Digital Cameras Offer More Options
A photograph is a photograph, but when its a digital photograph, agents and other insurance users have a lot more options than standard film users.
Unlike 35mm cameras, digital cameras allow the user to view a photograph immediately after taking it, to review it for quality, and to delete and reshoot if needed for a better picture.
Because no film is needed, there is no film-development expense, either. The digital photographs can be downloaded into a computer, where imperfections such as red-eye or brightness can be corrected before printing out the photo. The photos also can be incorporated into reports or files, or emailed directly from the computer.
Many different brands and models are on the market in a wide price range. The following are just some digital cameras that may give agents a step up from simple consumer versions, but are still reasonably priced.
Argus Camera, based in Elk Grove Village, Ill. (www.arguscamera.com), says its DC3510 "has broken the $200 price barrier." The 2.1-megapixel camera has a menu of functions and a 2X digital zoom lens. Other features include a built-in 1.5-inch LCD monitor and a built-in flash. The DC3510 also provides date- and time-stamping on every picture, giving a chronological record of each period of use.
Nikon US, of Melville, N.Y. (www.nikonusa.com), touts the inner-swivel lens of its Coolpix 2500, which allows the user to shoot photos from various angles. The pocket-sized camera offers 2.0 megapixels and a 3X optical zoom lens. The point-and-shoot camera is fully automatic and has 12 "scene modes" from which to chose. It lists at about $378.
Nikon's Coolpix 885, selling at about $499, offers 3.2-megapixel resolution, a focal range of 28mm to 114mm for sharp images, a 20-step 4X digital zoom lens, and a menu of options, all in a 10-ounce camera.
Toshiba America Inc. in New York (www.toshiba.com) offers the PDR-M71. It features a 3.2-million-pixel CCD (color chip), a 2.8X optical zoom lens, high-speed auto focus, both an electronic shutter and a mechanical shutter, and a 1.5-inch LCD monitor. The camera lists at about $400.
Toshiba's PDR 3310, also selling at about $400, also offers 3.2-million pixel resolution. It features a 3X optical zoom and a 2X digital zoom, auto and manual focus, plus a rechargeable lithium battery with a life of about 100 shots with flash and 150 shots without flash.
Minolta Corporation USA in Ramsey, N.J. (www.minoltausa.com) recently introduced the DiMage X, calling it "the smallest, lightest and thinnest digital camera in the world." It has a 3X optical zoom lens that always remains inside the camera body. The DiMage X also features a 2X digital zoom, 2.0 million pixels and a start-up time of 1.8 seconds. The camera weighs only 4.8 ounces, Minolta says. List price is $449.
Sony Corp. of America in New York (www.sony.com), offers Cyber-Shot DSC-P71, selling at about $400. The digital camera offers a resolution of 3.2 megapixels, a 3X optical zoom lens and 2X digital zoom, auto focus illuminator light, and five-step manual focus. It also features a 1.5-inch LCD viewfinder and a clip motion mode.
Sony also has a line of FD Mavica digital cameras. The MVC-FD100 can store images on a floppy disk or on "Memory Stick Media." The camera offers 1.2-megapixel resolution, high-speed auto focus, a 2.5-inch LCD display, and 3X optical and 2X digital zoom. It lists at about $400.
Sony's MVC-FD75 Mavica, listing at about $350, also can store images on a floppy disk. It features a 10X optical zoom lens, high-speed auto focus, four-mode program auto exposure and a three-mode flash.
The Eastman Kodak Company of Rochester, N.Y. (www.kodak.com), has an "Easyshare" line of digital cameras that includes the DX4900 Zoom. Selling at about $350, the camera offers 4.0 megapixel resolution, a focal range of 35mm to 70mm, 2X optical and 3X digital zoom, and automatic and manual settings. Kodak says the DX4900 can be placed into a Kodak camera dock, where it easily transfers all images automatically into a computer. The dock also recharges the camera's battery pack.
Hewlett-Packard of Palo Alto, Calif. (www.hp.com) offers its Photosmart series, which includes the HP Photosmart 720, listing at about $330. It features 3.3-megapixel resolution, 3X optical zoom and 4X digital zoom, and a 1.6-inch LCD screen. It also allows photos to be printed directly from the camera to, among other things, an HP Deskjet printer.
Reproduced from National Underwriter Property & Casualty/Risk & Benefits Management Edition, August 26, 2002. Copyright 2002 by The National Underwriter Company in the serial publication. All rights reserved.Copyright in this article as an independent work may be held by the author.
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