$1000 a month and solving the tedious part of uploading. I hate that I have to spend 4 hours to upload 10 images to 8 sites.

Any Mini-DV camera will do for SD video, as well as most DVD and hard disk cameras (JVC everio series, etc.). Compact photo cameras are generally not accepted by the micro-video sites, but you might be able to sneak a couple of clips through at 640x480 30FPS. You should be looking for either 480x720 30(29.97)FPS for NTSC or 576x720 25FPS for PAL.

If you're just now shopping for a camera for stock video, I would urge you to consider at least a consumer level HDV camera. With HDV cameras going for under $1000 USD, theres really no reason (aside from being on a very tight budget) not to future proof your video. I use the Canon HV-10, but the current HV-30 looks like a great cam. I'm saving up for the XH-A1 or a Sony XDCam next. (the cost of SxS cards may keep me away though)

If you do go the HD route, most recommend sticking with tape for now, the hard disk and dvd cameras use the AVC-HD codec which is considered lower quality than the tape based HDV cameras.


It's a bit strange switching from photo to video hardware. I'll try to make an analogy in terms of Canon's products:

Basic consumer level SD camcorders, like the Canon ZR series, are about equivelant to the Powershot ELPH series in terms of controll (point and shoot) and quality (good, but not spectacular).

High-end SD camcorders like the Canon XL-2 have interchangeable lenses and full contoll and connectivity like a DSLR.

Similarly on the HD front, the consumer level HV series are essentially point and shoot cameras, although their image quality is much closer to their more expensive counterparts, think Powershot A series.

The XH-A1 and XH-G1 would be your G series powershots. Great image quality and full controll with a fixed lens.

The XL-H1 is your DSLR, professional quality, interchangeable lenses and full controll and connectivity.

I hope this helps a bit.

Quote from: cshack on June 06, 2008, 17:33

TFP/TFCD is a common practice in photography all over the world.
...

This argument shares much with giving away your imagery in exchange for credit or mention: just because it's common for people to do it doesn't make it right. By not paying a model you are taking advantage of his/her ego in the same way that the photographer's ego is misused by unscrupulous/cheap photo "buyers".

If you don't believe that it's right to give your work away for free, why is it that you expect someone else to give their work to you for free?

Every image stock site has the people which have an access to the photo�s originals. This people � staff of the photobank , trusted staff. We made mistake with Deniss Kolesnikovs � he betrays our trust.
This his action � posting stolen images on Fotolia � of course is theft! But as result of this awful situation � we revise our staff, we have fired this stupid whipper-snapper who do not understand what is internet, what is serious business there!
We apologise  to all victims of it! And I would like to assure you that such awful situation is not possible for us in future!