Author Topic: Smartphone-Do you take stockphotos with it? (Read 1742 times)

waitingonthestuff · « **on:** March 20, 2024, 04:13 »

Do you ever use your smartphone to take/sell stockphotos? If so, how is it working out for you?

bestravelvideo · « **Reply #1 on:** March 20, 2024, 04:32 »

Yes, for years either with a Samsung or iPhone.
I mostly use the phones for editorials and they sell ok.
With the iPhone, the latest models are ok with the 48 Mpixels ProRaw.
With Samsung which only shoots 12 Megapixels Raw, I find the RAW better than the 50M Jpeg, even when I resize the 50M, scaled down to 12M.
A final note about Samsung: The Expert RAW are bad! I mean bad!
They force a terrible plastic denoising that renders the Expert RAW pics useless!
Also, although the question is about photos, in the video, the iPhone in ProRes is naturally better,
but here's a suggestion about Samsung.
Go to the advanced menu in the video settings and double the bitrate.
This in 24 fps will double to almost 100 Mbps and makes a huge difference.
Finally, try to shoot HDR10+ with Samsung and then process it as Rec.709.
Shooting with the Samsung in HDR10+ forces the phone to shoot in H265 10-bit 4:2:0 without the need for an external application.

P.S. I haven't used the latest Samsung that I think shoots 50m in RAW, but only in the big model.

stoker2014 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 20, 2024, 05:34 »

Quote from: waitingonthestuff on March 20, 2024, 04:13

Do you ever use your smartphone to take/sell stockphotos? If so, how is it working out for you?

The main thing is the plot, and it doesn’t matter what camera you shoot with.

cobalt · « **Reply #3 on:** March 20, 2024, 08:16 »

All the time. Mostly for daily life editorial but also for a lot of simple clips done outdoors, working in the garden, picking berries from a bush, knitting etc...it sells just as well as content done with. more expensive camera.

The clip just has to be useful.

wordplanet · « **Reply #4 on:** March 20, 2024, 15:19 »

Yes. Sometimes it's the only camera I have with me and many of them have been licensed, including a few at good (non-micro) prices. I have an iPhone 12 and I use Photoshop to process the raw files - I'm generally very light with my editing, though I have also used textures and filters on some that have sold, though generally the lightly edited images sell better. I mostly have them on Stockimo and Adobe - though a handful on Dreamstime (from my old 6S) that are exclusive from ancient "contests" there have been selling regularly for years.

I mainly shoot with a 42MP and a 61MP A7rii & iv, but for use on the web iPhone images are fine. I've even printed a few that have been in gallery shows.

IMHO, it's the composition, not the pixel peeping that counts. That spur of the moment inspiration that makes me take it out of my pocket and shoot.

Zero Talent · « **Reply #5 on:** March 20, 2024, 20:52 »

Quote from: bestravelvideo on March 20, 2024, 04:32

Yes, for years either with a Samsung or iPhone.
I mostly use the phones for editorials and they sell ok.
With the iPhone, the latest models are ok with the 48 Mpixels ProRaw.
With Samsung which only shoots 12 Megapixels Raw, I find the RAW better than the 50M Jpeg, even when I resize the 50M, scaled down to 12M.
A final note about Samsung: The Expert RAW are bad! I mean bad!
They force a terrible plastic denoising that renders the Expert RAW pics useless!
Also, although the question is about photos, in the video, the iPhone in ProRes is naturally better,
but here's a suggestion about Samsung.
Go to the advanced menu in the video settings and double the bitrate.
This in 24 fps will double to almost 100 Mbps and makes a huge difference.
Finally, try to shoot HDR10+ with Samsung and then process it as Rec.709.
Shooting with the Samsung in HDR10+ forces the phone to shoot in H265 10-bit 4:2:0 without the need for an external application.

P.S. I haven't used the latest Samsung that I think shoots 50m in RAW, but only in the big model.

I fully agree with your Expert RAW assessment.
Expert RAW is neither "expert" nor "raw." It's a gimmick for the plebeians.

Instead, and especially for videos (but also for photos), I highly recommend you try MotionCam Pro.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.motioncam.pro

On my S24 Ultra, I can shoot full-sensor (4080 x 3060) 10-bit RAW video at 30 fps with no frame loss. Imagine that!

This RAW video can be either converted to a stream of uncompressed RAW DNG photos, which can be edited in Lightroom and reassembled as a video, or it can be exported as ProRes or Log video to be color-graded using a classic process.

For photos, ProShot is also a great alternative, also being able to shoot "pure" uncompressed RAW with all 4 cameras (same as MotionCam Pro)

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.riseupgames.proshot2

Too bad Samsung has not opened up the Camera API to higher resolutions, allowing third-party developers to do a better job.
A very monopolistic attitude, unfortunately.

