Rockland Home Staging

Maureen -- Those are great photos....you can certainly tell the difference in the ones taken with a wide-angle lens.  I recently purchased that camera but haven't taken it out of the box yet.  You have inspired me to do just that.  I will use it to take some shots of my "innovative inventory ideas"...so be looking for them.

I love the job you did on that living room.  It looks so much bigger and very sophisticated.  You need to post these before and after photos in the Staging Successes Group.

What a huge difference.  They look brighter too in the after photos.  I just ordered a Canon Digital Rebel XTi 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with a wide angle lens.  I can't wait to check it out.  The Kodak EasyShare V705 looks good for a "point and shoot" but after reading other articles here at AR, I decided to give a DSLR a try.

Wow Maureen!

This is so stunning and really makes you think why you need a wide angle lens camera for our after shots.  These shots are terrific.  Especially the bathroom shot.  We all know how difficult it is to take great shots of a narrow bathroom.  I have been thinking about buying this camera since I first saw it in a blog.  Now I am so convinced!!!

 

~Kimberly~

I have been waivering about buying this camera since reading Jeff's blog, but you just help me make my decisison.  Thanks

Maureen, you kept this one a secret from me, buddy!  This is awesome!  Im on my way to ebay!

Thanks, I will check it out!

Great example of nice photos with good lighting and a wider angle lens.  I have the Kodak dual lens camera and the internal stitching feature for wide panoramic photos and the time you save building virtual tours pays for itself the first week you use it.  Thanks for posting.

You are more than correct on this one. I have a great camera but want another one digitial SLR is going to be my new pick.

The wide angle is terrific but my difficulty with the camera is that you view your picture thru the back and not thru a view finder.. this is OK if you are inside but a pain the**** when you are outside in the sun... I have an Olympus with no view finder and it  drives me nuts.. I think the P880 is better for interior/exterior use..

Great pictures and IMO pictures are everything. Even if they aren't the best it is imperative to have them. We highered a professional photographer for our Kayak Point listing. We compared images with my standard 6 mega pixel Konica Minolta camera and his professional wide angel and the difference is astounding. The interior of a home is where the wide angel really helps out and your comparison images really demostrate that.

hey

that's great! i haven't thought about what kind of difference a wide angle lense can make. it does make the room feel a lot bigger.

cheers,

cindy 

Maureen, the difference truly is dramatic. In reading all of the comments, the move toward a higher end digital SLR seems to be the trend, but I think you clearly illustrate that this little $299 camera can really do some great work. 

Note to self - Buy a wide angle lens, it makes a big difference.

So true Maureen, one of the things I feel that is lacking in my market, is the quality of photo's on MLS.  I look at this way, this is my one chance to create interest in my listing and definately worth my time.  About 18 months ago I wnet out and bought a Canon Digital Rebel, and a 10-20 mm lens for those wide angle shots.  The 2 cost me about $1400 but like you I am always getting complimnets on the photos.  Below is a recent photo taken at 10MM.

A wide angle lens is a MUST. Sometimes it's hard to find the specs on a camera you're looking at, as manufacturers are touting magnification rather than wide angle.

Judy - Take that camera out of the box - it is so easy to use you'll be taking great pics in minutes. 

 

Kimberly, Marci and Tina - I'd go for it.  It was such in inexpensive investment  I got the camera for $199 on Amazon  http://www.amazon.com/s/104-3034705-7710327?ie=UTF8&keywords=v705&index=blended

 Sam - The v705 has an internal stitching feature also.  It is really easy to use.

Don - Thanks for sharing the pic.  It really makes the kitchen look spacious. 

Toby - Wow.  The pictures of your listing look fantastic.  I love the bedroom shot from above. 

Jeff - Thank you so much for blogging about this camera.  It really made a big difference.  The price has been reduced to $199.  How can you go wrong?

I have the previous model and I love it except for one major problem...the software leaves a great deal to be desired. They want you to stay within their sphere of influence and so handling the photos is a pain. The software is slow and clunky. I wish they had paid more attention to that aspect of this otherwise fine line of cameras.  Be sure to upgrade as soon as you load your software to get the latest version which does have some improvements.

Thanks so much for this information. My digital takes OK pics but so many times I have to change lighting, move lamps etc and take several pics to find the one I really want to use. I believe pics are of vital importance to get traffic to any listing. and the pixels must be high enough that they look as good when printed as they do on the computer. I have been wanting to upgrade to a better camera, so now I will

It is great to share information like this.  Some people think that because it is a KODAK it is not as good as the more expensive competititors.  I have a Kodak and am amazed at the pictures -- and the price is reasonable.  (And I don't own any Kodak stock)

Wide Angle Lens - Absolutely a must!

