does anybody know where can I buy top quality HD stock footage; I google it buy those sites offer semi-pro HDV footage. thanks

THere are many but Artbeats.com springs to mind instantly.

www.pond5.com
www.istockvideo.com

thanks Ron, but these two I found using google; these are amateur places that sell footage from A1 camcorders saying that it is full HD ie:http://www.pond5.com/stock-footage/121055/hawaii-waimea-bay-beach-m-hd.html;
I am looking for something professional...any ideas???

Like Getty Filmstock (http://www.gettyimages.com/Footage/FootageHome.aspx) or RevoStock (http://www.revostock.com).

Spherestock (http://www.spherestock.com) specializes in motion design elements, backdrops, etc. and Detonation Films (http://www.detonationfilms.com) specializes in VFX, especially ehh.. detonations.

There are also collections (on DVD), like the ones from Artbeats or Digital Juice.

George/

What kind of footage do you need?

http://www.thoughtequity.com
http://www.hidef.co.uk

All above HDV, which means full HD

Digital Juice are now using the Phantom for some insane 1000fps HD footage

thanks Ron, but these two I found using google; these are amateur places that sell footage from A1 camcorders saying that it is full HD ie:http://www.pond5.com/stock-footage/121055/hawaii-waimea-bay-beach-m-hd.html;
I am looking for something professional...any ideas???

They have both HDV and 1920x1080. Same with Revostock.

I've bought a lot of stuff through Getty images. The website works well. They only seem to hold HD masters in the States, (New York, I believe) which means a courier or hours of downloading, so it's worth factoring that in to a schedule. (If you're not in NY already!) Contemporary stuff seems to be originated in HD, older stuff is telecine.

Have you thought of using a picture researcher? It can save money as they can consolidate orders and get bulk discounts.