A thread for real estate, architectural, and interior design photography

good points Chas. thanks.

itsmejson wrote in post #11172103
how do you guys fix the distortion? do you guys have some sort of automated way of doing it?

I often use PTLens. It's a Photoshop plug-in filter or standalone app. It reads the exif data and knows the camera, lens, exposure, etc.

BTW... In my experience, the "sweet spot" for focus on the Tokina 11-16 is 14mm.

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ChasP505 wrote in post #11175345
I often use PTLens. It's a Photoshop plug-in filter or standalone app. It reads the exif data and knows the camera, lens, exposure, etc.

BTW... In my experience, the "sweet spot" for focus on the Tokina 11-16 is 14mm.

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forum: Architecture, Real-Estate & Buildings

how is this compared to the built in photoshop lens correction?

I use the aperture version of LensFixCL also. It's much better- it has presets for like every lens and camera combination currently in use and is updated often, so you just have to click a button and it removes barrel distortion for that given lens/camera combo automatically.

mikekelley wrote in post #11176000
I use the aperture version of LensFixCL also. It's much better- it has presets for like every lens and camera combination currently in use and is updated often, so you just have to click a button and it removes barrel distortion for that given lens/camera combo automatically.

PTLens does the same and also has all the lens/body correction factors. But if the exif data is stripped out... obviously it can't function. When I originally bought it many years ago, it was $12 USD. Currently, I think it's $25.

http://www.losko.de/fi​les/lens_correction.ht​ml

http://forums.dpreview​.com …age=36017425&ch​angemode=1

http://forums.dpreview​.com …rum=1042&messag​e=35929225

Good looks!

I think I paid the same for LFCL.

TGrundvig wrote in post #11172406
My success is more than just photos. I am also a Certified Residential Appraiser, so I also offer the service of creating a detailed floor plan. This way, agents can market their listings with high res images, a detailed floor plan, and have accurate square footage.

I was just wondering what program you use to create your floor plans and if you would mind sharing an example? I have used AutoCAD to create marketing type floor plans in the past and just wanted to see how mine measure up.

Thanks.
Ed

ChasP505 wrote in post #11176116
PTLens does the same and also has all the lens/body correction factors. But if the exif data is stripped out... obviously it can't function. When I originally bought it many years ago, it was $12 USD. Currently, I think it's $25.

http://www.losko.de/fi​les/lens_correction.ht​ml

http://forums.dpreview​.com …age=36017425&ch​angemode=1

http://forums.dpreview​.com …rum=1042&messag​e=35929225

sweet thanks i'll check it out. I saw on their site they have a trial

ilovecrashing00 wrote in post #11177554
I was just wondering what program you use to create your floor plans and if you would mind sharing an example? I have used AutoCAD to create marketing type floor plans in the past and just wanted to see how mine measure.

Thanks.
Ed

Here's an example....

http://www.homesight.n​et/rss/tours/index3.ph​p?id=18893

I use Apex. Their site is http://www.apexwin.com​/us/

This is the software I have been using for appraisals since 2002, so I am very used to it. However, I HATE their mobile sketch program. I bought a Motion Computing tablet pc and I bought their Nexus program. It sketches fine, the interior walls are fine, but when it comes to adding symbols and text, it lacks something to be desired. For example, I'm going through the home, I'm drawing everything up, I go to add a toilet to the sketch....seems simple enough, right? But no, it's a royal pain in the butt. The toilet symbol faces the same direction, but I need it to be rotated 90 degrees. I have to place the symbol, touch this green dot on the symbol, and rotate the symbol manually. It hardly ever lines up perfectly. It is even worse with windows. If they could find a way to program it so I could make exact rotations, I would be very happy. So far, it is not a high demand request.

How is your program at adding symbols and text? I'm actually looking for a substitute program that will run on a tablet pc with a stylus pen. I think that's what it is called.

