I am happy to announce that the long awaited PSM v2.0 BETA is currently released for Windows OS. This is a major software release changing how PSM works with your images. While the user experience and the GUI mostly remain the same, other software layers were significantly modified.

Main changes

1. PSM now works as a Lightburner.com client, uploading images exclusively to your Lightburner.com account. If you did not get your free Lightburner account yet, go get it now.
2. It means that now you can upload your images to as many microstock and traditional stock photography agencies as you wish, either by using pre-defined Lightburner.com microstock sales channels like iStock and Shutterstock, or by defining your own private FTP channels.
3. It also means that PSM will now upload images only once, to Lightburner.com, instead of uploading them N times to N agencies. Thus you save time and bandwidth.
4. Lightburner accounts are set up for automatic distribution of all uploaded images, no additional action required. Once PSM uploads the images Lightburner will distribute them to the microstocks of your choice.
5. The IPTC/EXIF/XMP metadata library is replaced by a more sophisticated solution. WARNING: MAKE COPIES FOR ALL JPEGs BEFORE YOU APPLY ANY METADATA CHANGE, particularly because it is an early BETA release of the software.
6. The database structure was cleaned up and was significantly changed. The new database is incompatible with DBs of PSM 1.x.x. If there will be a huge demand for the backward compatibility I will consider adding a DB convert utility.
7. Some less important functionality existed in the previous versions is removed to reduce the number of features delivered in this BETA release.

DOWNLOAD: http://prostockmaster.com/dc2/Setup_ProStockMaster.exe

Once you’ve downloaded the latest software, make sure that

• You have a valid Lightburner account (free signup here)
• You defined your microstock agencies and/or private FTP sales channels in Lightburner
• You provided PSM with your Lightburner username and password (Tools -> Lightburner account menu in PSM)

Known issues

1. Sales stats received from Lightburner.com always overwrite any data you might enter manually. Still thinking how to handle the logic here.

** Please report the bugs to support(at)pixamba(dot)com! **

Thank you!

Alamy, a UK-based traditional stock photography agency, proudly announced in their latest letter to their contributors that Alamy will be able to transfer payouts via PayPal.

Good news – we have made some improvements to the way in which we pay our contributors. We are now offering PayPal – we can pay you in GBP, USD or EURO’s via PayPal. If you opt for PayPal we will send your payment so that you do not pay any PayPal fees

I like Alamy because they are so British. Meaning they are so ages-back traditional and so fantastically slow in adopting the change and following the market trends, and nevertheless – or because of that, – they still sell well. Today virtually every reasonable stock photography agency offers PayPal payouts, so welcome to the club, my dear Alamy.

Shutterstock, who came to the microstock market as a first agency to offer microstock subscriptions, joins iStock, Fotolia and Dreamstime by offering single images sales. The recent announcement on Shutterbuzz states that current royalty rates for subscription-based packages are not going to change. As per the new product which ‘is being tested in the certain markets’ the planned royalty rates are based on the contributor’s life-time earnings on Shutterstock:

• up to $500 – 20% payout rate
• $500 – $3,000 – 25%
• $3,000 – $10,000 – 28%
• over $10,000 – 30%

Shutterstock is an owner of BigStockPhoto.com, re-branded as BIGSTOCK sometime ago. BIGSTOCK, which deploys a traditional credits-based microstock model, was purchased by Shutterstock to complete their subscriptions offering. For the last few months in addition to the credits packages BIGSTOCK also offers immediate purchase of a single image. The single download prices start from $2.99.

BIGSTOCK single image sales

It looks like Shutterstock was closely following BIGSTOCK in this initiative and now they are doing a similar move.

All in all this is good news for the microstock artists. I believe that the contributors like me will be happy to increase their earnings effortlessly, by selling the same microstock collection on Shutterstock in a different way, so let’s wish Shutterstock good luck with their new baby.

Nikon Corporation recently announced two new camera models in the new Nikon 1 mirrorless series: J1 and V1.

Nikon Series 1 J1 mirrorless camera

Nikon Series 1 V1 mirrorless camera

Nikon announced new Series 1 lens mount system with the following dedicated lenses:

• NIKKOR VR 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6
• NIKKOR VR 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6
• NIKKOR 10mm f/2.8
• NIKKOR VR 10-100mm f/4.5-5.6 PD-ZOOM

However, the biggest news is that with a new FT1 mount adapter Series 1 lens mount is backward compatible with good old F-mount Nikkors!
Both J1 and V1 bodies look modern and retro at the same time, promising the best mix of manual user experience in the modern automated camera body.
Both cameras offer Full HD 1920 x 1080/60i video, 3″ LCD screens (420K pixels for J1 and 920K pixels for V1), RAW support, sensor-based dust reduction. V1 sports EFV with 1440k-dot (SVGA).

