Bob,
I also use them for "Retirement Measurement".........When I burn through all three cameras, it will be time for me to retire!!!!!!!!

LOL.....

Best,
Joe

We are also using the older Mavica cameras, one is about worn out, my old one Janice is now using was their high dollar camera and is still works great. I am testing with the Sony DSLR. It's a pain to have to re-size them, but I found a free program called VSO image size that changes them to 640x480 in multiple batches, so that is working well.

Les, as far as I can see, Integraclaim says the file to too big to load. What estimating program are you speaking of?

He's likely referring to Simsol which has a photograph resizer that is selected by default before the photos are printed.  Simsol uploads large photos without discretion- unlike MSB.  Go to Microsoft and you can get a photo resizer built into your 'Right mouse button' menu:  http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx.  Scroll down the right side of the page until you get to the "ImageResizer" download.  It's quick and free. 

It also gives you the option of creating copies of the photos or just changing the existing ones.  I personally have no use for copies of the hundreds of photos I have in storage.

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If you're trying to upload .pdf documents into IntegriClaim, then you can go to http://www.zamzar.com/ which will convert the files to a .png format.  The free service takes sends you the conversion through email.  You can pay monthly to get it faster.  If anyone knows of an easier way, please let me know. 

Why MSB doesn't allow you to upload a .pdf document into their software after so many years is beyond me.  Simsol allows you to attach .pdf into the claim, but does not allow you to scan them, so there must be a good reason somewhere.

Hey Bob,

When it comes to cameras, you and I are on the exact same page as far as what features are ideal for this trade.  Yet, after skimming the pages again, you've supplied a TON of options on cameras for different reasons.  It seems the Canon Elph SD800 is the preferred choice for the adjuster since it still has a manual viewfinder, a wide angle lens, and is compact.  The newer SD870 doesn't have the viewfinder anymore, which stinks to me because it drains the battery too quick. 

Also, a good flash would be nice for those fire losses and dark basements.  Perhaps cameras have flashes that can be switched from low to high power without having to switch it to the night mode (sometimes its too hard to keep the dern thing still)?

Is there an equivalent to the SD800 that does not have a proprietary battery, yet?  Nikon Coolpix P50?

I think the Nikon Coolpix P50 would be a good choice for an adjuster who wanted to spend the least amount of money. It has a wide-angle lens (rare for a cheap camera) which I consider so vital for interior photos. (take a wide view of room, then close-up of damage). I have seen adjusters buy low cost cameras that don't have a wide-angle lens, and it's frustration city. Personally, I would spend a bit more money and get something higher up the food chain than the Nikon Coolpix P50.

Nope. I have had several digital cameras that use AA batteries - those are sort of mid-size compact cameras.  The Canon Elph is considered "Ultra Compact - Pocketable".  The battery Canon puts in that camera is amazing.  It's flattened out very thin, but wide, and powerful.

My 80 year-old dad has one of those Canon Elphs that sat in a drawer for months, we went on a vacation together, took 100's of photos, and I learned he had never recharged the battery since it's initial charge.  My brother has an older Canon Elph, has taken tons of photos and raves about the battery life.  Of course you have to have a spare and rotate them, with any digital camera.  Even with AA's I would do that.

Yeah, and that used to bother me - but I was at a camera store last week trying to decide if I really want a bulky DSLR, or what... and I think I am going to go with the SD870 even though it doesn't have a viewfinder.  The spare battery handles that for me.

- You get the 3" LCD which is a lot bigger than the 2.5" LCD on the SD800 but I would be happy with either.  These are the only Elph models with wide-angle lens.

- I realized I don't use the viewfinder very often on my existing camera, as I always have a 2nd battery (and a spare camera that will run on AA alkalines if needed).

- It is heavily discounted right now because Canon came out with this years new models  The SD870 listed for 399, I have seen it at Circuit City for 280 and Amazon for 250 (price varies depending when you check).

- I can borrow the wife's DSLR when needed, the one I really want is too new and hasn't been discounted yet.

Here's a site that talks about adding an external flash to the little Canon Elph (middle of page). Amazon sells this flash for $85.

I have never used this flash - but it sounds really interesting because it doesn't need to be connected to the camera at all, you can aim it with your other hand. It "senses" the camera's flash going off, and adds to it. I think I am going to get one of those too, and glad you brought it up. I don't mind that the flash has a non-rechargeable battery, you almost want one of those "lasts for years" type batteries for the occasional flash use, so it isn't dead when you need it.

I think that external flash would work great for "sub area" inspections (fallen insulation from water damage above) and it sounds like this would work with my old camera, or any camera for that matter. No wires, no contacts with the camera.  Several of the Amazon reviews say it works with any camera, doesn't have to be Canon.  Here's some of the reviews:

• Very nice add-on for any digital camera. You have to understand how it was intended to be used and use it properly, a SLAVE FLASH. If you do, it works great within its range. Basically, your own camera's flash is good for between 5' to say 12', 15'. So from my own little bit of experience, I'd say the 3 settings on this slave flash extend it between (min. = 15' to 25'), (med. = 25' to 35') and (max. = 35' to about 45') and actually a little beyond. You actually can provide too much flash if you don't watch out!!!
• I take many photographs in a high school gym. My Power Shot A620 takes great pictures but the built in flash just doesn't have enough umpff for those longer shots. The Canon HF-DC1 High Power Flash gives me the option of three settings of flash level that are more than enough to give me the shots I was previously missing. I highly recommend this slave flash

Jud, thank you for the suggestion, however, I am on Vista and Power Toys is not vista compatible. But thanks for the thought.

Tom, sorry that suggestion doesn't work.  With you being on Vista, I'm sure you're many steps beyond me on the trial and error process.  The nightmares I've heard about that system are making me want to run to the Mac OS.

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Wow, thanks Bob for the reply.  As always, your posts have a generous supply of substance and detail.

Once I get out of the fog with these claims, I'm going to make an Elph and a Flash purchase.

Jud, I have been on Vista for over a year now and have had no problems whatsoever. Janice just got a new HP laptop with XP3 on it and is having constant problems. My opinion, Microsoft is deliberately causing problems with XP so all will convert to Vista. I use Trend Micro PC Cillin Firewall, Netcom3 for regeistry cleaning, and PC Pitstop optimizer and my PC runs flawlessly,  in fact, once I got used to it, I prefer it over XP. I have had no problems installing programs, no problems with Integraclaim, (other than it being a substandard product) and no problems installing any other programs.

I am using a free program called VSO image re-sizer and it is working well. Being an old camera nut, I like to produce high quality photos of losses. It may not be necessary, but I am already getting comments about the quality of the photos and the companies like the 28mm wide angle shots. The Sony DSLR 300alpha is a large camera, but I am used to them and they do not bother me. I know some adjusters like to stick their camera in their pockets so they will be out of the way, but their quality is questionable, as is their flash ability. I have a wide angle remote flash that will light up a burned room with perfect photos, not just a black image.n The flash can be detached and placed anywhere and will flash remotely. I guess I just am a stickler for professionalism, just me. Hard to change an old codger.