Mifornia · « **Reply #6 on:** March 24, 2024, 20:29 »

Quote from: bestravelvideo on March 20, 2024, 04:32

Yes, for years either with a Samsung or iPhone.
I mostly use the phones for editorials and they sell ok.
With the iPhone, the latest models are ok with the 48 Mpixels ProRaw.

I have latest iPhone Pro. I usually use my Sony Alpha A7 for videos, but rarely have it with me. Is there a specific iPhone settings that you use for videos?

And how does IPhone compares to Sony Alpha?
Thanks

bestravelvideo · « **Reply #7 on:** March 26, 2024, 04:40 »

With iPhone, my experience is with 14 Pro Max and ProRes HQ.
These are naturally big files but are great during the day, and mostly ok at night, unless there is a dark area.
Cityscapes and areas with bright lights are ok.
The only drawback is the highlights that you need to be careful with.
I haven't used the free Blackmagic app but there are a couple of benefits and people using it can say more.
With the Blackmagic app, you have access to many manual settings for video, like you do with the Samsung app.
Also, with the Blackmagic app there is the advantage you can select any codec you wish, not just ProRes HQ.
Just my suggestion to save space, shoot with "plain" ProRes, not HQ.
You can also shoot LT but this is a codec that Apple says loses in compression according to ProRes or ProRes HQ.

About Sony, I use an APS-C A 6400 and photos are better with the big camera.
In general, I shoot the creative content with the Sony and some editorial content with the mobile, but always in RAW.

Here's a big difference in video though:
Most Sony cameras (not the latest ones) only shoot H.264 8-bit 4:2:0 at 100 Mbps.
The ProRes video is HEVC 10-bit 4:2:2 at about 750 Mbps.
That's how the codec is locked anyway.

I would really like to know if the iPhone trully shoots 4:2:2 and not 4:2:0.
As I said, I know that's the ProRes codec, but I can't find the info anywhere.

Finally, I have an unlocked PC processor and in Adobe Premiere for example, H.264 video might sometime stutter in the timeline,
while the ProRes video never does and plays smoothly.
That's why we also prefer to edit with ProRes, makes our life easier in post production.

stoker2014 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 26, 2024, 07:08 »

Quote from: bestravelvideo on March 26, 2024, 04:40

The ProRes video is HEVC 10-bit 4:2:2 at about 750 Mbps.
That's how the codec is locked anyway.

I would really like to know if the iPhone trully shoots 4:2:2 and not 4:2:0.
As I said, I know that's the ProRes codec, but I can't find the info anywhere.

1. HEVC is H.265 codec.
2. The main thing is that the video is 10-bit, but 4:2:2 or 4:2:0 doesn’t really matter.
3. I think it’s unnecessary to shoot with an iPhone in prores. It is enough to shoot in LOG.

Big Money · « **Reply #9 on:** March 26, 2024, 07:14 »

at $.10 a pic all I take is pics with my smartphone! On my pro camera (over 50mp) I submit those to higher end companies!

bestravelvideo · « **Reply #10 on:** March 26, 2024, 10:47 »

LOG is a profile, not a codec.
ProRes (in its variations) is a fixed codec, meaning you can't mess with bitrate. You just choose different implementations.
What codec do you shoot LOG with, using the iPhone's stock app?
Many people get confused because the free Blackmagic app lets you save LOG in different codecs.
LOG though, is supposed to be better than non-LOG, because (reports say - I don't know a way to test, other than my own eyes) LOG is closer to what the sensor gives and does not have the sharpening in video that the non-LOG has.
Many think that a sharpened video looks "better" and that a video with the sharpness set to zero or a negative one looks blurred.
Well, having worked for decades as a Broadcast TV video editor, I can safely say that all studios (after the Betacam years!) send us the series or movies in (yes HD usually, not 4K) ProRes HQ, via a secure server, and never but never has a series or movie a sharpened look.
In a nutshell, with my TV experience, ProRes HQ is great if you want to make more digital copies.
This means another copy for subtitling and possibly another copy reencoding for a lower bitrate so the video airs on TV.
Otherwise, ProRes (without HQ) as I said, according to Apple, is the lowest acceptable quality for non-visible copy loss.
Now, that's the theory and Broadcast use.
For stock, any video with 100 Mbps bitrate is just fine.
I have sold a video shot with a Samsung mobile for $700! I suppose the customer paid 3 times more to the agency!
Detail? the video was 8-bit 4:2:0 but uploaded in ProRes HQ.
I suppose you all now get my point.
There were about 12.000 videos available for the same content in Rome. (was editorial content)
From these 12.000 videos, about 1.000 were still videos (no panning) and only 100 were uploaded in ProRes HQ.
This means that the high-end customer was searching for ProRes HQ, because he knew he was going to re-edit it, and also knew he would have no visible loss.
The question for every contributor is:
Do you upload all your videos in ProRes HQ, waiting for such a big sale, or do you just send them in H.264 100 Mbps, to save time and space?
Each one will weigh this differently, depending on his knowledge and past sales.

stoker2014 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 26, 2024, 11:45 »

Quote from: bestravelvideo on March 26, 2024, 10:47

LOG is a profile, not a codec.

