Posted by MissyNV on 5/14/05 10:34pm
Msg #37867

digital camera

Is it posible to by a digital camera for under $200, that would take a good enough picture for copies of ID's? If that isn't possible could someone please tell me what the bare minimum requirements wold be on a camera. My feeling is if I have checked the ID myself, the copy wouldn't have to be that great, or would it? I know we have talked about this before. Most people feel that it isn't their responsibility to take copies. I just thought if I didn't have to invest much money, why not.

Reply by Ernest_CT on 5/14/05 10:43pm
Msg #37870

Photos of IDs

Please read the previous posts about notaries taking (digital) photos of people's IDs. There are strong feelings expressed about whether we should or not.

There are camera specifications and models people like, also, if you decide that you are willing to take the risks.

Reply by BrendaTX on 5/14/05 11:41pm
Msg #37878

Try this: When you go shopping for one, first go pick up a magnifying glass. Take the magnifying glass with you to place in front of the lens of the camera for test shots.

Also, even some cell phone cameras are good enough these days to use for making copies of documents.

When it comes to ID copies, some people do things differently than I do and for good reasons. I respect that. Currently, if the lender or title company requests a copy of an ID, I will give them one without fail and handle it with discretion. I do not record complete TDL numbers in my journal any longer. Unfortunately, in Texas anyone can get your driver's license number if they want to--at this time. I am hopeful, this information will be made unavailable to the general public soon. At that time, I will refuse to copy driver's licenses without a release from the bearer.

Reply by Ernest_CT on 5/14/05 11:43pm
Msg #37880

As always, well said, Brenda! n/m

Reply by CarolynCO on 5/15/05 12:00am
Msg #37882

As Ernest suggests, there have been several threads on the subject of photographing Borrower IDs. I personally feel that I am not the Borrowers' babysitter. I *always* inform them, with my initial call, to make copies of their drivers licenses that will need to be sent back with the loan package. If they can't follow one simple requirement/request for obtaining their loan, it is not my responsibility to make sure their loan will close by taking it upon myself to to photograph their liccenses.

Additionally, if I were a borrower, I personally would not allow anyone, especially someone just walking into my house, even if they were a notary, to photograph (whether with a digital camera, camera phone, or palm pilot) my drivers license.

Reply by Joan-OH on 5/15/05 12:32am
Msg #37885

Make sure it has MACRO mode

Otherwise you will have to be 22"+ away to take the picture. Macro allows you to be as close as 8" and get a clear shot. I have an Olympus D390 that I paid about $129 for a year ago. Last October I bought the same camera for my daughter off ebay refurbished for about $80. I have to imagine they are dirt cheap now.

Joan-OH

Reply by missyNV on 5/15/05 8:54am
Msg #37899

digital camera


Sorry, if I have upset anyone by asking a question that might have been posted already, but I felt that I wasn't getting what I really wanted to know out of the other previous posts. Keep in mind that sometimes that there are new people on the board with new insights on subjects. So maybe the guy who is notary/camera geek wasn't on that day. Technology does change.

I had read the previous post, but I guess I am so clueless about cameras I just wanted to ask again, all that pixel stuff confuses me. I really don't want to take pictures of everyones ID, only in case they have forgotten to do it themselves, and only if they don't care if I do it. I just didn't want to spend a lot of money on it.

I like the idea of maybe a cell phone taking good enough photos to suffice. Brenda, the magnifying glass might come in handy also for people who forgot their glasses. So, that might be a good investment in its own.

Thank you, Joan for your idea also. I will check that out . Thats seems like a great deal.

Reply by Gerry_VT on 5/15/05 9:10am
Msg #37905

The digital cameras I've seen cannot take pictures of things that are far away, like a mountain, and things that are close, like a driver's license, with the same camera settings. Instead, you have to use the buttons on the camera to inform it if the subject is closer than about one and a half feet, or further away than that. When the camera is set to take pictures of close objects, it is said to be in macro mode.

The cameras I've seen that sell for $150 and up do have macro mode available; make sure any camera you get has it. As for pixels, I would venture to say that any camera good enough to have macro mode will also have enough pixels (3 million pixels and up).

Reply by CarolynCO on 5/15/05 11:15am
Msg #37921

I haven't read that anyone has gotten upset by your post. I still stand on the belief that taking it upon yourself to photograph Borrower ID's is treading a fine line, especially when it comes to privacy and identity theft -- and something I don't want to be a part of, regardless of the fact that they *forgot* to copy the ID themself even if they don't care if I photograph it for the loan package.

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 5/15/05 12:09pm
Msg #37933

I agree with Carolyn.

If the company is requesting a copy of the ID, when I call the borrowers I remind them that they will need to have a copy of their ID for me to send back with the package otherwise their funding may be delayed until the company receives a copy.
If telling them that isn't enough to motivate them to get the copies made, then they obviously don't want the loan too badly.

I have 2 digital cameras, one a Canon EOS10D which is a 6.3 megapixel camera, and a Canon Powershot S50 which is a 5.0 megapixel. Both would be ideal for taking copies of the drivers licenses, but it isn't my place to take them

If you just want a camera for taking pictures of a drivers license then you really do not need to worry about the megapixels. Do a search on the web for digital camera reviews. I would look for one with the compact flash card (CF card)

But, why spend that much money for a digital camera just to take photos of drivers licenses?

As you don't already have a digital camera, treat yourself and go for the Canon Powershot S50, it is a great little camera. I bought both my daughters one each for Christmas and they are both thrilled with them.

Reply by Select Processing Servivces - Southeast Michigan on 5/15/05 9:26am
Msg #37910

Hi there. You can spend about that much on a portable printer. On those occassions where a copy of photo id is necessary you pull your portable out and copy what you need right there in the customers home/business. That way you don't have to follow them anywhere or hope that the digital camera gives you a clear enough picture.

You can pick up a portable printer at Sam's Club, Office Depot and places like that. I hope this helps.

Markita

Reply by MissyNV on 5/15/05 10:20am
Msg #37914

Great idea n/m