Incredible White Balance tool

[Kholi]

Just go one of these things called an Expodisc pro wb for digital cameras. Was about 100 and looks like a filter. You put it in front of the lens, aim it at your light source and auto wb or preset. Then take it of and shoot.

I have been struggling to get a perfect white balance with the Digital
cams in general and this sucker did it in eight seconds. I'm About to try it on red mosly because reds auto wb also does a tint adjustment.

You can get t on amazon for 100.

I'm probably late but damn this thing rocks on the D100 and D70s.

Cross posted from the mkii forum since not everyone goes there.

[saaby]

...definitely a superb product. If you're a 0-budget filmmaker, coffee-filter shoved in a piece of UV-glass works as well. (Certainly not as elegant or durable though!)

[Kholi]

And here's another one. Massive as hell:


http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/490088-REG/CBL_Lens_CLLECBL110MM_CBL_Color_Balance_Lens.html

and a comparison of the two:

http://kwigibocity.com/CBL_Color_Balance_Lens.html
http://kwigibocity.com/CBL_Tests2.html

I happened upon the ExpoDisc (Neutral 77m) at Calumet but I'm about to order a CBL as well to test.

[Kholi]

...definitely a superb product. If you're a 0-budget filmmaker, coffee-filter shoved in a piece of UV-glass works as well. (Certainly not as elegant or durable though!)

LoL yeah I saw that link as well: http://www.tapstream.com/sections/gear/diy/cheapodisc.html

[Mike@AF]

And here's another one. Massive as hell:


http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/490088-REG/CBL_Lens_CLLECBL110MM_CBL_Color_Balance_Lens.html

and a comparison of the two:

http://kwigibocity.com/CBL_Color_Balance_Lens.html
http://kwigibocity.com/CBL_Tests2.html

I happened upon the ExpoDisc (Neutral 77m) at Calumet but I'm about to order a CBL as well to test.

Wow, nice review. I was going to go for the ExpoDisc, but I think I like the more neutral look of the CBL as a starting point before doing color correction and grading.

[Mike@AF]

Looking at the CBL, 110mm seems small. Do you have to zoom in on it to white balance? I couldn't find a manual or demonstration video anywhere like I was with the ExpoDisc.

[Abstract Photog]

...definitely a superb product. If you're a 0-budget filmmaker, coffee-filter shoved in a piece of UV-glass works as well. (Certainly not as elegant or durable though!)
haha i used to use this method with my old still cam. worked fine

[Illya Friedman]

I have the Expodisc. Cool tool- fair warning, it doesn't produce good results with the GH1.

[Mike@AF]

I have the Expodisc. Cool tool- fair warning, it doesn't produce good results with the GH1.

Bummer. Have you tried the CBL with the GH1 by chance?

[dvbrother]

Wow. I've been shooting video for 20 years and a piece of white cardboard has always worked as a white balance tool. $100 seems a bit steep, especially in this economy. The coffee filter shoved in a UV filter seems like a great DIY solution.

[Martti Ekstrand]

A newly washed white t-shirt of heavy high quality cotton should be worn under the black shirt by every assistant cameraperson. I'd pass that dress code into a law if I was voted state secretary of important things.

[Erik Olson]

I make my ACs wear these for white balancing:

http://factoryworkwear.ca/images/canada_goose/4565L.jpg

They generally don't complain except during the months of April - November.

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[Mike@AF]

Anyone have an update on the Expodisc vs CBL on the GH1? I know not many have gotten their GH1 yet, but wanted to check before I place my order for the CBL.

[yabyum]

bump for updates anyone? also, can i use the coffee filter trick with a non-uv filter, like a polariser?

[Mike@AF]

I received my CBL last week. Still waiting for the camera to try it.

[yabyum]

I received my CBL last week. Still waiting for the camera to try it.

i'm curious, why the CBL over the expo?

[Mike@AF]

i'm curious, why the CBL over the expo?

Not sure where exactly I found it, but I read a review comparing the Expodisc to the CBL. The CBL was more accurate and I preferred the look of the shots balanced with the CBL over the Expodisc and other methods that were used in the review.

[saaby]

bump for updates anyone? also, can i use the coffee filter trick with a non-uv filter, like a polariser?

I think you'd want to use a UV filter, just because a polarizer could slightly alter the color of white, and either way, it's going to cut down on the light getting to the camera to balance with.

You don't need a high quality UV filter. If you're ordering some things from a place like B&H, just toss a filter into your order. The cheapest $10 UV filter from Best Buy would work too. You don't REALLY need a UV filter at all, it's just the right size, and a convenient way to hold a bit of coffee filter.

Honestly no reason you couldn't simply use something else kind of translucent. Some people have used the lid of a Pringles can, but I don't know where they got their lids, because you may or may not recall, but Pringles lids used to be milky white, but now they're totally clear. (Actually, you could use the clear pringles lid to hold/protect the coffee filter)

[BrianMurphy]

A newly washed white t-shirt of heavy high quality cotton should be worn under the black shirt by every assistant cameraperson. I'd pass that dress code into a law if I was voted state secretary of important things.

I use a small flex fill and the first person I spot to hold it...don't often have an AC.

[Zephyrnoid]

Mine is in provisional Patent Application process. Once that goes through, I'll post a picture and put them up for sale. Oh and YES, I use mine daily.

[Zephyrnoid]

This Expodisc pro thing keeps cropping up in all the forums. i should just copy and paste my response over to save effort. They work but for the wrong reason. They average and thus "white balance" the entire scene INCLUDING: The background, stray lights, objects etc. Is that REALLY what you want in White Balancing? No it isn't unless you are doing run & gun ENG work. So they realized that this method bleaches skin tones. Solution, introduce some strands of cyan to compensate. Brilliant! Or is it?
White Balancing is really about CALLIBRATING your camera to the Key Light hitting your main subject, and then modulating the color of all other lights to conform to your lighting strategy.
This can only be done properly with a bounce card that has been 'adjusted' for the actual subject. There's a company out there that makes good ones. They're tinted to compensate for skin tone wash-out.
So unless you're doing a lot of run n gun, the filters will ruin your chances of orchestrating the relationships between foreground, midground and background, main light, fills and background illumination.

[yslee]

The Expodisc *is* designed for run and gun work. To be precise it was designed for still photography use, with an emphasis on photojournalists, event shooters, etc.

[Kholi]

Dunno what Zephy is talking about, but if you white balance to light source like it says to do then it works fine...

I still use mines daily with video.

[yabyum]

Dunno what Zephy is talking about, but if you white balance to light source like it says to do then it works fine...

I still use mines daily with video.

on the GH1? someone above said it sucks on the GH1...

[yslee]

I'm guessing he's talking about more complex light sources (which can really screw it up if you're targeting for a particular look) but for stills-wise you'll adjust the WB manually or simply do it in RAW after the shoot. The Expodisc is really best for JPG shooters who need minimal post processing.