A statistic that those of us in the real estate industry know very well is that 86% of all home buyers begin their home shopping adventure searching for homes on the internet. Buyers often visit dozens of real estate websites viewing detailed information on listings including taking virtual tours and viewing real estate slideshows. Websites, virtual tours and slide shows all have one thing in common and that is that buyers are looking at digital photos of these homes. Wouldn't you think that it would be logical for a real estate professional to invest in the technology that produces the best quality photos considering that 4 out of 5 buyers will be making their decision of which homes they want to take an interior tour of based on what photos they see online?
The biggest mistake I see agents make is that they are trying to photograph their listings with a small pocket digital camera. The challege with these types of cameras is that they are truly not designed for taking interior photos of homes especially in lower light settings. The biggest issue with these types of camera is that most are limited to a 25 mm to 35 mm camera lens. This makes for some very awkward photos when you are trying to get some really good shots of a moderate to smaller sized room such as a bathroom, breakfast nook, media room, enclosed porch, breezeway, kitchen pantry or pretty much any other smaller room. The type of camera, the camera sensor, the lens and the flash all contribute to the quality of interior photos of our homes.
The following four photos were taken using a very high quality Canon DSLR 40D camera. I wanted to demonstrate the difference between a more standard 35 mm lens shot compared to a 24 mm, 17 mm and even the ultra wide 10 mm lens shots. The reason is that to the average consumer a digital photo is a digital photo UNTIL they actually see how much more of the room we are able to feature using the wider angle lens that is simply not available on the small pocket sized digital cameras.
When you are interviewing a real estate professional to market your home it is a great idea to view and compare the quality of their photos and their website and virtual tour marketing. With more than 80% of all home buyers making their home buying decision based on what they see online remember that a picture is worth a 1,000 words so consider what will your agents photos say about your home.
*All photo examples were used as they came out of the camera and no retouching or photo enhancements were utilized.
Hello there, I love your blog www.knoxcountyohio.com . Is there something I can do to receive updates like a subscription or some thing? I am sorry I'm not acquainted with RSS?
Aloha Sam, Mahlo! I have been a real estate broker for 35+ years, but not practicing. Back in the good old days I used a wonderful Pentax SLR with a 24mm lens that took great wide angle images of a home's interior, but that measurement does not apply to the new digital cameras. I have been trying to figure out what lenses to buy with a new DSLR. You answered my question. Your Website was given to me by an online CamerWorld.com support person.
fantastic comparisons! Thank you for this wealth of knowledge. I am ordering mine today.
Hi Sam,
I found this post by searching for Canon wide angle lens for real estate. I can't tell you how much I appreciate finding this page and your input on the 10-22 lens. I've put off buying it for too long and ordered it after reading it. Thanx again!
Hi Sam,
Thanks for taking the time to share the differences in the wide angel lens. Great review, shows how a picture is worth more than 1,000 words. You have helped me become a better agent, thanks for that.
Roger
Sam, my wife has been a residential real estate agent for over 15 years and tells me that she needs a wide angle lens for shooting photos in homes which she list. Currently she has a Nikon D60 with Nikkor AF-5 DX 18-55 1:3.5-5.6GVR lens. I am unsure of what to purchase her for this Christmas (2010) nor the brand such as SIMGA, Nikon, Tameron and the many other choices. Want quality but obviously do not want to overspend. AND, where is a good source to purchase, i.e., Amazon, etc.
For your question - found this blog via a Google search on Wide Angle Lens and another repost of yours at what I recall as Active Rain.
Seems that something like the virtually pro grade Tokina 11-16mm might be just as good as a 10mm.
Also, I just recently used a Tokina 10-17mm in a newly remodeled pizza restaurant while waiting for a to-go order.
The room was very wide, and there was not much distortion at all at the edges. I realized that the Fisheye might blow the doors off a regular UWA lens in this size of room.
So I think that both Fisheye and UWA are worth using for the real estate trade.
MDV / Oregon
Sam. I was basically searching for some inspiration on what wide angle lens camera to buy for our estate agency business in the UK and stumbled upon your good presentation. Well done I like it and have suggested it to others.
I would love to hear how each of you found this blog. The reason I am asking is because I wrote it nearly two years ago and it is getting tons of views all of a sudden. Thanks to all who have tweeted it and added links to this topic. Thank again! Sam Miller
Sam,
Being an e-Pro I received an email with this page attached to it in a discussion regarding photography in Real estate.
I use the same Canon equipment.
I like to exchange some information. How do you take your indoor pictures?
I have the best results by setting my 40D to AV and change the iso to 400. In AV setting I am able to change the focus from 5.6 to 8 or if needed to 11.0. I turn the interior lights on to balance it more with incoming light. And of course I use a tri-pod or in smaller rooms a mono-pod with a level gauge. I do not use a flash.
Outside I use the same principal system and if there is to much shades I try to change the foreground shade by using the 430 flash and reduce the flash value -1 to -1 1/3 stop.
I take a lot of picures for the Realtors in my office and I do it for free. Agents from other offices has to pay me $90 for 25 pictures. I want our office to stand out with quality pictures.
