January 4th, 2013, By Don Catalano
Point-and-shoot cameras have several advantages over their Digital Single-Lens Reflex (DSLR) counterparts. They are smaller, lighter, and much easier to carry around from property to property, and with no interchangeable lenses to deal with, a point-and-shoot is comparatively hassle free. For most applications, you won’t notice much difference in picture quality, and most point-and-shoot cameras can be purchased for a fraction of the cost of even an entry-level DSLR camera.
The only real advantage of a DSLR camera over a point-and-shoot is that the DSLR, with the addition of a wide-angle lens, can fit more of a room into a shot than most point-and-shoot cameras can. More and more point-and-shoot cameras, however, are able to shoot at a wide enough angle to take decent interior shots. Here are five of the best choices.
The DMC-LX7 is a compact, 10.1 megapixel camera. At around $450 it is the most expensive camera on this list, but it is still significantly less expensive than an entry-level DSLR with a wide-angle lens, which runs closer to $700. The DMC-LX7 performs admirably in low light conditions, and has a robust auto mode so even the most photographically challenged can take great shots.
From the most expensive to the least expensive, the Coolpix 310 can be found for under $230. This is a 16 megapixel camera with a 4.2x optical zoom (24-100 mm equivalent). It’s the same as the Panasonic at the wide end of the lens, but the smaller sensor means you’ll need better lighting, and the image quality, while still outstanding, is not quite as good as its more expensive competition.
The Powershot S110 clocks in at 12.1 megapixels, and brings us back to the more expensive end of the scale at just under $400. It uses the same sized sensor as the Panasonic, which means it performs equally well in lower light conditions. As with both of the first two cameras, the Canon is a 24mm equivalent on the wide end, but has a slightly bigger 5x optical zoom.
This is a 16 megapixel camera with a sensor similar in size to the Nikon. At under $250 it is also similar in price, but that’s where the similarities end. Unlike all of the first three cameras, the X-5 will not fit in your pocket. With a 22 – 580mm equivalent lens (26x zoom) issued significantly wider than the other cameras, as well as giving you a great deal more zoom.
The Olympus SP-820UZ, which you can buy for under $300, also does not fit into a pocket. Like the Pentax, it shoots at the wider 22 mm equivalent angle, but sports a 40x optical zoom, the most of any camera here.
Any of the cameras listed here will do a more than adequate job for most real estate professionals. If you will only be using the camera for work, the Pentax X-5 is probably your best choice. It shoots at the widest angle, and gives you the most bang for your buck. If you’re likely to use a camera outside of work, spend what you can reasonably afford. With these cameras in particular you really do get what you pay for.