White balance

[Anne12343]

Hi, I've come across ExpoImaging, Inc. site and the www.colorright.com sites that tell of a filter that can be used to help with white balance. With the expodisc, it says to take a reading off of where the light source comes FROM, then take the picture. But, the colorright filter looks like it just takes the meter reading straight off of the subject. Anyone have experience with either of these? Looks like Ken Rockwell talks about expodisc, but he does not talk about colorright at all. I like the fact that the expodisc can be hung around the neck with a lanyard, which is convenient, but would it be harder to use since there may be different light sources coming from different directions? At what point would you point the camera to set custom white balance? And, would colorright be easier to use since it points right at the subject? Then, I read about the white balance lens cap that replaces your own lens cap. Anyone used this one, and is it any good? Thanks so much for your help!

[sk66]

I've seen many, and some DIY versions. But I seldom ever have my camera take images that far off of "correct" that I see much benefit. The expodisc (and some DIY solutions) turns your camera's meter into an incident meter which can be useful.

[OsmosisStudios]

Unless you're in some really weird lighting, the AWB on the camera + your adjustments in RAW will get you what you need. if you really want to get things 100% right, use a grey card in the same scene you'll be shooting in and use that in your RAW editing as a white balance reference.

[SusanH1970]

I've heard the Expodisc is good, haven't ever heard of the other one. I use a Digital Grey Kard and set CWB in camera. Works well for me.

[Kat Landreth]

I normally use the AWB/RAW combo suggested above. Lately I've had to use manual settings to capture JPEG's for a photography class. If you can't/ don't want to RAW as your file format I don't recommend AWB. You're on the right track by looking into custom white balance settings.

You would set a custom white balance before you start taking pictures of your subject, and then again any time the light changes.

I haven't used the colorright or expodisk but a wedding photographer friend of mine recommended the expo-cap lens cap tool. He said it was very easy to use and very accurate.

While the colorright and expodisk look like really cool tools, they're both just under $100. I'm sure they're well worth it if you already understand white balance and what kinds of problems you face when metering light. A gray card will set you back about $10. If you're still learning what you need and what you don't need from a white balance tool, the gray card is an inexpensive place to start.

**Added bonus when using gray card: Use them to make RAW color correction even easier! The eye dropper white balance tool asks you to click on a white or neutral point of the photo, right? Just include a gray card in one photo while you're shooting (and again every time the light changes). Now you know you have a neutral point to click on. That's totally worth $10.

[teaking]

Apparantly you can use a Pringles Lid for the same effect.... apparantly all you do is go to your white balance settings choose custom apply Pringles Lid point at light source and press your shutter to use as your white balance setting. Got to be worth a try for the price and deliciousness of a pack of Pringles haha