Ronny
I like the post on the cameras I am a realtor and new to the advance photograph. present using pocket digitial any coments to buy new camera that i can also use as a hobby thanks
Thanks for this site Sam. I could only purchase the Canon Rebel t1i with my budget. The Canon 10-22 is being delivered tomorrow from Amazon. Anyway, I've been learning the Canon. Took pictures with the auto and then with the landscape setting. The landscape does not allow the flash to work on that setting. However, it brings in more light than when I shoot the kitchen with the auto setting with flash. I'm just learning all of this and I know with your experience you realize it's the aperture. Anyway, when you shoot with your higher end camera on your clients interiors, are you using the landscape or auto setting? Again, the landscape looks better so far as the pictures have more light. I happened across this site almost 6 months ago but just had enough to get my camera and lens. I'm very excited to get some wide angle shots on my listings. I have a lot of condos so this should be a big help. Any other tips you can share on lighting? Thanks so much, Jose
Freddy, I stuck with the Canon 10-22 instead of an alternative brand because I had heard some horror stories of distortion with some of the other non Canon brands..
Hi Sam, Thanks for the wide angle review. I'm a R/E agent in NYC have a canon 20D and looking at Tokina 12-24. I want a lens for work but will this be ok for regular photos for family situations. Have 4 grand children and shoot indoors. thanks Fred
If you are shooting at the 10 mm to 14 mm setting I have found that utilizing the diffuser on the Canon Speedlite flash will help reduce the shadow on the outer edges of the photo.
I saw at Best Buy new Canon (?) camera with "ultra wide angle" that has extra feature: allows to record picture by moving/rotating camera, thus eliminating 24mm limit problem of most point-and-shoot digital cameras
Michael, I Like the way you are thinking. Knowing what I know today I would have absolutely bought the higher end full frame camera and I would have bought one with HD video so that I could take advantage of the wide angle video views. We have been seriously looking into adding this technology to our current system.
Sam -- have you looked at the issue from the opposite perspective? ie, since this might make a vital difference to the consumer, and if an agent decided to get the best setup available (such as Nikon's d90 or 700, with full-frame photo and 16mm lens), what conclusion might you come to? After all, even with an investment of $2-4000, it might prove worth it...
Great Post! Very good pictures! I am definitely looking into buying a camera and this post is a great start!
This camera information is really interesting. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge. It helps us all.
Jean
Beautiful example of using the right equipment. Thanks for sharing.
Harris- I did not utilize any conversion.
Carolyn - I have talked with many who went with the less expensive lens initially but most have wished they hadn't and many have later bought the Canon 10-22. My opinion is to spend a little more the first time and you won't have to replace it later.
Sam,
Great information. I was looking for something that compared the 17m-40 with the 10-20m lens. Do you use a flash with the 10-20? I am looking at a Sigma based on reviews rather than the Canon. Any comments?
I was wondering, when you list the mm of the shot, did you convert it to 35mm equivelent? Or is the mm listed, the same as what is on the lens.
thanks much.
Sam, you continue to be such a great example of an agent who really cares for their craft and helping others to improve theirs as well. Thanks for this very informative post. You can really see the difference the right tools and knowledge can make!
So very helpful! I definitely know I need a new camera to be on the cutting edge of presentation!! Many thanks for this demonstration!
Mrs.
Great post! Very-well written and helpful. Thanks!
Sweet Demo
Thank you for the succinct demonstration of how to improve our online photos! Thanks Sam.
A Picture is worth a thousand words
Though I currently use a Nikon D60 and thought it was taking great shots I realize I really need that extra lens. It's on my wish list. Thanks for the great advice and for giving me the opportunity to be better than I am.
10-22 mm Lens
Lee, I didn't buy the 10-22mm lens with the camera. I wish I could have bought it as a Canon 40D kit and saved a few bucks but they didn't offer the 10-22m as a kit.
Realtor
Sam did you hav to buy additional lenses to get down t the 10mm or did that come with the camera. I have been struggling with hiring a photographer or buy a better camera. I currently use a point & shoot 28mm Canon. About how much was the camera that you are using and additional lenses? Thanks for your help. Star Power
Realtor
Sam Great demostration , thanks for the great advice!
President
Wonderful examples, my friend. Thanks...I'll make you famous in my seminars by showing this blog page, credit to you.
Digital Camera
WOW! Now that is great training. I so appreciate all your help!
Mr.
Sam, you hit it on the nail with this great info. In this market homesellers have to take advantage of little details to get buyers excited.
Wide angle Lens
Sam, what a fabulous presentation! I think I have to go buy a new lens now!!!
Great demonstration
What a great example of how important photography can be. The 10mm view is remarkably helpful. Agents take marketing to another level with good photography. Thank you for posting Sam.
Ms.
This is an excellent post. It was a good idea to take the same picture with the different settings. It is very instructive. This is the type of information that quality agents show their sellers. This is another place where you add value to your clients.
35 mm Setting. The above photo was taken using the 35 mm lens setting. As you can see it only captures a small portion of this kitchen. What is amazing is this kitchen is a huge room but because of the narrow focus of the 35 mm lens you only see a fraction of this home. This is obviously NOT how to highlight your listing.
