Hi MSG Folks,

I am considering getting into the Macro world as well and wanted to know if "Macro" has good sales potential for the Microstock World? So far, I've been using a 50mm prime (non macro) for food and object shots along with my 24-70 and 17-40 thus looking into getting a 100mm Macro lens to have a broad base of coverage. I know bugs don't sell and my friends tell me that macro is only for bugs life thus holding off until now...

Thanks.


Tom

Wow! If I made 1/10 of that I would be doing cart wheels!  Is the 100mm with stabilizer one of your lens? 

he got me- I was heading out the door to purchase a new lens...

Seriously, forget it unless you have very advanced skills and can, perhaps, sell directly into  a specialist RM library. If you look at the stuff tagged "macro" in the microstock agencies you'll find that there is scarcely anything selling well that is a true macro.

are you willing to shoot very small objects, etc? if so go for it, if not don�t.. if you have a 24 70 I dont really think you need another lens to do stock

Seriously, forget it unless you have very advanced skills and can, perhaps, sell directly into  a specialist RM library. If you look at the stuff tagged "macro" in the microstock agencies you'll find that there is scarcely anything selling well that is a true macro.

True! close-ups, macro, etc, isnt exactly the micro stronghold.

I take macro photos, and I sell macro photos.
Its all about what is the frame.
Go do a louse in a stacked macro, or a mosquitto...
It will sell well.

Half bees with shallow dof does not sell.

Do you use Zerene? Just curious.

I take macro photos, and I sell macro photos.
Its all about what is the frame.
Go do a louse in a stacked macro, or a mosquitto...
It will sell well.

Half bees with shallow dof does not sell.

I'd call a stacked macro of a mosquito an advanced technique. I guess you could get away with a 24-70 and some tubes on a motorised focusing rail, but it wouldn't be ideal. The 65mm 1-5x MP-E would be much better.

But perhaps tab62 just means general close-up shots of things, which do sell all the time. People use the word "macro" very loosely. To me a macro is a shot in which the object is recorded at actual size or larger on the sensor or film that is recording it but I've seen people claim that if the object appears at life size on a 10x8" print then that is macro, though the image would be only about an eighth of life size on the sensor. Obviously, the difference in detail and DoF between 1/8 life-size and actual size is enormous.

All good points- My example would be say a drop of water on a leaf or the date on a coin with some blur on the outside of the coin. I've been told that a lot of the stock companies want the entire area in focus and no more soft focus thus not sure if a 100mm Macro lens would be useful for the MS world.

Thanks

Tom

I have some non-macro images shot with the 100mm macro.  I don't have the image stabilized version of the lens. The images are tack sharp - portraits especially.  The danger you run into is just as you describe.  Just playing around, I tried to shoot some of the cliched eye close up images.  The contact lens was in focus but as you move outward the image does get out of focus fairly quickly.

Some stock agencies will accept "soft focus" and I think it depends on the technique.  I have submitted some soft focus portraits that have been accepted (the one image I did decide to keep of the eye was uploaded to traditional agencies under an RF license - no sales yet, but it's only been about a month if that).

Flower macros don't sell.

All good points- My example would be say a drop of water on a leaf or the date on a coin with some blur on the outside of the coin. I've been told that a lot of the stock companies want the entire area in focus and no more soft focus thus not sure if a 100mm Macro lens would be useful for the MS world.

Thanks

Tom

I dont understand you really. If you are into Macro photography, surely you must realize you will sooner or later need a proper Macro lens, goes without saying, doesnt it. I mean you would not do architecture, professionally without tilt/shift, right.
Canon does have extremly good macro optics, the 100L.IS and the 180 mil. macro. This is an investment you will simply have to deal with, if remaining in the macro world.

ja, I consider buying a canon to get that lens.
I dont know what Zerene is?
True macro, as they say, is 1:1, and that means working at the closest range of the lens, and that is difficult.
So we bend the term a bit and say... that when we are really close, then its macro.

And such. A macro lens and a wide angle lens... Same story.
They are special tools, that open special oppertunities, that the photographer needs to frame.
Get something salesworthy in the frame of either lens, and it will sell.

Could be Zeppenliner or an ant. It will sell when its well done and relevant to the customer.
Just like other pictures.
Computer problems, not stacked.

Stack on stack. Aphids: