Masonry Magazine October 2004 Page. 26
TECHNOLOGY
Many users turn to digital cameras to meet several different needs.
Are your photographs not turning out quite how you thought they might? The benefit of being able to see the image on the LCD display will help you re-take a picture right away and get the shot you're looking for.
Are you spending a lot of money on film processing? Other than time spent downloading images from the camera to your computer, there are no "processing" costs. Also, you can print only the images you want on a high-quality printer at the home or office, or use a professional kiosk center, such as the Fujifilm Aladdin Digital Photo Center (see picture below), at your local photo processing store.
Are you digitizing images often? If you are currently e-mailing images or posting them on your web site, a digital camera will make the process easier. If not, would you and your business benefit from being able to have this option?
LaGuardia says that many of the advantages of digital can be utilized with the film medium, such as getting pictures digitized during processing, but there are several more steps between taking a picture on film and being able to look at it on your computer screen.
"With the digital medium, you don't have to go through those steps - you already have the images digitized," he says. "I think that the biggest advantages are: the ability for instant feedback regarding the picture, so you know whether or not you got the shot that you wanted, simply by looking at the LCD display image on the back of the camera, the ability to delete a photo that did not end up the way you intended, you can go ahead and erase it and take another one, and, with the size of the media cards that are available at this time, going on to gigabyte sizes, you can take an awful lot of pictures with digital cameras. So when someone's down at the site, he or she would not have to be worried about only having a certain number of images left. They can just go ahead, if they have an empty media card, and most likely be able to fire away as many pictures as they want."
Also, most masonry construction sites get blazing hot during the summer months. While your crews are working in 80-, 90-, even 100-degree temperatures, the temperature in their vehicles can get up to 200 degrees, depending on the temperature outside, the kind of vehicle they have, and how long it has been in the sun. While most technology items, including photography products, don't fair well in above-normal heat, a digital camera might survive your foreperson leaving it in the car now and again.
"We don't recommend putting any photographic product in direct sunlight or heat, it can do a lot of damage," says LaGuardia. "Film is probably going to be a little more sensitive to atmospheric conditions, particularly heat, than a digital camera. That's not to say that digital cameras are indestructible - anything electronic, you drop it and you're going to have some problems."
Finally, digital cameras can assist in initiative workflow, or the management of pictures.
"Let's say, for instance, that the foreperson has gone and taken 10, 20 or 30 pictures on a particular job site," LaGuardia poses. "Many of our digital cameras have docking stations, where they
Blast from the Past
Not really feeling technologically savvy? Do you need a camera that can document on-site details or before-and-after shots for your files without all the bells and whistles? Rather than purchasing something that's more than what you need, the Polaroid One600 JobPro might be the answer you're looking for.
Like most Polaroid cameras, the JobPro features simple point-and-shoot operation, a focus-free lens, auto flash and the new AutoSharp technology for capturing detailed shots as close as two feet away.
What makes this camera special is that it was specifically designed for construction site photography. The JobPro's casing is reinforced for durability to withstand tough work conditions, the rubberized finish lends to a no slip grip, and a scratch-resistant shield protects the lens from dust, dirt and flying mortar. It also comes with a limited lifetime warranty that covers most repairs and replacement if it's ever damaged.
The camera has a suggested retail price of $59, but some of the online retailers we've checked are selling it for $39. The JobPro utilizes standard Polaroid 600 Film, 600 NotePad Film (gives you extra lines at the bottom of the frame so you can write notes) or 600 Write-On Film (a matte finished film that allows you to write directly on the image) that sell for about $14.99 per pack.
For more information about the Polaroid One600 JobPro camera, visit www.polaroid.com/jobpro.