Hi. I'm new here. I've decided to make a move into the Stock Footage business. I find it at the same time potentially lucrative (like, i suppose, everybody) and fullfilling.

Anyway, i already have very nice glass in my arsenal, and a few interesting cameras where i can use it. But i have nothing that shoots better than 1080.

So, although i know that 4K is the future, i would like to ask experienced people if it is already an unavoidable present. In other words, is it "ok" for me to start creating my portfolio and uploads shooting 1080 film, or should i just forget about that, make the necessary investement in a 4k capable body, and just go from there?

I side question to my point would be: What sells more? Having footage taken with fantastic lenses in 1080, or more mundane (though competent) footage taken with something that shoots 4k?

People who have already sold many clips, and are in the business for long, how does the 1080 (still) sell when compared with 4k.

PS - the purpose for me would always be to update at some time and start shooting 4k.

Thanks for all the comments, it's a tough world to get into, so many things to learn and decide...

Thanks! I was sensing that HD was still the thing to go, but i wanted to be quite sure before i started investing!

thanks again for the answers.

increasingdifficulty, i know that 4K will become the minimum requirement, probably sooner than latter. For me it's just a matter of understanding if what i have in terms of gear will allow me to enter the game. I would from the start shoot 4K, but it would be an investement. I prefer to set my feet on the ground, to begin with.

Anyway, i also think that 4K is overpriced, when compared to HD.

Sorry? what do you mean, CD?

I would not buy any camera now that is capable only of 1080p.

I don't think the OP would either!

I can't speak for other sites but on Shutterstock, many contributors say that video sales are pretty rare. Generally, photos sell much more frequently. Though there is one contributor on SS who is the rare exception - he sells videos quite regularly - more so than photos. He does so well that he doesn't even bother submitting photos anymore. I looked at his video port and I have to say it's a really high standard. A lot of his videos look like TV commercials.

I gave up on video just for the reasons you listed. Mostly because of people who specialize and do such excellent and stunning work, also with better equipment and talent.

High standards for anyone personally will make them more money. I don't qualify when it comes to video and can't spend my way into expensive equipment, just to see that the artist is the answer, not the tools. But better tools will make a better artists produce even better work.

Hats off to all you video people.

4k will be the standard for long time I think, I dont think in the next 5 years people will want to buy 6k or 8k videos. Just look now, they are still buying HD mostly. Also 4k is already so good quality, its almost unreasonable to buy 8k videos, unless if they put it in really big screen outside like in the asian cities.

My opinion is that stock footage is not developed and accepted as stock photos. Since 2011 I was footage contributor at Pond5, and for last 4 months I am photo contributor too on some other sites. It was good, but it seems to me that you can earn a lot more money with photos. First reason is that you spend a lot less time in creating, editing and  sending photos. Also, there is some motivational thing if you dont have any sales for few days (normal thing with footage). Then you lose interest. In photos, you have every day some sale, even if it is subscriptions. That subscriptions motivate me to make more photos. After some time, if you calculate everything, is seems that you have earned more money with photo subscriptions then with 4K video. Of course, if you create good footage, it will be sold. Maybe for some upcoming years it is best thing to have 4K footage. Today is not that good at selling, but all the sites have option that buyers can download other resolutions.