MicrostockGroup

Agency Based Discussion => Alamy.com => Topic started by: bobkeenan on February 21, 2012, 13:16

Title: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: bobkeenan on February 21, 2012, 13:16
I submitted a batch of images a while ago.  It had not gone through QC yet but I had another batch to submit.  So I figured I would submit that as well.   It looks like one image in the first batch failed so they all failed and it also looks like the second batch failed as well because the first one, in the first batch did.   So what I learned is to submit a batch and wait for it to clear QC before you submit a second.

BTW the image that failed was my favorite image.   I don't print much of my stuff for personal use but my friends and family liked the image so much that they insisted I print and frame it.  That's like one out of 2000 in my portfolio.   It also has lots of copy space for commercial space.  So it was interesting for ALAMY to fail QC on this one.  Note it was also not accepted at most of the other sites that i use.    

There is just no accounting for tastes.... Its a shame that they they all all wrong and I am right on this one   ;-)

Here is the image that has gotten almost universal rejection:
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: stockastic on February 21, 2012, 16:25
Why was it rejected?

"Focus"?
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: bobkeenan on February 21, 2012, 16:38
Yea... "Soft or Lacking Definition"

I focused on the leading fence post at f8.   And I was pretty close with a 24-70mm lens at 50mm.  My DOF was about 2 ft.  I got what I wanted which was a sharp front post drifting to a diminishing softer background.  And I know that microstock reviewers can be erratic and finicky about DOF.   So you always take your chances when you submit stuff like this I guess.
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: luissantos84 on February 21, 2012, 16:41
So you always take your chances when you submit stuff like this I guess.

exactly, like Sean says its borderline but actually this one is way way over borderline, you can enjoy etc but not stock
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: Ed on February 21, 2012, 18:51
I can't see your image at 100%...but I'll give you my experience.  I'm not sure what brand you shoot, but I shoot Canon and I own the 24-70 f/2.8L.  That lens sucks...big time.  It's great for editorial and reportage but for creative stock, it's the pits.  I'm willing to bet that the "soft and lacking definition" is a result of the lens being soft in the corners.  Take a look at the image at 100% and look at all four corners.  Is it soft?  Is it in focus?

I have an image submitted on the microstock agencies of a wind farm.  I couldn't submit the image to the traditional agencies I work with because all four corners were soft.  I cropped it to a smaller size and submitted it to the micros (that allow for smaller image sizes) and it has done very well.

That's my experience.
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: luissantos84 on February 21, 2012, 18:58
I can't see your image at 100%...but I'll give you my experience.  I'm not sure what brand you shoot, but I shoot Canon and I own the 24-70 f/2.8L.  That lens sucks...big time.  It's great for editorial and reportage but for creative stock, it's the pits.  I'm willing to bet that the "soft and lacking definition" is a result of the lens being soft in the corners.  Take a look at the image at 100% and look at all four corners.  Is it soft?  Is it in focus?

I have an image submitted on the microstock agencies of a wind farm.  I couldn't submit the image to the traditional agencies I work with because all four corners were soft.  I cropped it to a smaller size and submitted it to the micros (that allow for smaller image sizes) and it has done very well.

That's my experience.

what F you playing with? at F3.5 I dont see any soft corners, its not a sigma... talking about the Nikon 24-70
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: Ed on February 21, 2012, 19:12
I can't see your image at 100%...but I'll give you my experience.  I'm not sure what brand you shoot, but I shoot Canon and I own the 24-70 f/2.8L.  That lens sucks...big time.  It's great for editorial and reportage but for creative stock, it's the pits.  I'm willing to bet that the "soft and lacking definition" is a result of the lens being soft in the corners.  Take a look at the image at 100% and look at all four corners.  Is it soft?  Is it in focus?

I have an image submitted on the microstock agencies of a wind farm.  I couldn't submit the image to the traditional agencies I work with because all four corners were soft.  I cropped it to a smaller size and submitted it to the micros (that allow for smaller image sizes) and it has done very well.

That's my experience.

what F you playing with? at F3.5 I dont see any soft corners, its not a sigma... talking about the Nikon 24-70

My particular image was shot at f/8 at 50mm.  It's the Canon 24-70 f/2.8L.  I had to crop down to 8.7 megapixel to crop out the corners in order to get it into Shutterstock and other agencies.  Last month, I got a $28 EL out of it at Shutterstock...I count it as a blessing because it almost ended up getting deleted.  I am very interested in the second version of the lens due out in April.
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: luissantos84 on February 21, 2012, 19:17
I can't see your image at 100%...but I'll give you my experience.  I'm not sure what brand you shoot, but I shoot Canon and I own the 24-70 f/2.8L.  That lens sucks...big time.  It's great for editorial and reportage but for creative stock, it's the pits.  I'm willing to bet that the "soft and lacking definition" is a result of the lens being soft in the corners.  Take a look at the image at 100% and look at all four corners.  Is it soft?  Is it in focus?

