It's been a while since I posted here but my video sales are increasing every month since I started. I get at least one payout every month and am now shooting in HD. I hope others are doing well.

That's awesome!

If you don't mind me asking, can you give a little insight into what it took to get you up and running equipment/software wise?

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I use a Mac and iMovie can get you started. I would suggest a good 3ccd camcorder from Panasonic, they have several to choose from in about every price range, or a Sony. All newer models seems to shoot a good picture. You then need to get QuickTime Pro to expot it in the format iStock uses. Its not all that hard what really matters is your content.

I'm confused by the resolution requirements. I looked at the sites that accept video and it looks like they have a 2 MP minimum? Most of the cameras don't make close to that. I saw 30 seconds Max time.

Did I read something wrong?

Did you look at the Sony DCR HC96 in your search for a camera. Seems reasonable at under $500 and has mini-dvd or memory stick. (I still don't like having to buy a proprietary memory stick from Sony, for Sony only products) But I like the memory or DVD, because it means NO TAPE! AFter searching it appears that Tape produces better quality than the nice looking DVD-RW and the memory cards are only for photos. Live and learn.

I have had bad experiences with Samsung, mostly that they make their own standards and don't mention it, until you try to use their products with something that's not Samsung.

Without going into what one should have, like a $1500 camcorder, what's the most basic entry level equipment that someone could use to get started?

I saw the messages about the Panasonic 3CCD PV GS-120 and the Canon XL2. Just trying to get a handle on this. I have some footage ideas, but starting at the bottom, don't want to start with the wrong equipment.

Also I see notes about HD. Looked at cameras = expensive! :shock: Any problems with the screen format size vs standard. Any advantage to HD other than "it is hd"?

After re-inventing the wheel for a few hours and searching "everywhere" for over 2mp digital video, it comes down to GS-120 as probably the best overall, except they are hard to find? 1.3mp? Not in stock, and that makes me wonder if something new is on the way.

Sony HC96 3.3mp is in the running. Sony came out with the new line and didn't upgrade this model, just introduced all new HD cameras.

Canon dc-40 4mp but it doesn't get as good of a rating as the above two for sharpness.

I took a pass on Hitachi but they have one for the lowest price dzgx3300A, unimpressive reviews, but it does have AV in and out.

The goal was under $700 and now I see anything HD the price jumps up to over $1200 without a blink.

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There is a new model comparable to the GS 120, I have one of those and a Canon HV10 for HD. You might find one on Ebay. I still use mine or I would sell it to you. The reason to shoot HD is that is where the market is headed in the future. There is still a huge market for SD clips so unless you have a good computer that can handle HD I would stick with SD. You need to go to this website www.camcorderinfo.com and read up on them. They break it down by price for you. I hope this helps.

Thanks I'll look. And yes, I figured out that since the world is going HD why am I dragging my feet?

After searching and searching, for hours, what may have been lost in the last ramble, was you had listed pretty much, all that was out there, and which ones are right. There isn't much more unless some off brand has some magic recorder hiding.

The one thing I couldn't find was a site that allowed them to be sorted by resolution. I could do price, media, zoom, brand, photo size, storage and all sorts of things, but not by resolution. My goal was start looking at 2mp and go up.

I also discovered that eBay has that for cameras, megapixel range but ignores it for video.

Found the resolution guidelines for iStock. I was reading the HD reguirements and assuming it was the minimum for all footage.

HD 1080i 1920x1080
HD 720p 1280x720
PAL 720x576
NTSC D1 720x486
NTSC DV 720x480
Big Web 16:9 640x360
Big Web 4:3 640x480
Small Web 16:9 320x180
Small Web 4:3 320x240

(but the site says 640x480 minimum)

Looks like SD for me to start with. Old computers, no HD editing software. Better to start at a conservative level. I have SD video software and followed the link to the Quicktime converter.

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