Yeah, I know. I have a feeling some of these standalone camera users have old flip phones and don’t understand the capabilities of modern phones.
But what’s worse, many of them publish out a pdf report where all their sophisticated photography work is nil anyway.
Quality framers and trim carpenters still use hammers over air guns. But both have their special uses. In the end it depends on the skill of the end user and not what is perceived to be the better tool. Skill and knowledge will always prevail.
Really? You’re comparing a $1,000+ phone to a under $200 camera??
What’s the Optical Zoom numbers on that overpriced cellphone??
Hey, we were talking about quality, not price… 
The optical is 10x, and then digital is 100x. Not sure exactly what those mean, but I know I can read the mcdonalds menu board from across the parking lot! 
Comes in handy when trying to get a pic of the poor caulking at that 2nd story window!
I do 90% of the report on my phone, so it’s worth the investment for me.
What’s the difference, you’re happy with your phone? All I did was answer your question.
The last time I replaced my roof it was all hand nailed at a time when roofing nail guns were popular. All nails were properly placed and driven and the roof has had no problems in that aspect for years and years! It was a high quality job without under and over driven nails.
As for framers yes a nail gun is way better for labor when properly used. However if you do enough phase inspections you will see that plenty out there should just go back to a hammer!
Of course your post with the hammer is a poor analogy of a camera Vs. phone so your point is invalid.
My Galaxy s22 ultra does 100x zoom. Granted, once you’re above about 50x grain goes in there. The optical only is only 10x. Most point and shoots are 5 at most.
I also do amateur photography. I have probably $30k in lenses and Canon bodies. The best I can do is my 600mm lens(weighs 5lb) on a crop sensor DSLR. It’s a 28x optical zoom pushed all the way in.
I took multiple bodies and some point and shoot cameras with me on my first dozen or so inspections.
Now I just take my phone, my Insta360 x3 camera and my HikMicro Pocket 2.
I found no benefit whatsoever lugging around my camera case loaded with top end camera gear. None. Nor do my decent little point and shoots even come close to competing with what my Galaxy S22 takes.
I just recently deleted off the last 15 inspections from my phone. This includes ALL the images and reports. There was somewhere around 2500 pictures since I average about 160 per inspections. I still had around 30 gigs of storage space left, probably another 15,000 photos. The app suggests you remove the inspections at some point. I’ve found zero degradation but I do it anyway.
Granted, I’m not doing commercial inspections, but I cannot believe that even a 500,000sq factory is going to use 15000 photos(i.e. 30gb worth).
Two days ago I did a full inspection, WDO, 4 point and Wind mit on a home. It took me around 4 hours but that includes chatting with the listing agent and buyer who were there most of the time. When I was done, my phone was right about 50%. I can carry a battery pack if I need to, it hasn’t been the slightest issue. It also charges while I travel, so there’s a bonus.
The upside to all this is that I’m 85-95% done before I get home. I would never publish on site simply because I add my thermal images at home. I also think everything needs another look before I publish as well.
Each to their own. The big benefit of a phone/pad photo with some of the software reports, is the direct placement of the photo into the report.
Another nice feature of most cameras over most phones is a superior flash.
The number one thing for home inspectors is take good photos regardless of the type of camera. Over and over, I see reports with worthless photos that add nothing to the narrative. Sadly, it has become so common for HIs to bloat their reports with meaningless photos that the public is starting to think that is what inspection reports should look like. I had one client complain to me that I didn’t bloat my report with garbage photos like his other inspectors had done.
We should have a course on how to take good inspection photos.
I often do repairs for listing agents. I get other inspector reports all the time.
The photos are small, poorly lit and out of context. It’s frustrating as hell.
I see stuff like “Window caulking needs seal”. With a tight shot of cracked caulk, all fuzzy too! Which window? Give me context! I always show context when I report issues that require a close up shot. Pull back and include unique features of the home in conjunction with the close up! Make it so obvious an idiot REA can figure out where it’s at.
All one needs to do is look at this MB with all the posts asking for help.
IF the OP has (even) taken a photo of a concern, it is usually crap and does little to allow us to better understand their question(s). The majority of these photos need proper processing, and I continually need to zoom and crop just to get a better view (if possible, as most are low res and blurred).
If a handful of inspectors can’t figure out their photos, how the hell do they expect their clients to comprehend it?
I was just curious. But anyways, I don’t really see anything on your list that is a pro or advantage over a phone when it comes to inspections. It is just a list of your phone’s features, almost all of which apply to a phone as well. I could see the battery swap thing being a possible advantage for some people I suppose.
When you identified a defect, what did you do? I take a photo and move along. I suspect you spent time looking at your software. I also suspect you were hopping around the house instead of a systematic, top-down, clockwise movement.
If you want efficiency, focus on what is slowing you down.
I love watching this video. This guy knew how to use a hammer.
I am impressed with his hair.
Absolutely!
And a great example of when todays society is too lazy to “learn how to use it right”, so just get technology to do the job, (and usually in an inferior manner to boot)!
The camera on my phone does 15x zoom with great resolution and the pics can go immediately into my report. It’s bad enough that I have to import pics from the 360° camera, the thermal cam and the drone. I don’t need or want to add the dozens of regular stills and videos also.
To each their own.
Yeah, I use a camera just like Manny and JJ. One thing for me using a standalone camera is it can be held more securely. I fumble around with the phone too much, but hey, I’m an old codger!
Seriously guys, use whatever you want that works for you (even though Manny, JJ and myself are right 
)
When exactly does “old codger” apply? I use a camera and write on my desktop computer, which may qualify me as an “old codger” no matter my age 
You may be a pre-codger Brian!