With these new cameras Nikon introduces a new Nikon CX-format CMOS image sensor, a new imaging format to its existing Nikon FX and DX formats for digital-SLR cameras. Nikon claims that both J1 and V1 are the world’s first interchangeable lens digital cameras equipped with focal plane phase detection AF for the world’s fastest autofocusing. Not surprisingly, both cameras support matrix, center-weight and spot exposure metering and feature the new EXPEED 3 image processing engine.

J1 comes in 5 colors, from pink to black, while V1 is available in silver or black only.

Nice 12 minutes tutorial with a good level of details covering Adobe HDR Merge and Adobe Camera Raw. The author demonstrates a complete workflow, starting from 3 handheld-exposured images to HDR to the final adjustments in CS5. Worth watching if you play with HDRs, for mictostock or just for yourself

Lee Torrens, a well known microstock guru started a new welcome initiative by creating a new web site dedicated to microstock photography buyers.We can expect there comparisons of various licenses, evaluation of various microstock packages and subscriptions, microstock agencies reviews and interviews with the industry leaders.
Photo buyers community definitely needs better education understanding the various licenses and proper use of the licensed media.
Good luck with that Lee!

Microsoft and Google branding – who copies whom?

They look the same!

First announced at Photokina last year, Fujifilm X-100 is now close to reach the camera shops in North America and Europe. The point is that you have to see it before I am going to tell you anything else, so here is the image:

Fujifilm Finepix X-100

Remember the classic rangefinders by Canon, Nikon and of course Leica? Retro-styled super-modern Finepix X100 is very different inside, but very much reminds this superb rangefinders family externally.

Finepix X100 comes with fixed 23mm F2.0 lens (no, it is not interchangeable!), and with the world-first ‘hybrid’ viewfinder, which combines both optical and electronic viewfinders.  EVF has 1.4M dots, and you can switch between optical and electronic viewfinders with a simple switch, adopting your vision to the challenging lighting condition.

Fast at F2.0 23mm is a non-folding lens, which means you do not have to wait them to open – your camera is ready for the shooting when you switch it on.

What really makes Finepix X100 to stand out of any P&S and a 4/3 camera is the 12.3 MP APS-C CMOS sensor and EXR processor, specifically developed by Fujifilm for this model. It produces 4288×2848px RAW & JPEG images and 720p HD videos (H.264). ISO goes 200 – 6400 (100 – 12800 in extended mode) and we can expect DSLR-class low noise even at high ISO. Small body of X100 (only 5″ / 12 cm wide, 15.7oz / 445gr weight) should not mislead you – with a spec like this Finepix X100 has the power of a DSLR.

Yesterday Fujifilm has published first X100 images samples gallery here and I reviewed a few samples of different subjects at the full size.

Full size 4288×2488 px image is here

Data

• Apperture: f/4
• Shutter speed: 1/15
• ISO: 200
• White balance: Fine
• File format: JPEG

Image detail at 1:1

Finepix X-100 image detail at 1:1

Another sample shows the portrait abilities of 23mm lens (35mm equivalent I guess, if Finepix X100 cropping factor is 1.5).

Finepix X-100 sample image

Full size 4288×2488 px image is here

Data

• Apperture: f/2.8
• Shutter speed: 1/340
• ISO: 200
• White balance: Auto
• File format: JPEG

Image detail at 1:1

Finepix X100 image sample detail

Yet another sample demonstrates the versatility of X100, from portraits to landscapes to street photography

Finepix X100 image sample

Full size 4288×2488 px image is here

Data

• Apperture: f/4
• Shutter speed: 1/2000
• ISO: 200
• White balance: Auto
• File format: JPEG

Image detail at 1:1

Finepix X100 image sample detail

Short summary

I like:

• Fast f2.0 lens and nice bokeh with 9-blade aperture diaphragm
• Non-folding 23mm ‘pancake’ lens -> the camera is ready for the shooting much faster
• APS-C CMOS sensor with ISO 200-6400. We should expect low noise on high ISO
• Innovative ‘hybrid’ viewfinder, eye detection sensor, built-in diopters correction
• Fantastic ‘retro’ styling, rangefinder look and feel
• Small and lightweight
• Intuitive manual controls familiar to anyone who shot once with a film body
• RAW capture
• Macro shooting @10cm
• Built-in up to 3 stops ND filter
• Enhanced picture modes to emulate the colors of Velvia, Provia and Astia
• Auto-bracketing in 4 types of bracketing functions: AE, ISO, Dynamic Range and Film Simulation
• Hot shoe for external accessoires. Fujifilm will sell EF-20 (Guide Number:20) and EF-42 (Guide Number:42) external flashes
• Built-in flash

