[Some Bloke]

I'm wondering about buying a ExpoDisc to set White Balance, does anyone have any experience with using one and are they worth the money ?
http://www.expodisc.com/product-over...words=ExpoDisc

They are pretty expensive for what they are.
Or would printing up a White, Grey and Black card and using that work just as well ?

Your thoughts please.

[dfrear]

To be honest, if you shoot RAW you might aswell save yourself the cash and bother by changing it in post processing. If your not shooting RAW, start - that is unless you shoot JPEG for a reason e.g. you need images quick to send off to a publication

[Some Bloke]

Originally Posted by dfrear

To be honest, if you shoot RAW you might aswell save yourself the cash and bother by changing it in post processing. If your not shooting RAW, start - that is unless you shoot JPEG for a reason e.g. you need images quick to send off to a publication

Thanks for the reply.
I do shoot RAW with the D700, but the Auto WB is not very good.
I use NX2 as my RAW converter and I always start by positioning the Black and White controls points to correct the image.
I know I can play around with NX2's settings, but the pre-sets aren't that good sometimes and altering the temperature settings is a ball ache.
I'm not keen on ACR, before anyone suggests that

[senu]

How much are they?
That would put into context the issue of VFM
Ive often just grabbed a white/ grey sheet ( even though i shoot RAW)
Fo rthe Canons itinvolved shooting the sheet ect , then using it for custom
WB
I agree than using RAW is often the thing to do to avoid WB disasters but with DPP ( Canon) some images will not be easily rescuable as Auto WB on even the 40D can be off on the odd occasion
I find the need for Custom WB far more crucial with video where correction with PP is far more tricky

[Some Bloke]

For a 77mm filter the price would be about £66
According to this site Expodisc | Innovative Imaging Solutions
I probably could get it cheaper, if I searched around (eBay) I suppose.

[senu]

I guess the value is relative then.
It is a one off purchase but judging by your Utah photos , you definitely didnt need it then
In some ways I think WB may be far more crucial for portraits where skin tones can take a hit
I would ( personally) save my dosh
but
If youve had many heartsink moment with WB ( even with RAW).. It is, as I wrote earlier, just a one off purchase which may save you lots of PP time

[Some Bloke]

I think I just guessed on the Utah shots
It's sometimes hard to get the WB correct, especially when a image doesn't have a white reference point in it.

I can't make up my mind about buying one or not, the best price I've seen so far is £64.58 including P&P (for the 77mm), but other sites price match so I could get it slightly cheaper than that.
But on the other hand I could just print off a white and black card and just take a picture of that before each shot I took.

I think I'll try the home made solution first of all.

[mij]

Have you looked at the Whibal: Digital Photography - RawWorkflow.com - WhiBal Certified Gray Card for White Balance

[senu]

Originally Posted by Some Bloke

I think I just guessed on the Utah shots
It's sometimes hard to get the WB correct, especially when a image doesn't have a white reference point in it.
But on the other hand I could just print off a white and black card and just take a picture of that before each shot I took.

I think I'll try the home made solution first of all.

Some books ( most of Scott Kelbys PS or PSE one at least) have one

[Some Bloke]

Originally Posted by mij

Have you looked at the Whibal: Digital Photography - RawWorkflow.com - WhiBal Certified Gray Card for White Balance

Originally Posted by senu

Some books ( most of Scott Kelbys PS or PSE one at least) have one

Thank you Comrades
I'll investigate the link and S.K.'s eBooks (maybe there's a page I can print out).
Or maybe I need to shake the download and one will fall out .

[dazza74]

Originally Posted by Some Bloke

I do shoot RAW with the D700, but the Auto WB is not very good.

It's naff auto WB on the D300 as well. I find I'm processing more of my pics in capture NX these days as opposed to ACR I quite like the "calculate automatically" white balance setting in NX I normally do that and find I only have to tweak it slightly a lot of the time to get what I'm looking for.

