OK. This falls in the what hardware do you use category. I searched the archives and found thousands of hits on investigating cameras, camera memory, etc. But I am interested in what others are using to document their investigations. I know a lot of the "other" forensic vocations are big on the Nikon D40 and Canon EOS which are certainly cool and take great pics, but are they overkill? Is there something equally acceptable but more portable?
What exactly do you use your camera for? Perhaps everyone uses cameras for different purposes.
I would have thought the models you mention are perhaps overkill, and a camera from a reputable maker at a third of the price would be sufficient. It all depends what it is used for; in the main we take pics in a brightly lit lab of evidence bags, BIOS screens, hard drives and their labels, of the submitted exhibits themsleves, etc.
in the main we take pics in a brightly lit lab of evidence bags, BIOS screens, hard drives and their labels, of the submitted exhibits themsleves, etc.
In the lab as you described, but also in the field when seizing computers, servers, PDAs, cell phones, etc. No photographing of trace evidence just the electronics.
I was just trying to brainstorm if there are any reasons that one of the smaller cameras would not be acceptable.
Even fairly cheap digital cameras (just above bargain basement level) these days generally give a very detailed image, however this tends to rely on holding them very still. So for the sort of stuff johnathans talking, most cameras bunged on a stand would do.
How steady are your hands? wink
I use either a canon powershot 540(6mp), a sony cybershot DSC-s90(4.1mp) for my photos. I can see where you'd need and or want a nicer SLR camera but as long as it does date&time, and can read fine print why spend so much if you don't need to?
Olympus 4040. I have a D80 but would never take it out on a case. Its too much for simple shots of the scene and computer. The 4040 does macro for close-ups of serial and model numbers, and at 4MP, has decent resolution.
Unless your photos are going to the crime-lab or you need specific functionality of an SLR, any decent point and shoot will be more than adequate.
I have been doing some shopping and really like
and the
both 10MP, both have easy to use/quick focusing macro and image stabilizers.
An SLR is great, but seems to be overkill for what I normally document.
The powershot G7 looks like a better camera.
If a camera can't read the serial number on the PCB then keep looking until you find one that does.