ExpoDisc: Why does it cost so much?

[AlbertP]

The thread on white balance reminded me of a question I've had ever since I discovered the ExpoDisc:

http://www.expodisc.com/products/pro...px?id=MTAwMQ==

Why in tarnation does this thing cost so much?

A 77mm ExpoDisc is now going for $139.95!!!??

Have you folks seen one of these things? It's a little round plastic "filter" with a string attached to it. Yikes!

Could be useful, but at that price, I'll take two aspirin and call the doctor instead.

[Kevin Barrett]

Most likely because it's associated with photography. Most photography equipment (especially accessories) carry
hefty margins.

In light of the fact that the original white Pringles cap can also yield good results. The prices that they're getting
seems a bit EXTREME. In balance we should make a slight allowance for the 180 degree light gathering ability....
so a device fo this sort in my estimate could be $24.95 USD and still carry a hefty margin.

I'm sure I'm missing something....

I think there is a conspiracy in the works. Pringles has moved to a clear plastic cap instead of the nifty white
translucent one. Hmmmmmmm.... something fishy here. :P

[ohenry]

I have one (paid much less than $140 for my 77mm one) and, for the life of me, I cannot explain why it would cost so much. Then again, why does a high end UV filter cost $75+?

[JohnC]

If I remember correctly, the ExpoDisc has been around for quite a while as a metering aid. I used to see "discussions" of its merits on the CompuServe photography forum years ago. The price was more reasonable then, too. But the inventor died about 4 years ago and his family took over the business, targetted it to a new audience (white balance instead of exposure), and raised the prices considerably.

John

[mikej]

It was originally used in the movie industry... and yes, it was considerably cheaper. The guy selling it gets real bent out of shape if you ask him why he's charging so much too.

It's also limited in it's use in that you have to point it towards the light rather than reading the light falling on the subject. But people spend the money for it. Although many that have bought it said it either stays in their bag or never leaves the junk draw.

Maybe he figures he'd rather sell 1 for that price than sell 10 to get the same amount. I'm sure they are probably being made in China for .50 cents each.

Mike

[JDArt]

I have e-mailed representatives from ExpoDisc to invite them to contribute to this discussion.

[mikej]

Can you e-mail one of the coffee filter peopleand Pringles too? We might as well get all the parties that do a good job of color balancing. Actually, the filters you get for face masks at Home Depot did an excellent job as wel, although if I remember right, they were introduced after the big shoot out that tested a bunch of things against the Expo Disk. I think I saved that big thread somewhere. It was pretty interesting to find that something that costs pennies works just as good as something that costs over $100.




Mike

[badpickev]

yes maybe we can get pringles to go back to the old caps. it was great, a snack and white balance.

[fuentes]

the thing is, the comparisons are betweent the expodisc and preset camera white balances. i shoot in auto, but i've seen the presets on several cameras. none of them are settings i would leave the image as. i always fine tune the white balance to a personal, and in my opinion, more realistic value. for me, and i'm sure many others, the expodisc would be a waste of money. to get a ballpark balance, just use a white card before the shoot in place of your subject, get the white balance you desire in your program of choice and do a batch.

adrian

[mikej]

Adrian, a gray card is a better choice most of the time. A white card can reflect light, which can throw the white balance off.

Mike