I have an image submitted on the microstock agencies of a wind farm.  I couldn't submit the image to the traditional agencies I work with because all four corners were soft.  I cropped it to a smaller size and submitted it to the micros (that allow for smaller image sizes) and it has done very well.

That's my experience.


what F you playing with? at F3.5 I dont see any soft corners, its not a sigma... talking about the Nikon 24-70

My particular image was shot at f/8 at 50mm.  It's the Canon 24-70 f/2.8L.  I had to crop down to 8.7 megapixel to crop out the corners in order to get it into Shutterstock and other agencies.  Last month, I got a $28 EL out of it at Shutterstock...I count it as a blessing because it almost ended up getting deleted.  I am very interested in the second version of the lens due out in April.

aren´t you exaggerating? perhaps it would be approved
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: Ed on February 21, 2012, 19:22
Luis - no exaggeration...I didn't submit the image to Alamy for a reason...and I cropped it for a reason.  The image is currently at Bigstock, Shutterstock, 123RF, and iStock.  It was refused at DT.
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: luissantos84 on February 21, 2012, 19:23
Luis - no exaggeration...I didn't submit the image to Alamy for a reason...and I cropped it for a reason.  The image is currently at Bigstock, Shutterstock, 123RF, and iStock.  It was refused at DT.

at F8 it doesnt make much sense but I believe in you.. it would make on cheap sigma 18 200 per example
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: bobkeenan on February 21, 2012, 20:56
I can't see your image at 100%...but I'll give you my experience.  I'm not sure what brand you shoot, but I shoot Canon and I own the 24-70 f/2.8L.  That lens sucks...big time.  It's great for editorial and reportage but for creative stock, it's the pits.  I'm willing to bet that the "soft and lacking definition" is a result of the lens being soft in the corners.  Take a look at the image at 100% and look at all four corners.  Is it soft?  Is it in focus?

I have an image submitted on the microstock agencies of a wind farm.  I couldn't submit the image to the traditional agencies I work with because all four corners were soft.  I cropped it to a smaller size and submitted it to the micros (that allow for smaller image sizes) and it has done very well.

That's my experience.

I don't think its the lens.   This was shot with the 24-70 f2.8  at 50mm and at f8.  I have never seen any significant corner problems.  Out of the close to 2000 images that I have on microstock sites I bet about 800 are from this lens.  Also if you look at all of the reviews for this lens they say that the only problems are when it is wide open or at the fulll ranges of the zoom.   This was at 50mm and f8.   So I would love to blame the lens but the problem is me and microstock.   To do this shot right I should have set it up on a tripod, cranked the iso down to 100, and taken it at f16 and maybe put the focus point a little further back on the fence to maximize the DOF at the beginning of the fence.

BTW if you can't tell I LOVE this lens.  My other love is the 70-200 f2.8... then my wife and kids   ;-)
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: luissantos84 on February 21, 2012, 21:44
Robert you have some heavy gear  ;D

Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 7D
430 EX Flash
Sigma 50mm 1.4
17-55mm f2.8 USM
Canon 100mm f2.8 IS
24-70
70-200 f2.8 L USM
100-400mm
2x teleconverter
4 tripods (1 the gitzo traveler)

wow :D
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: qwerty on February 22, 2012, 02:01
I think that something wrong if people are saying the canon 24-70L 2.8 is not good enough for microstock. 

We're not taking photos of the Higgs Boson Partical here.
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: Microstock Posts on February 22, 2012, 02:25
I think that something wrong if people are saying the canon 24-70L 2.8 is not good enough for microstock. 

We're not taking photos of the Higgs Boson Partical here.

 :D :D

Still wasn't good enough for dt even after it was cropped. Now does that surprise anyone  ::)
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: BaldricksTrousers on February 22, 2012, 03:08
Ed must have a rogue lens, because the Canon 24-70 f2.8 is one of the best, sharpest lenses Canon has and performs superbly at 21MP.
I can't tell anything from the small image size in the download. Maybe there is shake or missed focus at 100%. Alamy don't care about whether it is a "stock image" they only check for technical errors.
Another possibility is that weathered wood lacks detail or maybe they thought you just missed the focus.
There is really no way past the one-fails-all-fail rule. If you delay uploading until the previous batch fails you just pile up a backlog and then all those will fail if one of them does.
You will be under closer scrutiny now.
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: Microstock Posts on February 22, 2012, 03:14
Ed must have a rogue lens, because the Canon 24-70 f2.8 is one of the best, sharpest lenses Canon has and performs superbly at 21MP.
I can't tell anything from the small image size in the download. Maybe there is shake or missed focus at 100%. Alamy don't care about whether it is a "stock image" they only check for technical errors.
Another possibility is that weathered wood lacks detail or maybe they thought you just missed the focus.
There is really no way past the one-fails-all-fail rule. If you delay uploading until the previous batch fails you just pile up a backlog and then all those will fail if one of them does.
You will be under closer scrutiny now.

For failing one QC?
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: lagereek on February 22, 2012, 03:17
I can't see your image at 100%...but I'll give you my experience.  I'm not sure what brand you shoot, but I shoot Canon and I own the 24-70 f/2.8L.  That lens sucks...big time.  It's great for editorial and reportage but for creative stock, it's the pits.  I'm willing to bet that the "soft and lacking definition" is a result of the lens being soft in the corners.  Take a look at the image at 100% and look at all four corners.  Is it soft?  Is it in focus?

I have an image submitted on the microstock agencies of a wind farm.  I couldn't submit the image to the traditional agencies I work with because all four corners were soft.  I cropped it to a smaller size and submitted it to the micros (that allow for smaller image sizes) and it has done very well.

That's my experience.

what F you playing with? at F3.5 I dont see any soft corners, its not a sigma... talking about the Nikon 24-70

My particular image was shot at f/8 at 50mm.  It's the Canon 24-70 f/2.8L.  I had to crop down to 8.7 megapixel to crop out the corners in order to get it into Shutterstock and other agencies.  Last month, I got a $28 EL out of it at Shutterstock...I count it as a blessing because it almost ended up getting deleted.  I am very interested in the second version of the lens due out in April.

Forget the 24-70, in fact with higher stuff, forget any zooms, start collecting the best of primes. Next generation of high-res cams will in fact demand the quality of top primes.

best.
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: BaldricksTrousers on February 22, 2012, 03:33
Ed must have a rogue lens, because the Canon 24-70 f2.8 is one of the best, sharpest lenses Canon has and performs superbly at 21MP.
I can't tell anything from the small image size in the download. Maybe there is shake or missed focus at 100%. Alamy don't care about whether it is a "stock image" they only check for technical errors.
Another possibility is that weathered wood lacks detail or maybe they thought you just missed the focus.
There is really no way past the one-fails-all-fail rule. If you delay uploading until the previous batch fails you just pile up a backlog and then all those will fail if one of them does.
You will be under closer scrutiny now.

For failing one QC?

I think they will look at your next couple of batches more closely and if they are OK they will ease off.
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: Microstock Posts on February 22, 2012, 03:47
.
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: BaldricksTrousers on February 22, 2012, 04:45
Forget the 24-70, in fact with higher stuff, forget any zooms, start collecting the best of primes. Next generation of high-res cams will in fact demand the quality of top primes.

best.


Check out this http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/lenses/24-70-review.shtml (http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/lenses/24-70-review.shtml)

Or if you want something complicated, this:
http://www.photozone.de/canon_eos_ff/528-canon2470f28ff?start=1 (http://www.photozone.de/canon_eos_ff/528-canon2470f28ff?start=1)

and then compare it with one of the best of Canon's primes

http://www.photozone.de/canon_eos_ff/502-canon_85f12ff?start=1 (http://www.photozone.de/canon_eos_ff/502-canon_85f12ff?start=1)

And you'll see that the traditional advice about zooms being markedly inferior to primes doesn't really hold any more, at least, not with this lens (it certainly does with the 17-40 f4L, which has corners that don't even make it into the "poor" category on the chart when used wide open at 17). The 24-70 is better than most ordinary primes over its range and close to the L-range primes.

So while you might get very slightly better results by forking out for three or four L-range primes, it's not likely to make any real-world difference and you get a lot more expense and inconvenience to cover the range.

It's interesting that Canon were happy to produce an significantly inferior medium length zoom, the 24-105/4L, many years after coming up with the 24-70/2.8. Obviously, the older lens is well above the minimum requirement for the L range.
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: Ed on February 22, 2012, 10:12
Forget the 24-70, in fact with higher stuff, forget any zooms, start collecting the best of primes. Next generation of high-res cams will in fact demand the quality of top primes.

best.


