I-phone camera that are readable. I tend to take the shots from up close and take multiples to make sure the photos overlap so nothing is missed.
Cy
I take pictures of documents (deeds, law books, maps) as well as field pictures including hard to read mon caps quite often with my blackberry and they turn out great.
When I have a cap down in a hole that I can't read, reaching down with the bb and taking a flash picture gives me a very clear read on it. The improvements in digital cameras in just the last 3 years or so has ben amazing.
My friend Daryl. I greatly respect your ability with cameras so I think you might be the person to ask this question.
What camera do you suggest for a trip down the highway at 75mph? And of course, I mean by itself. I had one the other day that came loose from it's mounting and it failed the 6' drop and 300' drag test. Well failed is maybe not the term to use.
It's more than 50 pieces but less than 100 now so I think it failed the Okie mount failure test.
??
> Is the I-phone or I-pad any good for taking a picture of a deed page?
Iphone 3Gs will take very good pictures of deeds, etc., if you get good enough light on it. Ambient room light isn't really enough, light from a window usually is. In room light the "shutter speed" becomes so slow that you just can't hold the camera still long enough and the picture is blurred.
Is the storage card intact so at least you can get the photos off of it?
The storage card was saved but it wasn't taking photo's while it spilled, thrilled and slid. That would have been cool though.
It did save this one with me and Tammy though. 
Daryl and I just have often different compositions that were are taking photo's of.
And it saved this one riding by Lake Ellsworth. I call it "Fish or Ride?" I choose to ride. 
Deral - Did you know you have a stick coming out of your neck?
yea better get a stickectomy LOL.
> My friend Daryl. I greatly respect your ability with cameras so I think you might be the person to ask this question.
>
> What camera do you suggest for a trip down the highway at 75mph? And of course, I mean by itself. I had one the other day that came loose from it's mounting and it failed the 6' drop and 300' drag test. Well failed is maybe not the term to use.
>
> It's more than 50 pieces but less than 100 now so I think it failed the Okie mount failure test.
>
> ??
I have one of these cameras (the standard def mode) ...there kinda fun....wide angle with a variety of mounts. Shoots high def vid now, still photos, or a burst of still photos...can get some special effects especially on a bike. Totally waterproof, weather proof.