I just ordered my Kodak camera after reading Jeff Turner's blog! I can't wait!  Thank you for blogging and posting pictures of the before/after using it....My other cameras have been terrible in the past.  Your pictures look awesome! You did a great job!  It's nice to add in the before/after pics how much a transformation is...alot LESS than most folks think! :)

 

A picture is worth a thousand works!" I plan to buy a 'NEW wide angle lens camera" after seeing this post.

Thank you, 

Patricia Aulson/SEACOAST REALTOR/NH & ME

James - I don't use the Kodak software.  I just upload the photos then use my own software. 

I think Jeff should really start getting kickbacks from Kodak for recommending this camera. 

Great tips, Maureen.  Bathrooms are always so hard to get good pictures of.  You make this one look great.  I hope you get a quick sale!

Thanks so much for the post! I guess it's time for me to break down and buy a new camera. Seems like every year I have to upgrade but it's worth the cost if it sheds a better light on my listings. Thanks again!

Marisa - I've got my fingers crossed.  I'll keep you posted!

Ryan - For only $200 is is worth the upgrade!

Maureen,

I ordered the camera today!! Can't wait to recive it.  I am assuming that it does not come with a case or memory stick?

 

~Kimberly~ 

 

Thanks so much for sharing Maureen and you are right....photos are everything.  I have seen Realtors take some of the poorest photos and write some of the poorest print ads I have ever seen.  Thanks for educating everyone :-)

Kimberly - I ordered a memory card with it.  I don't remember how much it cost.  It does not come with a case either. 

George - when you know better you do better.  Words to live by.  I'm learning every day!

WOW Maureen what a difference this makes. My husband has been on my case about getting a wide angle lens for a year now. He is right, SHHH! I think I can get a lens that attaches to the camera that my kids just bought me, I would feel bad not using that. But hey business is business and the one thing that I have not been happy with are my pics. It just does not capture the room.

Thanks Phyllis Pafumi 

 

Wow Maureen!  I can't believe the response that you got on this topic!  Congrats on the featured post!

I have the Kodak V570 which is probably the same camera but different model because I got mine last June.  I love the pictures that it takes because of the wide angle.  I bought mine from a small 'mom and pop' camera store where the owner really knows his cameras.  He told me that this was something new and that all of the realtors were buying them up like crazy.  I went online to check it out and was impressed by what I read.

I like the simplicity of the camera.  I must admit that I don't do well with the panoramic shots because I don't have the patience to look for the line to line up my next shot, but no matter...I only need great interior shots anyway!

Val - Having the right camera does make all the difference.  I don't really use the internal stitching feature all that much either.  The pictures look panoramic.  They are really long and thin so I don't really have an application for them. 

Hi Maureen,

got my camera today and it is AMAZING!!!  I can't wait to get out there and use it

 

~Kimberly~

Maureen- Those sure are great pictures! I too had read Jeff's post and really wondered about this camera. Good to see others trying it and liking it. I wonder why it is such a love/hate relationship in regards to user reviews.  But I think for $200 it is worth giving it a shot. Thank you for letting me see more true life pictures.

Debi - I asked some of the shutter bugs about the poor reviews on Amazon - They said that the reviews on Amazon can be unreliable because it is easy for rival companies to post poor reviews.  They told me to research the camera from independent photo review sites here are two:

http://www.popphoto.com/cameras/3453/camera-review-kodak-easyshare-v705.html
http://www.digitalcamerareview.com/default.asp?newsID=2910&review=kodak+easyshare+v705

 

I got to use mine for the first time yesterday and was completely blown away.  It is so simple to use, the shots looked great and were very clear. Considering how close I was standing to the back of the couch the picture still came out great.  I would not have been able to get such a wide angle shot so close with my other camera

Maureen- Thank you for the review sites!!

Kimberly- Thank you for adding your experiences to this post. I like to see real live examples of it in use.

Debi,

No problem,  I will try and post one taken with my regular digital and one with my V705.

~Kimberly~

What a wonderful example of how difference a wide angle lens can make for interior shots.

Okay so I think I am the last one to say something. I have a $500 Olympic and I do not know how to use it except to point and shoot. Maureen, it looks like you have the thing mastered. I envy you!

Sheron - You should join the Photography group I'm learning new stuff every day. 

Hey...I didn't know about this group! Thanks Maureen...you are an asset to this community.

Incredible!  I think it's time I invest in a new camera.

Ditto, new cameras for all Realtors required.