I agree with this 100%.  I'm also not the only person in the world to notice the issue...

http://zackarias.com/for-photographers/gear-gadgets/headline-i-switched-to-canon-world-still-turns/#more-2583 (http://zackarias.com/for-photographers/gear-gadgets/headline-i-switched-to-canon-world-still-turns/#more-2583)

Quote
For workshops I ended up using the Canon a lot because it was the only camera I had a zoom lens for and I found I could teach with a 24-70 2.8 for just about everything I need to do during a workshop. Being that workshops have been 50% of my work I ended up using that lens a good bit but I hated that lens. At 2.8 the edges and corners are soft and distorted at the wide range of the lens. My studio manager, Dan, had a 24-70 as well and we found it did the same thing. It wasn’t just my copy of it. I’ve talked to many Canon shooters who have found similar poor results with their 24-70. I imagine we’ll see a version II of this lens at some point. My personal opinion is it isn’t worth the money.
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: luissantos84 on February 22, 2012, 10:33
if we are going this way, I would say 50mm F1.8 and you will get the greatest pics for stock/other for 100 euros

how can we say a 1400 eur like 24 70 isn´t good enough :D
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: Ed on February 22, 2012, 10:38
Most of my images in studio are shot with either a 50mm f/1.8 (first generation lens with a metal mount) or an 85 f/1.8  I have shot with the 85 f/1.2 and it is just plain incredible but I can't afford it at the moment.  I would like a 50 f/1.2 but for stock, the f/1.8 is perfect.
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: BaldricksTrousers on February 22, 2012, 11:21
if we are going this way, I would say 50mm F1.8 and you will get the greatest pics for stock/other for 100 euros

how can we say a 1400 eur like 24 70 isn´t good enough :D

Cos, everyone is trying to get perfect focus in the corners while shooting stock at f2.8 ;)

I sometimes think people just repeat what they read somewhere, without paying attention to their own real-world experience.

It's also nonsense to say the "next generation" of top quality cameras will require prime lenses. First of all, the Canon IDS MkIII and the Canon 5D Mk2 only have a theoretical resolution of about 70lp/mm (and it isn't really that much, because there is more to it than just the pixel density), which is LOWER than some of Canon's crop-sensor cameras. Secontly, if you are cropping something out of the final image you generally crop the central portion, which is sharpest, and if you are downsizing you effectively increase the sharpness of the lens.

I really doubt that the 50/1.8 first version outperforms the 24-70/2.8, even stopped down to 2.8. The new version has to be stopped down to f4 or beyond to overtake the zoom in the corners (that's what the technical charts say, anyway) is the second version worse than the first version?

 
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: aluxum on February 22, 2012, 11:33
The 24-70L is not good for stock. It is a convenient lens but with many problems. Borders are unsharp, many chromatic aberrations and uneven quality depending on the focal length. Primes trump any zoom always. Tele zooms are ok but wideangle ones in Canon territory are of borderline quality to pass the inspection process.
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: Ed on February 22, 2012, 11:52
I really doubt that the 50/1.8 first version outperforms the 24-70/2.8, even stopped down to 2.8. The new version has to be stopped down to f4 or beyond to overtake the zoom in the corners (that's what the technical charts say, anyway) is the second version worse than the first version?

The difference between the first and second version is essentially, a metal mount vs. a plastic mount, and focus speed.  The second version focuses faster.  The first version currently sells used for more than the second version sells new.

If you read the charts, you'll find that the 50 f/1.8 is optically superior than the 50 f/1.4 on a full frame camera.  For clients, the f1/2 would be more desirable to give that "dreamy" look...which most agencies will refuse...another reason I haven't bought that lens yet.

I've also owned a 24-105L and I hated that lens even more because of the vignetting.  I know it's a popular lens (as is the 24-70) but experience has helped me form my own opinions about each product.  I prefer faster glass...I like primes over zooms unless I'm in a situation where I need to switch it up quickly (i.e. editorial, street, etc.).  That's just me and my style.  It's how I roll LOL   ;D
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: BaldricksTrousers on February 22, 2012, 12:46
I really doubt that the 50/1.8 first version outperforms the 24-70/2.8, even stopped down to 2.8. The new version has to be stopped down to f4 or beyond to overtake the zoom in the corners (that's what the technical charts say, anyway) is the second version worse than the first version?

The difference between the first and second version is essentially, a metal mount vs. a plastic mount, and focus speed.  The second version focuses faster.  The first version currently sells used for more than the second version sells new.

If you read the charts, you'll find that the 50 f/1.8 is optically superior than the 50 f/1.4 on a full frame camera.  For clients, the f1/2 would be more desirable to give that "dreamy" look...which most agencies will refuse...another reason I haven't bought that lens yet.

