Expodisc

[Mr Mikey]

Has anyone used the Expodisc for setting white balance and if so is this a worthwhile inivestment ?

[andycubin]

Mr Mikey,

yes and er... yes. saves a lot of PP later if you get it wrong.

good luck

Andy Cubin
acfoto.co.uk: Welcome

[jfrancho]

I use a gray card or a white sheet of paper to calibrate WB. No issues ever, so I see no need for the expense.

[swampthing1117]

i have an expodisc and a calibrated grey card. I use the expodisc far more. It's just simpler and faster. Well worth their over inflated price.

[kgphoto]

I use a Whi-Bal card. Check out their website for a comparison between them and an expos disk or other variation.

Since I often use flash on or near camera, an expo disk can't "really" work, so that is why i went with the more versatile and economical Whi-Bal, but I did get the full set of three so really didn't save any money. In my mind, close enough isn't worth the money.

I have tested about 5 different products and the Whi-Bal is the easiest to use and most neutral, and each unit is individually tested to make sure it falls within specs.

You can get great results by using a piece of white foam core board on a Canon Camera,as long as you like their interpretation. If you want absolute neutrality, then you need a Whi-Bal.

Of course most of us tailor our color to suit us, but if we start from a standardized neutral, we can get faster more consistent results.

[Paul Shields]

Grey card for me (when I remember to use it). There was a long thread on expodisk a while back that threw out some 'interesting' comments : ExpoDisc: Why does it cost so much?

[aam1234]

If I remember correctly the options mentioned here are a bit on the expensive side. Kodak's white/gray cards are about $15, and they work really well. You'll get two A4s and two 4x6 (might be a bit off on the sizes).

[Mr Mikey]

Thanks for the information, I like the idea of the white pringles cap from the thread Paul Shields posted. when all else fails white paper will work. I have had a few issues with white balance in the outdoors when I shoot pictures for a panorama. I thought the expodisk might be the easiest and safest. but my budget does not like the expodisk.

[aam1234]

Originally Posted by Mr Mikey

but my budget does not like the expodisk.

Try Kodak's, it's only $15.

[heartseye]

I bought an Expodisc early this year and I like it better than any other method (tool) I have used......expensive though....$100 here in Canada...cheers Bob

[aam1234]

Originally Posted by heartseye

$100 here in Canada

Wow

When taking portraits without white/gray card I use the white part of their eyes. It works, and it's a lot cheaper than $100. Be careful though, don't hit a vein, or it will go all wacky

[Andy_T]

I normally just take a picture of a lens cap, as I always have one of those with me when taking a shot. ...

Canon silver lettering - great,
Tamron silver lettering - great,
Sigma/Tokina black lettering - what cheap stuff. They could really improve that a bit.

Best regards,
Andy

[Paul Shields]

Originally Posted by Andythaler

I normally just take a picture of a lens cap, as I always have one of those with me when taking a shot. ...

Canon silver lettering - great,
Tamron silver lettering - great,
Sigma/Tokina black lettering - what cheap stuff. They could really improve that a bit.
Andy

. I guess you get what you pay for.

[Mr Mikey]

while looking for kodaks version of the expodisc listed by aam1234 (i could not find it) I came across lens caps on Ebay that are white for setting white balance. Perhaps someone has tried this but it seems to me to be a bit gimicky.
I came across a CBL white balance lens which is not actually a lens but a white filter on a stick for around $130.00 that you point your camera at to set white balance.
These all seem to be a bit extreme and expensive for something to set your white balance with.
So why not just use the white plastic lids for white balance.
This is definately a learning experience.

[oldugly]

I have had very good luck with just the back of the white 3" x 5" cards I carry for notes. (At my age must make my "mental notes" on paper.) You talk about inexpensive!

[jfrancho]

Originally Posted by oldugly

I have had very good luck with just the back of the white 3" x 5" cards I carry for notes. (At my age must make my "mental notes" on paper.) You talk about inexpensive!

Exactly! Does it look white? Should it look white in the picture? If so, it might just work. Actually, I know it does. So does white clothing, white painted trim, white objects, etc.

[silentrob]

Originally Posted by Mr Mikey

while looking for kodaks version of the expodisc listed by aam1234 (i could not find it)

I think he was referring to their grey cards.