+100

Quote from: bestravelvideo on March 26, 2024, 10:47

What codec do you shoot LOG with, using the iPhone's stock app?
Many people get confused because the free Blackmagic app lets you save LOG in different codecs.

For LOG it is better when the video has 10 bits. Write to the codec that supports 10 bits. But I don’t think you’ll lose much if you write to LOG in 8 bits on an iPhone. I haven't experimented with 8 and 10 bits on iPhone in LOG. I don’t shoot in LOG with my iPhone at all. For this kind of shooting I have more professional cameras.
Of course, it’s best to shoot directly in prores if you can see the difference on an iPhone and you have a lot of disk space.

Quote from: bestravelvideo on March 26, 2024, 10:47

LOG though, is supposed to be better than non-LOG, because (reports say - I don't know a way to test, other than my own eyes) LOG is closer to what the sensor gives and does not have the sharpening in video that the non-LOG has.
Many think that a sharpened video looks "better" and that a video with the sharpness set to zero or a negative one looks blurred.

LOG is intended for processing, as a result of which any sharpness is set.

Quote from: bestravelvideo on March 26, 2024, 10:47

Do you upload all your videos in ProRes HQ, waiting for such a big sale, or do you just send them in H.264 100 Mbps, to save time and space?
Each one will weigh this differently, depending on his knowledge and past sales.

ProRes HQ takes up a lot of space. I know a lot of stockers who don’t upload to ProRes HQ at all, but still have a good income. If you think ProRes HQ is giving you a lot of money, then you should only upload to ProRes HQ.

fotoroad · « **Reply #12 on:** March 26, 2024, 12:27 »

Yes, working good

jasonlee3071 · « **Reply #13 on:** April 01, 2024, 13:56 »

I use an iphone 13 pro. Before that I was using an iphone 7. Sold quite a few photos taken with these.

stockart · « **Reply #14 on:** April 01, 2024, 18:27 »

I still think smart phones are not there yet, once compared to real good equipment. So i will not try it as of yet

Zero Talent · « **Reply #15 on:** April 01, 2024, 21:04 »

Quote from: stockart on April 01, 2024, 18:27

I still think smart phones are not there yet, once compared to real good equipment. So i will not try it as of yet

It's a camera you have on you when you don't have your camera with you.
With a bit of processing, you can get perfectly acceptable photos/videos.

My smartphone upgrades were paid in full (and more) with money from stock:

Faustvasea · « **Reply #16 on:** April 02, 2024, 00:24 »

Quote from: Zero Talent on April 01, 2024, 21:04

Quote from: stockart on April 01, 2024, 18:27
I still think smart phones are not there yet, once compared to real good equipment. So i will not try it as of yet

It's a camera you have on you when you don't have your camera with you.
With a bit of processing, you can get perfectly acceptable photos/videos.

My smartphone upgrades were paid in full (and more) with money from stock:

On which stock site you uploaded your files?

Zero Talent · « **Reply #17 on:** April 02, 2024, 06:57 »

SS, AS,.IS,.P5,.DP, DT

Faustvasea · « **Reply #18 on:** April 02, 2024, 07:02 »

Quote from: Zero Talent on April 02, 2024, 06:57

SS, AS,.IS,.P5,.DP, DT

What's the minimum resolution, thinking about using my Huawei P20 Mate time to time.

Big Money · « **Reply #19 on:** April 02, 2024, 09:35 »

Quote from: Faustvasea on April 02, 2024, 07:02

Quote from: Zero Talent on April 02, 2024, 06:57
SS, AS,.IS,.P5,.DP, DT

What's the minimum resolution, thinking about using my Huawei P20 Mate time to time.

FYI --- you will be fine submitting pics. I shoot in RAW mode myself on my iphone and no issues

The P20 has a 12 megapixel main camera. If you want the best possible photos, shoot in raw mode at 40 megapixels.

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Author Topic: Smartphone-Do you take stockphotos with it? (Read 1742 times)

waitingonthestuff

bestravelvideo

stoker2014

cobalt

wordplanet

Zero Talent

Mifornia

bestravelvideo

stoker2014

Big Money

bestravelvideo

stoker2014

fotoroad

jasonlee3071

stockart

Zero Talent

Faustvasea

Zero Talent

Faustvasea

Big Money

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