I've also owned a 24-105L and I hated that lens even more because of the vignetting.  I know it's a popular lens (as is the 24-70) but experience has helped me form my own opinions about each product.  I prefer faster glass...I like primes over zooms unless I'm in a situation where I need to switch it up quickly (i.e. editorial, street, etc.).  That's just me and my style.  It's how I roll LOL   ;D

I've got nothing against primes they do have advantages - curiously, one of them is that they are a bit of a straightjacket for composition which can actually be helpful forcing you to think more about how to handle a situation. Fast glass also auto-focuses faster.

Of course, if you are going to uprez files for Alamy, the sharper what you start with the better but I scarcely ever do that and with 24MB files being acceptable there image quality from the 24-70 is very unlikely to be a rejection reason.
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: luissantos84 on February 22, 2012, 13:16
if we are going this way, I would say 50mm F1.8 and you will get the greatest pics for stock/other for 100 euros

how can we say a 1400 eur like 24 70 isn´t good enough :D

Cos, everyone is trying to get perfect focus in the corners while shooting stock at f2.8 ;)

I sometimes think people just repeat what they read somewhere, without paying attention to their own real-world experience.

It's also nonsense to say the "next generation" of top quality cameras will require prime lenses. First of all, the Canon IDS MkIII and the Canon 5D Mk2 only have a theoretical resolution of about 70lp/mm (and it isn't really that much, because there is more to it than just the pixel density), which is LOWER than some of Canon's crop-sensor cameras. Secontly, if you are cropping something out of the final image you generally crop the central portion, which is sharpest, and if you are downsizing you effectively increase the sharpness of the lens.

I really doubt that the 50/1.8 first version outperforms the 24-70/2.8, even stopped down to 2.8. The new version has to be stopped down to f4 or beyond to overtake the zoom in the corners (that's what the technical charts say, anyway) is the second version worse than the first version?

 

of course, the 50mm perfom very close to 24 70 at F9, everything in focus, not talking about a macro, a regular landmark per example..

1.8 is actually very shallow, need like 2.5, and 24 70 at 3.5.. it depends on the distance we are too, we all know that
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: luissantos84 on February 22, 2012, 13:17
The 24-70L is not good for stock. It is a convenient lens but with many problems. Borders are unsharp, many chromatic aberrations and uneven quality depending on the focal length. Primes trump any zoom always. Tele zooms are ok but wideangle ones in Canon territory are of borderline quality to pass the inspection process.

you have no CA on primes? yeh right...
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: gostwyck on February 22, 2012, 13:30
The 24-70L is not good for stock. It is a convenient lens but with many problems. Borders are unsharp, many chromatic aberrations and uneven quality depending on the focal length. Primes trump any zoom always. Tele zooms are ok but wideangle ones in Canon territory are of borderline quality to pass the inspection process.

I have no idea what exotic substances you guys are on but Canon's 24-70mm f2.8L is an outstanding lens which is perfect for stock or any other general use. Probably 98% of my port was captured using it and I get very few rejections. My only concern is that mine has now undertaken about 500K shutter operations and I'd assume that at some point the auto-focus motor may die and need replacing.

As it happens my initial batch for Alamy just been passed by QC. All 4 images were captured with the 24-70 and included full-sized images of landscapes and close-up work. It's an L glass lens __ I'd have been astonished if they hadn't passed.

Yes of course CA can be a problem (because it is a zoom lens) but only under extreme circumstances and it can usually be corrected in PS anyway. The convenience of the zoom way exceeds the inconvenience of the occasional CA.
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: lisafx on February 22, 2012, 13:47

I have no idea what exotic substances you guys are on but Canon's 24-70mm f2.8L is an outstanding lens which is perfect for stock or any other general use. Probably 98% of my port was captured using it and I get very few rejections. My only concern is that mine has now undertaken about 500K shutter operations and I'd assume that at some point the auto-focus motor may die and need replacing.

As it happens my initial batch for Alamy just been passed by QC. All 4 images were captured with the 24-70 and included full-sized images of landscapes and close-up work. It's an L glass lens __ I'd have been astonished if they hadn't passed.

Yes of course CA can be a problem (because it is a zoom lens) but only under extreme circumstances and it can usually be corrected in PS anyway. The convenience of the zoom way exceeds the inconvenience of the occasional CA.

+1 on your whole post. 

Much of my portfolio was captured using the Canon 24-70L.  Perhaps I just have an exceptional copy, but it is as sharp as my primes, to my eye.   

Over the last couple of years I am using the 24-105L more simply because it's lighter and with the image-stabilization I don't have to bother with a tripod.  Plus the extra reach is nice.  Since I shoot mostly with strobes rather than available light, F4 is not too limiting. 
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: qwerty on February 22, 2012, 14:14
Looks like I stand corrected, looks like people are shooting subatomic particles.