I do not like:

• 440K px TFT LCD. 920K+ is the modern standard
• 720p @24fps is definitely a HD, but 1080p @24/25/29 fps Full HD would be much better
• Probably the most important: There is no filters ring on that 23m lens! Filters ring and the lens hood are sold separately. Definitely not good. However, once you get the ring, any 49mm filter works, and 49mm filters are much cheaper than 77mm filters
• Case is sold separately

Fujifilm Finepix X-100

From the technical specification and the samples I reviewed it looks like Fujifilim has created a real gem, an innovative light weight and compact DSLR-class fixed lens APS-C camera, which defines a new class of digital APS-C compacts. Street shooters, travel and landscape photographers should fall in love with it.

iStockphoto plans to offer editorial images in February yet. iStock decided to join Shutterstock, Fotolia and Dreamstime who already sell editorial images for years. Got fresh editorials? With iStock joining the microstock editorials club you have more options to sell them.

I was lucky enough to meet many wonderful microstock people at CEPIC event in Dublin last summer. Vita Valka, the CEO of Pixmac is one of them.

Vita Valka, CEO Pixmac

Photo by Roberto Marinello, MyStockPhoto.org

Pixmac is a newcomer, operated from Prague, Czech Republic since mid-2008. I like these guys because their understanding of the microstock market differs from the traditional “it’s all mine!” policy of the top microstock agencies.

It’s not a secret that the microstock industry has no problem with supply. Oversupply creates tough competition between agencies and between the photographers, and many microstocks do not care too much about their contributors.

No, they do not state that. They simply do it. They reduce photographers’ commissions (iStock Q4-2010, Fotolia Q1-2011), terminates contributors affiliates programs with no notice (Fotolia), and keep changing the rules of the game ‘on the go’,  trying to increase company’ profits by reducing their payouts to the artists.

Pixmac’ approach to the microstock fairness is quite different, and I am happy to let Vita and his team to speak by themselves:

– Pixmac Press Release –

Microstock Maturity by Pixmac
Prague, 3rd January 2011

Howdy folks everywhere. A very happy and prosperous 2011 to all our Photographer Contributors and to other friends around the globe.

As we know, it all started a decade ago. A great passion for photography blended with understanding the everyday designer’s needs. It was iStock’s team that launched the best photographer community ever.

Way back in the early days, the opportunity was quickly spotted by other agencies, resulting in a true revolution in the stock photo business. Unfortunately due to changes in technology and market forces the role of the photographer changed somewhat from being the master of microstock to almost it’s ‘slave’, as many of you will remember.

Pixmac is bringing in fair rules

Some of you may notice that we at Pixmac endeavor to respond and explain. We are flexible. We change our minds. We listen and we fix what needs to be fixed. We’ve learned a lot from our competition and you guys and gals contributing to the agencies are a true inspiration to our team!

In the microstock marketplace there are some old customs that we’re going to change at Pixmac. One of those is exclusivity. Exclusivity is something like DRM in music. It doesn’t work long term. The world has changed. So starting today Pixmac removes exclusivity restrictions for its contributors.

Contributors should be partners

There are many things that microstock contributors don’t like. Obviously they don’t like low revenue split. Inspired by Robert Kneschke, Pixmac has decided to guarantee 30% revenue and at least $0.25 (it was $0.10) per sale – FOREVER. And after the first $200 made on revenue it’s raised to 40%. We’re also raising the Extended License pricing from the flat $30 to $40-$120. Starting today, we guarantee a minimum commission – forever.

New Pixmac Commissions

Pixmac has been open to listening to you since day one. And we hope you’ll be asking us questions first before going to forums. We’re here for you and if we make a mistake (which we are sure we will do – we are people like you), so please let us know because we’re usually quick in fixing it.

Vita Valka, CEO of Pixmac says: “We’re trying to become a true Open Company . And it’s not always easy. But if you have a fair vision and if you know what your Contributors need there’s always a way how to work it out. The problem of a few Agencies is that they just don’t care. We genuinely care about the photographers as well as about our buyers alike.”

Declaration of Fair Stock Photo Agency

We thought it would be nice to have a list of things that an Agency would respect and Contributors would like. We’ve thought about a few points (below), but we’re quite open to discussion about what’s missing or what’s not an issue.

1. An Agency should state proper attribution (Contributor’s name/nickname) next to the images on it’s site and should require the attribution on its resellers’ sites. The Agency should sell the images (even resized) with embedded attribution. The Agency should embed attribution metadata into large thumbnails.

