The Infamous White Balance Lens Cap - Worth the Money?

[avatar]

All,

I was wondering if anyone has bought the White Balance Lens Cap to 'easily' set the white balance in your DSLR before shooting. They go for about US$ 55 so not cheap. But is it worth the money or not you think?

http://photojojo.com/store/awesomene...lance-lens-cap

http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2009/0...balance-l.html

Would love to hear your thoughts and/or if you have bought one, your experience with it.

Cheers

Andre

[Saralonde]

I have never used one of these, but you could probably DIY something similar.

[m.c.adams]

I have a lid off a Pringles can and it works pretty well. If I'm really serious, I also have a set of white, gray, and black balance cards.
Mark

[kencaleno]

Like "expodisk"-an expensive toy-make your own: get one of those useless UV filters,cut a circle from a coffee filter to fit against the glass-"Voila !" you have an expodisk. Or,why not print yourself a grey card and do it properly?

Here's how to set custom white balance for Nikons: (and how to print a grey card)

Select a neutral coloured object to set your white balance

It’s best to avoid using a white target. The camera prefers grey.( Print yourself a grey card: In photoshop-

File> New Click on background square in toolbox select: red 127; green 127; blue 127 from color chart- Print)

In white balance menu select "Custom"> "Preset"

select "measure"

Press shutter release halfway to return to shooting mode

press wb button until a blinking "Pre" appears in control panel and viewfinder

frame reference (grey card) so it fills the frame

and press shutter release all the way down (Camera won't take picture)

If camera was able to register a value for white balance "Good" will flash in control panel and "GD" will flash in viewfinder

If lighting is too dark or bright "no g d" will flash in viewfinder and control panel


If you use white in direct sunlight you'll always get a "No Gd" response from the camera because the Matrix meter is rendering it white instead of

grey. Thus the trick is to select the centre-weighted meter when using a white reference in bright light and you'll get "Good" from a camera.

Remember to set back to Matrix metering as soon as you're done.

Regards, Ken

[OsmosisStudios]

Most people that have tried both expodiscs and these lens caps say that they prefer greycards. I dont really fiddle with my WB much (though I should), so I cant comment beyond that.

[LoveDSLR]

I recommend ExpoDisc and WhiBal.

[candleman]

Originally Posted by kencaleno

Like "expodisk"-an expensive toy-make your own: get one of those useless UV filters,cut a circle from a coffee filter to fit against the glass-"Voila !" you have an expodisk.

this is handy.. good tip.

Personally.. i just use the Kelvin scale to adjust the WB as i feel its necessary..
take a shot, chimp.. adjust the colour temperature.

easy

[fletch]

Worrying about white balance in the field is so 2008.

I say shoot RAW and adjust in Lightroom/ACR. If you need a reference to get it spot on then just include a grey card in the first frame at any location and use that as a reference in your RAW editor.

[avatar]

Thanks for all the replies, everyone. Very helpful indeed. Now I am convinced NOT to buy one. Much rather spend my money on something else.

My Scott Kelby "Photoshop CS3 for Digital Photographers' book came with a grey card an I've been using that one and it works a treat.

Costs about the same but you get an awesome book thrown in for free!

Thanks again, I really appreciate it

Andre

[kirbinster]

I just shoot raw and use auto WB and adjust in LR with no problems. But if you want one of those discs I hear they work well and are useful for situations where it is not possible to use a grey card. Let's say you are shooting a tiger at the zoo, it is not possible (well not safe at least) to go into the cage and place a grey card next to the tiger. The way you use the disc is to point the camera away from you subject towards the source of the light to set the white balance - not by pointing it at the subject.