For me, it's about time management. If I spend an hour drawing a sketch at the property and another 30 to 45 mins drawing it into a program....that just drives me nuts. It usually take me about half the time in the field to draw it into the program. It would be nice to have a 'user friendly' program that would allow me to leave the property with the sketch completely done.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

TGrundvig,
I downloaded a demo of Apex and it does seem like a nice program for sketching floor plans. I can see what you're saying about time management, if you are working with Apex on your tablet pc you can easily produce the floor plans in the field with house right in front of you. No more guessing the dimensions that your scribbled down on a napkin.

The example you provided is really nice. If you were able to sketch that complex house in under an hour, you are really making the most of your time with that program. I also like how you have the pictures laid out on the plan so that anyone can get a feel for what each room looks like (I know a lot of people have trouble visualizing from a floor plan, my wife being one of them). It is really a nice hybrid of strictly pictures and a virtual tour.

After taking a look at Apex, AutoCAD is definitely not what you are looking for. It is a drafting program that requires much more manual input, unless you get into the higher level versions of the program (big $$). But if you did want to take a look at the program, they have an online/mobile version called AutoCAD WS. I also attached a couple floor plans of a small house that I sketched for some marketing material. Please excuse those random gray lines in the walls, I have not figured out why they show up when I print to pdf.

Ed

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ChasP505 wrote in post #11176116
PTLens does the same and also has all the lens/body correction factors. But if the exif data is stripped out... obviously it can't function. When I originally bought it many years ago, it was $12 USD. Currently, I think it's $25.

http://www.losko.de/fi​les/lens_correction.ht​ml

http://forums.dpreview​.com …age=36017425&ch​angemode=1

http://forums.dpreview​.com …rum=1042&messag​e=35929225

wow I tried ptlens and it makes things soooo much easier. especially the ptlens plugin being able to use photoshop to open the image in ptlens. awesome application. again thanks for pointing me to it

@mikekelley i can see why you use your mac version

ilovecrashing00 wrote in post #11178637
TGrundvig,
I downloaded a demo of Apex and it does seem like a nice program for sketching floor plans. I can see what you're saying about time management, if you are working with Apex on your tablet pc you can easily produce the floor plans in the field with house right in front of you. No more guessing the dimensions that your scribbled down on a napkin.

The example you provided is really nice. If you were able to sketch that complex house in under an hour, you are really making the most of your time with that program. I also like how you have the pictures laid out on the plan so that anyone can get a feel for what each room looks like (I know a lot of people have trouble visualizing from a floor plan, my wife being one of them). It is really a nice hybrid of strictly pictures and a virtual tour.

Ed

Most homes, take me about an hour to draw in the field and 30 minutes to draw on the computer. I have some homes that I can draw and shoot in less that 30 minutes, those are the one under 1,000 SF and they are rare. Then, I have those monsters that take me 2-3 hours at the property to sketch and shoot. They pay a lot more, but they are a pain. Those too are rare. I would say the average size home I do is around 3,500 to 5,000 SF and they usually take me an hour to sketch on site. You have to realize, I've been measuring home since 2002. I had about 1,800 appraisals under my belt before I switched to this and I've done over 1,000 of these floor plans in the past 3 years. So, I am a lot faster than most people.

As for Apex, if I was you I would get that program. I can help you out with short cut keys and stuff like that. It is actually a fast program to use once you know how to use it. For example, I can grab a symbol and rotate it by hitting the 'R' key, then I use the arrow keys to put it in place. I already created custom sizes for windows and things so I can just grab a 6' window and place it. If the mobile program would let my click something to to get 45 degree rotation of the text and symbols, I would be a happy person. That is really all it lacks for me to be more efficient.

TGrundvig,
Is there another program that adds the photos onto the floorplan or is that done through Apex as well?

Ed

no offence guys but all this floorplan stuff is kind of off topic..

we need a different thread - the business of successful real estate photography.