2. An Agency should state the name of each reseller and let Contributors opt-in or out for each of the resellers and from subscription offering on the Agency’s or a resellers’ site where appropriate. The Agency should display the reseller’s name per each sale.

3. An Agency should notify Contributors about commission changes. In that case the Contributor should be able to withdraw his/her images and stop selling through that Agency. In an ideal case the Contributor should be able to withdraw part or the entire portfolio anytime.

“Thanks to David Mail, Lee Torrens & Roberto Marinello to help us with defining what should be mentioned in such a document. Thank you Robert Kneschke for inspiring us. We’d really like to hear and read any ideas you might have. The ‘Declaration’ is a first step to an even better microstock market.”, says Vita Valka.

Sales define contributors’ satisfaction

We love to focus on buyers. It’s the best way to satisfy Contributors and partners like Dreamstime. We’ve decided to try to be the smartest guys and gals in marketing. We design banners while sleeping. We live with AdWords 24 hours a day. We write down ideas when we’re at the bowling alley. We love the job at Pixmac as much as you love being photographers!

We’ve grown already. Pixmac sells thousands of images a month. Pixmac is localized into several languages. And Pixmac is already inspiring others.

“Pixmac is one of the few agencies doing SEO right.” – Yuri Arcurs, speech at CEPIC 2010

“I LOVE your one-stop-shopping idea! It has always been a missing element of microstock agencies.” – Lee Torrens, microstockdiaries.com

“I am impressed by the determination of Pixmac to treat photographers fairly. They have just set the bar to a new level.” – Tyler Olson, microstockgroup.com

“I like the Pixmac team’s open approach, the responsiveness, the attention to the Contributor side perspective, the focus on marketing our products – for example, have you seen how many contests they have been running in the last months?” – Roberto Marinello, mystockphoto.org

“Pixmac’s agreement changes capture each of the best things from other microstock agencies into a great deal for contributors.” – Bob Davies, picniche.com

“Pixmac is a living proof that a newcomer can compete and succeed on a modern crowded highly competitive microstock market. Differentiation is the key. And Pixmac got it right.” – David Mail, prostockmaster.com

See? Yes we are a relative newcomer. But we have been doing things differently since beginning and it is working. Check out the Alexa (link below) or Compete (link below) for ranking of www.pixmac.com and read some forum threads where we were active. Even our blog would tell you a lot about our philosophy. We love companies like Zappos & Apple and we know that we’re in the same boat with each of you. We’re partners. United we stand.

http://siteanalytics.compete.com/pixmac.com+yaymicro.com+crestock.com
http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/pixmac.com+yaymicro.com+crestock.com

If you don’t know the story of Pixmac yet, please check out these two resources:

http://www.microstockdiaries.com/pixmac.html
http://blog.pixmac.com/138/pixmac-pink-beginnings/

We believe no other microstock Agency is as successful as Pixmac since those old fellas launched in 2005 or earlier. As you can see on Microstock Diaries (link below) at least 10 microstock Agencies have closed in the last two years.

http://www.microstockdiaries.com/complete-list-of-microstock-agencies.html

Our inspiration

We see ourselves as a sort of ‘Food Court’ in the microstock arena, providing a rich smorgasbord of choices. A place where buyers can go to find all kinds of top brands and names, as well as the creative work of smaller players. Fun, fast, diverse, efficient, and easy to use.

We wish the best of luck to all the other competitors that we love such as YayMicro and BigStock with their focus on easy use. Photocase and StockFresh have a great passion for photography. Shutterstock with their highly respected business model. And Dreamstime with their focus on photographer community. Guys, please motivate and inspire us! The good old days when the user base grew instantly are gone. Pixmac has a challenging 2011 ahead – there is no doubt in that.

Let’s sum it all up

To summarize the long list of changes and improvements at Pixmac, this is a shortlist of the positives arising:

1. Commissions at least 30% / $0.25 forever
2. Raised prices based on downloads. Raised prices of EL.
3. Removed exclusivity lock-in
4. Declaration of Fair Stock Agency

Vita Valka, the CEO of Pixmac and a former designer, knows exactly what the buyer needs. He also identifies wholeheartedly with the company’s Contributing Photographers. Without your creative input there’s no microstock! No Pixmac!

Pixmac’s dream team, situated in Prague, Czech Republic, is a flexible group of experienced professionals always willing to help you. Pixmac managers are active in 15+ countries around the world including the Americas, Europe, Asia & Africa. And there’s always a tasty cup of coffee or tea ready and a cookie at the office for any Contributor who is in our neighbourhood. If you come to Prague, please let us know!

Feel free to contact Pixmac on twitter.com/pixmac or Facebook. Or via any of the standard methods such as email at user@pixmac.com or call us at +420 296 566 268.