50mm F0.1 is the only lens for microstock.

Hold on why isn't everyone shooting medium format with lenses forged from strontium infused florite nano particles.
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: BaldricksTrousers on February 22, 2012, 14:40
Gostwyck, you'll find the QC on Alamy is less rigorous than on the micros. You should get 100% acceptance.
The CA on the 24-70 is very slight and is completely eliminated by the Digital Photo Professional software that Canon supplies with the camera. I run shots through it automatically (it only works in RAW though).

Primes trump any zoom always.

This is just silly. Have you never seen a shot taken with a Petzval lens or a Cooke Triplet? Even the Tessar does not have a flat focal plane and the Sonnar is noted for CA. The best Canon zooms not only outperform those, they also outperform the worst of its primes and even - at wide apertures - the well respected 50/1.8.

In any case, you can get photos taken with triplets or Tessars accepted at any site if you work within the lenses' limits. They can sell well, too. (So can medium format, actually, qwerty, but I don't think any of my 1940s, 50s or 60s lenses had strontium-flavoured halites in them. Maybe just the odd bit of Strontium-90 fallout form the aerial nuclear tests).
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: aluxum on February 23, 2012, 04:05

Primes trump any zoom always.

This is just silly. Have you never seen a shot taken with a Petzval lens or a Cooke Triplet? Even the Tessar does not have a flat focal plane and the Sonnar is noted for CA. The best Canon zooms not only outperform those, they also outperform the worst of its primes and even - at wide apertures - the well respected 50/1.8.

All I am saying is that "in my experience" the best L zoom are not even close to the best L primes. May be it was my copy (because I sold it a few weeks ago) but the 24-70 2.8 from 2.8 to f4 was garbage. My 24L 35L 24 TS II trumps on it every day at the wide angle end. And if I want longer the 50 1.4 or the 100 macro also were much better than "my copy".
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: gillian vann on February 23, 2012, 04:58
I can't see your image at 100%...but I'll give you my experience.  I'm not sure what brand you shoot, but I shoot Canon and I own the 24-70 f/2.8L.  That lens sucks...big time.  It's great for editorial and reportage but for creative stock, it's the pits.  I'm willing to bet that the "soft and lacking definition" is a result of the lens being soft in the corners.  Take a look at the image at 100% and look at all four corners.  Is it soft?  Is it in focus?

I have an image submitted on the microstock agencies of a wind farm.  I couldn't submit the image to the traditional agencies I work with because all four corners were soft.  I cropped it to a smaller size and submitted it to the micros (that allow for smaller image sizes) and it has done very well.

That's my experience.

this will force a new habit for me. Often when I do final sharpening I take some off if the image has areas of shallow DOF, and usually that means the corners! shall pay more attention in the future.

btw, I LOVE your image, it's the exact type of thing I love to shoot. I've got quite a few like that from my days at college shooting in b&w film and my teacher used to teasingly call me "house & garden", and then say "sorry, it's cute, but not commercial". *sigh* she'd easily get a job as a stock reviewer!
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: RacePhoto on February 24, 2012, 03:34
I was accepted at Alamy with a 10-D and using a Canon 28-135 lens.

Natural light photos, I didn't even own a good flash for the hot shoe at the time. Lets not all get into pixel peeping and lens test charts. If you take a clear sharp photo with good color and contrast, they will accept it. And by the way, that was in the day when everything had to be upsized to 48MB!

It's actually easier now. Start with this tip. 100 ISO

Sorry but if you take a picture of a fence and the only thing in focus is the top half the front post, and the rest of the image is soft as well, Alamy will refuse it. They do take shallow focus, they take fields in the morning mist. But they don't take soft focus.

As for the one fail, all fail, it was the first thing that everyone pointed out since 2004, on the forums, and there has been thread after thread about the reasons and opinions on the rule. This is not a new discovery? LOL It's not like it was some secret that they dropped on you after the fact.

It's probably not the lens quality, unless you are using some off brand, $80 zoom or something. OR the lens has gone bad.
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: antistock on February 24, 2012, 07:34
hmmm ...who is going to buy a photo of Fence in b/w ?  ???
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: BaldricksTrousers on February 25, 2012, 04:44
hmmm ...who is going to buy a photo of Fence in b/w ?  ???


