BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: New Answers

Camera and stuff to get started with (micro)stock

Well, before I get ahead of myself, would appreciate all comments about your gears, when you started out with stock (micro or not).

I thought I could get started and see if I can make enough money to upgrade.

1) Buy a used camera plus a couple of decent lenses. The Canon 350D seems like a good candidate, or a Nikon D50. I own a couple of lower resolution Canons, and like the 5D for the full-size sensor. I have also used a friend's Nikon D70 and prefer Nikon, can't justify a D80 however.

2) What lenses would be good for these?
I plan to start with closeups of food and drink items and other objects, may be portrait (someone eating something for example). I know I need to settle on a brand.

3) Would a single shoe-mount flash be good enough? or do you use additional lights, umbrellas, diffusers, reflectors? I looked at tabletopstudio-store.com, the stuff there seem good.

Thanks in advance.

Btw, I follow the debate about the tiny payouts for microstock and tend to agree on the argument against it (as I am a systems consultant and we have the same argument about cheap low-quality labor). I decided to start with microstock as a learning process.

Also once I have some experience with the process, I will try to write a piece of software to track submissions and sales.

Phi

2)

To love this question, log in above
January 11, 2007

To love this comment, log in above
January 11, 2007