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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> White Balance Filter vs. White/Grey Card
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Showing posts 1 - 13 of 13, (reverse)
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03/11/2007 06:52:30 PM · #1
Have any of you used a white balance filter? I'd never even heard of one until this afternoon - //www.wolfcamera.com/product/242041820.htm. I was looking at Wolf (because they're close) because I need a grey card and I ran across this.

If you've used one, have you found it better or worse than a card? It does seem a lot easier to use, and definitely bag-oriented...
03/11/2007 06:56:00 PM · #2
I saw this for the first time last friday at school. Works perfect.

If you're gonna buy it, buy a big one, even if it's bigger then your lens. That way you only have to buy one, instead of one for each lens. Just hold it against your lens and it's fine.

You can also get the right lighting settings, but I don't know how that works (with the other side of the thing)
03/11/2007 06:58:55 PM · #3
I just bought an ExpoDisc a few weeks ago, and I LOVE it. I haven't done a side-by-side comparison of using a gray card, but I can say that this thing does a very impressive job. I don't leave home without it.

I did do some comparisons between it and just using auto WB, and the difference was vast, to say the least.

On the other hand, a gray card is about 1% of the cost of an ExpoDisc, but what're ya gonna do :)
03/11/2007 07:01:16 PM · #4
graycards are a bit more expensive than $1, right? I thought like 25 euros.
03/11/2007 07:05:01 PM · #5
They're as cheap as $1.99 at B&H
03/11/2007 07:05:35 PM · #6
that's 2%

:P
03/11/2007 07:06:28 PM · #7
That's why I said "about" :P
03/11/2007 07:07:18 PM · #8
hahahaha!

1% can make a HUGE difference Mister! :P
03/11/2007 07:13:10 PM · #9
So what does it do, produce a smooth color across the whole frame that should be white?

On my camera, you point it at something that's white and hit the custom balance, so is this the same idea?
03/11/2007 07:19:17 PM · #10
Originally posted by levyj413:

On my camera, you point it at something that's white and hit the custom balance, so is this the same idea?


Same idea. It's just a reliable way of telling the camera "what is white."
03/11/2007 07:24:14 PM · #11
We got an ExpoDisc last fall to do a big wedding where we knew we would be shooting at a minimum of 7 locations with different lighting and at different times of day. The expodisc worked flawlessly.
03/12/2007 01:11:14 PM · #12
I haven't tried it myself yet, but I recently read that you can use regular coffee filters to set your white balance. Or a pringles chip lid apparently works as a cheap expo disk.
03/12/2007 03:37:05 PM · #13
Originally posted by Foolish Ice:

I haven't tried it myself yet, but I recently read that you can use regular coffee filters to set your white balance. Or a pringles chip lid apparently works as a cheap expo disk.

White coffee filters work fine, but I usually forget them and have to use a white paper napkin. You could probably use tissue also. Just be sure whatever you use is exactly white. If its a little off (often a blue tint is added so things look "whiter") you'll still be close. OTOH, if what you use is a little blue, your shots will be warmer, so that may not be a bad thing.

There are a number of "white balance lens caps" on ebay that do the same thing. They cost less than an expodisk, but more than a coffee filter.

Message edited by author 2007-03-12 15:38:32.
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