GH4 Which color reference chart to buy?

Jaime Valles

Jaime Valles

Veteran
Hello, all.

I would like to get a color reference chart to use for my GH4 shoots, and would like your advice on which one works well.

X-Rite has several:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/651253-REG/X_Rite_MSCCPP_ColorChecker_Passport.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ..._Original_ColorChecker_Card.html/prm/alsVwDtl
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/465295-REG/X_Rite_MSDCCSG_Digital_ColorChecker_SG_Card.html

And there's this one from Datacolor:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...eckr_Color_Calibration_Tool.html/prm/alsVwDtl

And a much, MUCH cheaper one from DGK Color tools:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...set_of_2_dkc_pro_poly_bag_2.html/prm/alsVwDtl

If I can get away with using the one that costs $15 I'd be ecstatic, but not if the colors aren't accurate. Any thoughts?

Thanks! :thumbsup:
 
You can try this discount code if you end up buying direct from Datacolor. It should get you 20% off. promotional code: tech20team
They just sent it to me because they no longer support one of the Spyder units I have and they want me to buy a new one.

I know that the X-Rite charts fade. Not sure about the others listed.
 
A couple of things I've learned.

Do you want to calibrate the GH4 for a profile? If so the DSC Labs options are better or a test chart that has the main six colors only. A good test chart has the RGB plus Cyan, Magenta and Yellow patches. More expensive versions also have more shades of those primaries. This makes reading the color information much easer on the vectorscope.

If you want to use it for post work then the Xrite and DataColor are good especially with DaVinci Resolve Color Match feature. So is the DSC Labs One Shot. I like the Xrite Passport because it's small and fits nice in my bag. Very handy.
 
FreakPhoto said:
You can try this discount code if you end up buying direct from Datacolor. It should get you 20% off. promotional code: tech20team
They just sent it to me because they no longer support one of the Spyder units I have and they want me to buy a new one.

I know that the X-Rite charts fade. Not sure about the others listed.
Click to expand...

All test charts fade over time and if they are used in the sun a lot they fade faster. You should get 3 years of use out of them.
 
Thanks for all the advice, everyone!

Erik Naso said:
A couple of things I've learned.

Do you want to calibrate the GH4 for a profile? If so the DSC Labs options are better or a test chart that has the main six colors only. A good test chart has the RGB plus Cyan, Magenta and Yellow patches. More expensive versions also have more shades of those primaries. This makes reading the color information much easer on the vectorscope.

If you want to use it for post work then the Xrite and DataColor are good especially with DaVinci Resolve Color Match feature. So is the DSC Labs One Shot. I like the Xrite Passport because it's small and fits nice in my bag. Very handy.
Click to expand...

This would be just for post production, not for calibrating a GH4 profile. Does anyone know if the Resolve Color Match works with the cheaper DGK Color Tools card?
 
Erik Naso said:
All test charts fade over time and if they are used in the sun a lot they fade faster. You should get 3 years of use out of them.
Click to expand...
Pretty obvious but I didn't thought about that. Thanks for a tip Erik!
I will be getting ColorChecker Passport as you said- portable and not super expensive.
 
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