All depends, doesn't it? I'm sure Bruce Barnbaum could make a fencepost interesting http://www.barnbaum.com/barnbaum/Portfolios/Pages/ABSTRACTIONS.html (http://www.barnbaum.com/barnbaum/Portfolios/Pages/ABSTRACTIONS.html)
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: ShadySue on February 25, 2012, 05:34
hmmm ...who is going to buy a photo of Fence in b/w ?  ???

It it was sharp, I'd far rather have the fence than this one:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/pictureshow/2011/11/15/142342119/meet-the-worlds-most-expensive-photo-part-ii (http://www.npr.org/blogs/pictureshow/2011/11/15/142342119/meet-the-worlds-most-expensive-photo-part-ii)
@OP: that said, ignore your friends and family unless they have relevant stock experience. My friends and family don't understand why NatGeo isn't beating down my door, and we can ignore that as a valid opinion.
Ask them, seriously, how much they'd pay for the image if it wasn't you who took it. That'll let you know what they really think. "Um, well, I don't buy photos" shows they aren't in the market and probably know little about it.
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: RacePhoto on February 26, 2012, 03:32
hmmm ...who is going to buy a photo of Fence in b/w ?  ???

It it was sharp, I'd far rather have the fence than this one:
[url]http://www.npr.org/blogs/pictureshow/2011/11/15/142342119/meet-the-worlds-most-expensive-photo-part-ii[/url] ([url]http://www.npr.org/blogs/pictureshow/2011/11/15/142342119/meet-the-worlds-most-expensive-photo-part-ii[/url])
@OP: that said, ignore your friends and family unless they have relevant stock experience. My friends and family don't understand why NatGeo isn't beating down my door, and we can ignore that as a valid opinion.
Ask them, seriously, how much they'd pay for the image if it wasn't you who took it. That'll let you know what they really think. "Um, well, I don't buy photos" shows they aren't in the market and probably know little about it.


Worth quoting and a good point. Same happens when I tell people what some magazines are paying now per image and it's not much. (or what Microstock pays?) For some reason people who aren't in the market or business, think we have money handed to us like it grows on trees. Same goes for people who aren't musicians who think it's a great business.   HA!
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: avava on February 26, 2012, 21:08
http://www.alamy.com/contributor/help/prepare-images.asp#QC (http://www.alamy.com/contributor/help/prepare-images.asp#QC)

Once you've passed your QC test we only check a sample of images in subsequent submissions.
A submission is defined as any group of media that are awaiting QC at the same time regardless of the day they were submitted (they will all have the status “Awaiting QC”).
If we fail one image, we will reject all images in all media awaiting QC at that time.
Media grouped together as a submission will be QC’d together and will have the same QC date in “Track submissions”.
We will indicate the media which contains the failed image, with an information icon in Track submissions.
Avoid rejection by always checking each of your images at 100% looking for all possible QC failure reasons.
The average amount of time for a contributor to wait for their QC outcome is 48 hours – please note that we do not undertake any QC at the weekend.
QC waiting time is dependent on your QC history, failing QC successive times harms your QC rank meaning that it will take up to four weeks to receive notification that you have failed QC. Blog post on QC time dependent on your QC history.
Ongoing QC failures can result in your online upload privilege being frozen for six months and in extreme circumstances your account being terminated.
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: ShadySue on February 27, 2012, 07:37
.... My friends and family don't understand why NatGeo isn't beating down my door, and we can ignore that as a valid opinion.

OTOH, I had a few minutes 'spare' just now, and I found this via GIS:
http://natgeotv.com/it/africa-paradiso-perduto/gallerie/africa-paradiso-perduto/2 (http://natgeotv.com/it/africa-paradiso-perduto/gallerie/africa-paradiso-perduto/2)
(my hippos http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-4047176-hippos-and-a-croc.php?st=11a1da6 (http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-4047176-hippos-and-a-croc.php?st=11a1da6))
Better start reinforcing that door  ;D  :P
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: fieldsphotos on February 28, 2012, 02:20

All I am saying is that "in my experience" the best L zoom are not even close to the best L primes. May be it was my copy (because I sold it a few weeks ago) but the 24-70 2.8 from 2.8 to f4 was garbage. My 24L 35L 24 TS II trumps on it every day at the wide angle end. And if I want longer the 50 1.4 or the 100 macro also were much better than "my copy".


An interesting article specifically on the 24-70L (Sorry for the OT): 
http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2011/10/the-limits-of-variation  (http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2011/10/the-limits-of-variation)

I own one and I love mine, but it does appear to have a wider variation than some of Canon's other Ls.  Which probably explains all the mixed reviews you see online. 
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: gostwyck on February 28, 2012, 05:04
An interesting article specifically on the 24-70L (Sorry for the OT): 
[url]http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2011/10/the-limits-of-variation[/url]  ([url]http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2011/10/the-limits-of-variation[/url])

I own one and I love mine, but it does appear to have a wider variation than some of Canon's other Ls.  Which probably explains all the mixed reviews you see online. 


