Expodisc, do you use it?

[sGu]

How many of you use expodisc to set white balance on camera?

I've been searching for it but can't find any UK dealers, anyone knows where I can get them in UK?

[defordphoto]

Nahhh. I use coffee filters. Much cheaper and you can find them anywhere.

[sGu]

Does it work well with custom white balance? Can you show me a sample or a link towards the filter please?

[KennyG]

How many of you use expodisc to set white balance on camera?

I've been searching for it but can't find any UK dealers, anyone knows where I can get them in UK?

I use one and it is superb if you shoot JPG need accurate WB out of the camera. I shoot a frame from the Expodisc when the conditions change and it gives me a great reference file for WB for use with my RAW files and C1. Warehouse Express now stock them.

[CyberDyneSystems]

sGu,

You may SERIOUSLY want to consider trying the coffee filter trick befroe investing the rather substantial sum for the Expodisk..

Not that I am saying not to get the expodisk.. in the long run it may be a very worhtwhile investment...

I'm just suggesting that you can "try it before you buy it" by using a simple Mr. Coffee filter. It really does an excellent job for mere pennies. What the expodisk will offer over the coffee filter is ease of use and prtability. If you find the coffe filter working well, but don't fancy keeping Mr. Coffee in your bag,.. then go for the expodisk.

[sGu]

CDS, I always try before I buy if I can, but I couldn't dig up any info on coffee filters, no luck with searches on B&H at all ...

Wait, do you mean the actual "coffee filter"???? :rolleyes:

[Jon]

Just don't get the unbleached ones ;{)#

[CyberDyneSystems]

Yes!

An actual Mr Coffee white coffe filter does a remarkabel job of mimicing the expodisk! For mere pennies you can try the same techniques that the expodisk offers for spot white balance settings.

It works!

Needless to say.. I have coffee filters in my bag .. and no expodisk ;)

Oh the other "expodisk surragate" of choice is a "pringles lid"

[TomC]

CDS - Can you elaborate on this procedure for us (me) newbies??

[CyberDyneSystems]

Using either a set of coffe filters (there is debate as to whethter two stacked or three is best)

... or a pringles lid,
... or an $85.00 expo-disk...

Place over the fron of your lens.. aim at the subject in the lighting that you will be using (turn on flash if flash will be used) and shoot a photo.

Now use your cameras "custom white balance" setting just as you would if you shot a grey card,. and chosse the image you shot with the coffee filters.

Make sure you are shooting with the cutom white balance ,.. and thats it.. if the lighting changes.. then just do it again.

here's a comparison,
http://www.rpgraphics.biz/tests/WBtests4/Presentation/slide63.htm

note the "pringles lid" won this comparison.. but see how similar the results are from pringles, coffee filter, and "expodisk reflective"

In this on the Expo wins.. but again note the similarity of the threee,,.. and how far off "auto" was this time,
http://www.rpgraphics.biz/tests/WBtests4/Presentation/slide67.htm

Here the grey card wins.. but again the three expo types are almost identical,. and "auto" is waaay off.
http://www.rpgraphics.biz/tests/WBtests4/Presentation/slide55.htm

[iwatkins]

CDS,

Do you also have a coffee machine in your camera bag ? I think you are missing out if you haven't. :D

Ian

[aam1234]

Thanks CDS, your effort is well appreciated.

To be honest I'm not sure what's the conclusion from the examples you gave. Do you mean that each lighting situation requires different method of customizing the WB.

For me at least, the white paper gave the best result (overall).

[KennyG]

The problem with coffee filters and grey cards is that in the UK we have a lot of wet and windy weather, (well, apart from a couple of weeks in the summer) and sGu is out shooting in it, as I am. I bought the Expodisc a couple of years back so that I had an all-weather WB assistant that can be used in 70mph winds or torrential rain or snow (like today).

Whether it is more accurate or not is debateable, but for use in rain/wind it wins.

[sGu]

The problem with coffee filters and grey cards is that in the UK we have a lot of wet and windy weather, (well, apart from a couple of weeks in the summer) and sGu is out shooting in it, as I am. I bought the Expodisc a couple of years back so that I had an all-weather WB assistant that can be used in 70mph winds or torrential rain or snow (like today).

Whether it is more accurate or not is debateable, but for use in rain/wind it wins.

Kenny has a very crucial point there, a lot of times shooting environment simply doesn't allow anything to be placed near the object apart from directly shooting at it. Also with "normal" weather conditions like 70mph wind, snow and torrential rain, I think expodisc is the perfect solution if not the only one.

I'll go with expodisc, just for the peace of mind.

ps, I don't drink coffee, and never seen a coffee filter either :rolleyes:

[iwatkins]

sGu,

Go to Photographic | Filters | ExpoDisc on Warehouse Express for it. (took me a while to find it).

Cheers

Ian

[sGu]

sGu,

Go to Photographic | Filters | ExpoDisc on Warehouse Express for it. (took me a while to find it).

Cheers

Ian

Cheers Ian, I did find it.

I'll place my order tomorrow, 58mm one, hope they have it in stock. Even though 2 of my mostly used lenses are 77mm, just don't see the need to pay extra for large ones if all you need is to set the balance then shoot away.

[EdViesturs]

Cheers Ian, I did find it.

I'll place my order tomorrow, 58mm one, hope they have it in stock. Even though 2 of my mostly used lenses are 77mm, just don't see the need to pay extra for large ones if all you need is to set the balance then shoot away.

I may be wrong here, but don't you use place the expodisc right up against your barrel, and shoot through it? If that is the case, the 58mm model won't work on your 77mm diameter lenses. I think a larger model would be more suited to your needs. Any thoughts?

[sGu]

I may be wrong here, but don't you use place the expodisc right up against your barrel, and shoot through it? If that is the case, the 58mm model won't work on your 77mm diameter lenses. I think a larger model would be more suited to your needs. Any thoughts?

If I understand it correctly, all you do is when shooting condition change, you put on expodisc, in custom WB mode, shoot one frame, then set that frame as your WB, once it's set in camera, you can switch lens, or just shoot away without the expodisc on. Until condition change again.

Someone please correct me if i'm wrong.

Happy Holidays!

[EdViesturs]

Ok, but that would involve the changing of your lenses. That seems like it would work.

[barP]

does pringles make a 77mmm can?

:lol:

seriously, one thing i have found with my expo disk on my 20d is that in some conditions it's a dramatic advantage, and in others not so much. indoor mixed lighting, for example, and it's a magic bean. outdoors under partly cloudy skies and no fill flash...don't bother.

your results may vary.

wp.

[Jim_T]

I use the white plastic lids that they use to cover drink cups in fast food places like McDonalds etc.. I carry a couple in my camera bag...They work great.....

[drogos]

Place over the fron of your lens.. aim at the subject in the lighting that you will be using (turn on flash if flash will be used) and shoot a photo.



NOT REALLY ...the way i have understood expodisc tutorial you are suppose to get incident not reflected light so you position camera were your subject is but you aim it away from your target towars THE MAIN SOURCE OF LIGHT
...do i get right ?

[barP]

NOT REALLY ...the way i have understood expodisc tutorial you are suppose to get incident not reflected light so you position camera were your subject is but you aim it away from your target towars THE MAIN SOURCE OF LIGHT
...do i get right ?

you are right. it's incident light. now...sometimes, like on a cloudy day, there's little difference.

oh, and yes, it does work after you switch lenses. no need to do it again. unless, that is, you have filters on them. that might goof things up.

it's funny...there are two threads almost exactly alike running at the same time on here right now. i posted a message to this one earlier, then got on the other one and couldn't find it. thought i was losing my mind...

wp.