[RobDickinson]

Originally Posted by dfrear

To be honest, if you shoot RAW you might aswell save yourself the cash and bother by changing it in post processing. If your not shooting RAW, start - that is unless you shoot JPEG for a reason e.g. you need images quick to send off to a publication

Uh what, even with RAW knowing the correct WB is handy, you still have to set one.

[dfrear]

Handy yea, but worth 66 quid when you can do it in software after the event?

[tdodd]

I can't vouch for the colour accuracy but I've read a few times that people use a Pringles lid instead of an Expodisc. It's far cheaper and you get a free meal thrown in.

Personally I shoot raw, use the colour dropper on a neutral part of the scene (e.g. white or grey shirt, black suit, white paint, grey concrete, silver car), and then adjust to taste. It may not be completely accurate, but accurate is not as important as looking good. e.g. under tungsten light I want to retain the warm look of the ambient lighting. I don't want to turn everything to a cold neutral white.

[sim667]

Ahem

[senu]

Originally Posted by tdodd

I can't vouch for the colour accuracy but I've read a few times that people use a Pringles lid instead of an Expodisc. It's far cheaper and you get a free meal thrown in.

Its worth trying and it doesnt cost £66....
Money saving tips are hard to come by in these forums

Personally I shoot raw, use the colour dropper on a neutral part of the scene (e.g. white or grey shirt, black suit, white paint, grey concrete, silver car), and then adjust to taste. It may not be completely accurate, but accurate is not as important as looking good. e.g. under tungsten light I want to retain the warm look of the ambient lighting. I don't want to turn everything to a cold neutral white.

There is more than a grain of truth in that . I have often found that when I change the white balance in some " warm " pictures to restore the " orange" tinge to white . It ends up looking cool/ cold Blue and nothing like it did during the shoot
This is especially true for people shots

[tdodd]

£3.38 delivered on eBay....

77mm White Balance Lens Cap/Grey Card Lens Filter AX08 on eBay, also, Lens Caps, Camera Lenses, Photography (end time 25-Jan-09 17:00:41 GMT)

[senu]

Originally Posted by tdodd

£3.38 delivered on eBay....

Almost as cheap as pringles..without the crisps ( of course)
Another money saving tip ..eh

[Some Bloke]

Originally Posted by tdodd

£3.38 delivered on eBay....

77mm White Balance Lens Cap/Grey Card Lens Filter AX08 on eBay, also, Lens Caps, Camera Lenses, Photography (end time 25-Jan-09 17:00:41 GMT)

Thanks for the suggestion and the Pringles lid idea, sorry for not replying sooner.
I'd forgotten about this thread as I only receive one email notification even if more than one person posts (I'm not sure if that can be altered ?)

I don't if the cap would do the job, it looks too cheap.
But I supposed the Expodisc is only plastic too. Just more expensive plastic.

[tdodd]

The following is not directed at anyone in particular, it's just my general musings....

I'm not recommending Pringles lids, or cheap eBay imitations of the ExpoDisc. I am simply pointing out that they do exist and some people may well find them sufficient for their needs. It would not be much money lost to at least try the cheap alternatives, even if they don't work too well. I have some concerns about the benefit of a tool such as the ExpoDisc, regardless of its actual price....

- How do you use an ExpoDisc when you are using flash, especially on camera?

- If perfectly neutral and accurate white balance is so important, why do they also sell a "Portrait" version with warmer tones?

- Why am I not allowed to set my own WB by the SWAG technique when it is OK for ExpoDisc (Portrait) to force a specific amount of warming onto my image? What if *I* want it warmer or cooler?

- What use is the ExpoDisc if the camera position is in different light from the subject position - have I got to run back and forth to take a WB reading?

- What use is an ExpoDisc with highish shutter speeds under fluorescent lighting, when the colour temperature can alter with phases of elecrical cycles?

Why pay £60+ for a WB tool of limited use and questionable benefit? If you shoot JPEG and you are happy to work within the restrictions the ExpoDisc imposes then knock yourself out. Personally I'm happy to stick with my approach, which costs nothing at all. If I was going to spend a large amount of money to ensure accurate colour I'd rather spend it on a Gretag Macbeth calibration chart.