^^^ That is a superb article. Thanks for posting.
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: RacePhoto on February 28, 2012, 15:20
An interesting article specifically on the 24-70L (Sorry for the OT): 
[url]http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2011/10/the-limits-of-variation[/url]  ([url]http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2011/10/the-limits-of-variation[/url])

I own one and I love mine, but it does appear to have a wider variation than some of Canon's other Ls.  Which probably explains all the mixed reviews you see online. 


^^^ That is a superb article. Thanks for posting.


Ditto and Super article.

There's also another, which I will hunt up on demand, where the variance of the camera and the lens are discussed. For example (making it all up) Say you have a 5D and it's a Plus 2 camera. Out from perfect +2% and you have a lens that's a Plus 2%. Well they are going to be nuts on and a nice match.

You buy a camera that's a -2% and have your same old lens that was perfect before, now it's 4% off and starts to have problems. Blame the camera, blame the lens, or Neither, they are just out of tolerance, within limits, but opposing each other.

That's why the micro adjustment on cameras is such a nice feature. And it needs to be done for every lens you own, one every camera.

Going back to the original hijack of this thread  ;) one 24-70 may be at the one end of the limits for QC and the camera at the other end, and it's going to make something look bad. Change to a lens that's closer to the variation of the camera and suddenly everything is better.

Anyway, excellent article, especially the part about the plastic spacers on zoom lenses.
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: gillian vann on June 25, 2012, 05:02

I sometimes think people just repeat what they read somewhere, without paying attention to their own real-world experience.

amen to that! and not just in photography.... I come across ppl repeating "truths" all the time. (will some clever person please invent a new work that combines "myth" "truth" "misconception") we are in dire need of such a term.
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: JPSDK on June 25, 2012, 10:23
Thats called religion.
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: tab62 on June 25, 2012, 11:16
I have a 24-70 myself but will not make any comments since my drill sergeant told me that I am as 'dumb as a fence post'  :'(
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: RacePhoto on June 27, 2012, 11:12
Thats called religion.

With personal respect to religion, it's all faith based, and that's the end of that story.


I sometimes think people just repeat what they read somewhere, without paying attention to their own real-world experience.

amen to that! and not just in photography.... I come across ppl repeating "truths" all the time. (will some clever person please invent a new work that combines "myth" "truth" "misconception") we are in dire need of such a term.

Well lets see, POLITICS comes to mind and it's pretty close to religion. Repeat the party line, without any facts? Spew hateful "truths" about the other side?

But I think what might do for what you asked is a Factoid?

A factoid is a questionable or spurious (unverified, false, or fabricated) statement presented as a fact, but with no veracity.

Things like, if you have a photo go live on Monday, it will sell better for it's lifetime than if it goes live on Friday. (my viewpoint is a good photo will sell whatever day it's uploaded or approved) How does someone prove the myth of better sales. Any documentation or is it just a factoid?

A better one than that, which refuses to die, is "resize in increments of 10% each time, and it will look better". Maybe in 1999 but we aren't shooting 640 x 480 anymore either.  :)

Oh and the top of the list for almost everyone here... "Microstock is just a passing fad."
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: lisafx on June 27, 2012, 11:54

I sometimes think people just repeat what they read somewhere, without paying attention to their own real-world experience.


amen to that! and not just in photography.... I come across ppl repeating "truths" all the time. (will some clever person please invent a new work that combines "myth" "truth" "misconception") we are in dire need of such a term.


How about "truthiness"?  http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=truthiness (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=truthiness)
Title: Re: Learned a lesson today, space your submittals
Post by: Lagereek on June 27, 2012, 12:58
Im not really a great lover of zooms, never been but I would agree, the 24-70L, is definetely good enough for micro, thats for sure. Reading many tests, etc, many people swear on the 17-40. Ofcourse it all depends, you have to be lucky and get a good copy. I had to change my 24-70, twice, in order to get a good copy, theyre all differant, depending on the production-line. Friend of mine got a sample of the 17-40L and would you believe its far better then my 24-70L. Its a matter of luck. I bought a 21 mil, Leitz, first sample was crap, next sample was too good for words.

I know some will argue but the plain fact is and especially in digital photography, Primes is the way to go, theyre expensive but really they are so much better and very seldom lets you down. My own favourite zoom is the "new" white, 70-300L IS.USM. the sharpness and IS of this one is truly remarkable, a bit expensive perhaps but great.