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My Favorite Camera and Lens for Microstock Photography

18 October 2009 3 Comments

I started selling my pictures through microstock almost two years ago in November 2007. Today, I have about 1800 pictures in my stock portfolio. Since I am using Adobe Lightroom 2 to catalog all my pictures, I can easily sort them according to camera and lens. It provides some interesting statistics. Sometimes, the camera EXIF data are lost, so these numbers are not completely accurate.

Let’s look at cameras first.

Canon EOS 10D: 50 pictures (2.7 %)
I started submitting pictures to microstock with my first digital SLR camera.

Canon EOS 40D: 1500 pictures (81.5%)
Very quickly, I upgraded my old 10D to Canon 40D and this camera still remains my microstock work horse. Shortly after, I bought the 40D, a new model, Canon 50D was introduced.

Pentax Optio W10 and W30: 10 pictures (0.5%)

I use these compact waterproof cameras for paddling, racing, and other outdoor activities to provide images and video clips for my blogs: Paddling with a Camera and Fitness Paddling. These pictures are generally too noisy for microstock. Nevertheless, I am selling a few of them in microstock portfolio.

Unknown camera (scanner): 250 pictures (13.6%). I scanned some of my old Polaroid transfers, watercolor abstracts and some other background textures, played a little bit with scanning 3-dimensional objects. This activity provides some fun and variety into my microstock, but not so much of income. I have been using Epson Perfection 4870 photo scanner for years.

Most of my microstock images were created with Canon EOS 40D camera. Let’s look at lenses I am using with this camera.

Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro: 1150 pictures (77%).
I bought this lens together with my Canon 40D camera. It is my mostly used lens for microstock photography. It works perfectly for macro and product shots in my home office with just 9′ of working space. I used to take it also for outdoor shooting before I got a zoom lens.

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM: 300 pictures (20%).
It was my second lens purchased for Canon 40D funded from microstock earnings. I am using it as general lens for outdoor photography and in my studio when a wide angle is needed. I take it as a single lens for my paddling, hiking or biking adventures.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS: 40 pictures (3%).
A great lens, I love it, and, unfortunately, I don’t use it that much for microstock …
I got it before my microstock time.

Canon EOS 40 D camera with EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro lens are my mostly used tools for microstock photography (more than 60% of my portfolio). The above statistics also shows how microstock changed my photography during last 2 years from outdoor (landscape, nature, sport) to tabletop or rather some sort of photo illustration.

Is it time to upgrade my camera equipment? A full sensor camera?

It looks like I would need Canon EOS 5D mark II camera with EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro lens …

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3 Comments »

R. Kneschke said:

The Pentax W10 and W30 is really difficult for stock. Some small agencies may accapt their images, but most will reject them due to low quality.

# 19 October 2009 at 7:03 am

Marek (author) said:

A couple of pictures from Pentax Optio W30 got accepted by SS and DT, but, of course, it’s not a camera suitable for stock photography. My paddling pictures are not selling well in microstock anyway. However, I had a few magazine publications (not cover shots).

# 19 October 2009 at 12:59 pm

Lonny G said:

I am new to microstock, just started like two years ago. I live in Loveland and I follow you on Dreamstime and at times I try to recreate some of your images. Recently I upgraded from a T2I to the 5d mark 11 and I just love it. Perhaps one day I will meet you and learn a few secrets from you. Love your site. Lonny

# 5 February 2013 at 12:31 am