Photovision Digital Calibration Target

[asysin2leads]

Ok, I finally got around to putting together a few sample images to show off the capabilities of the digital calibration target (http://www.photovisionvideo.com/stor...egory_Code=DCT). The EXIF should be intact. BTW, I am NOT looking for critiques of the images. These were handheld shots. I just wanted to show off what the calibration target can do.

I took these under some nasty lights at work. As you can tell, they give off an orangish tint.

BEFORE:





AFTER:

[pennypue]

Holy crap, Batman!!! I think I should pick one up.

While I'm ordering lotsa other stuff, stimulating the economy, I might as well get one of these too!

[tim]

This thread was just linked from another thread. Can you show us what happens when you use the white balance dropper in camera raw to set the white balance? Sample the side of the ambulance.

[asysin2leads]

Originally Posted by tim

This thread was just linked from another thread. Can you show us what happens when you use the white balance dropper in camera raw to set the white balance? Sample the side of the ambulance.

I can. I am not on my computer right now, but I will.

[funhouse69]

I picked up one of these targets at a seminar years ago and used it once in a while and I have to say it really does make white balance pretty easy. At the same time I let my friend use it for a wedding she shot for a friend and I was impressed at how it worked to get the White Dress perfect as well as the Black Tux. I keep mine in my bag but don't personally do a lot of portrait work. At the same time I never really thought of using it in other situations.

[Scottes]

I'm curious about this device. Why Black, grey, and white? A grey card would set white balance and exposure. And the grey cards are a heckuva lot cheaper.

[RDKirk]

Originally Posted by Scottes

I'm curious about this device. Why Black, grey, and white? A grey card would set white balance and exposure. And the grey cards are a heckuva lot cheaper.

You're right about white balance, and if you take an exposure meter reading from the entire card, the black and white tones average out to the same gray level as the gray tone. But the claim is that the three spikes the target gives you on a histogram will tell you something about how to be sure the exposure correctly places those tones.

Personally, I consider it a gimmick. It can be made to work, but it doesn't give you the information it claims to give.

To do that, it would have to be a two-dimensional target--a cube with three tones on each face, or at least the faces visible to the camera. Only the face illuminated by the main light would show a true white (the highlighted white) and only the face illuminated by the fill light (the shadows) would show you the true black (the shadowed black).

If you have only one target turned to the main light, the black tone (being a highlighted black) is photographically a dark gray. If you turn the target toward the camera, the white tone (being a shadowed white) is photographically a light gray.

And in fact, none of those tones is the tone of primary interest for digital exposure. The tone of primary interest for digital exposure is "the brightest highlight that must retain detail" (which would be Zone Eight in Zone System parlance).

That tone must be identified in the scene and placed at the top of the histogram to gain the greatest dynamic range and the least noise the sensor is capable of capturing. The three-toned target doesn't even have that tone.

[funhouse69]

Originally Posted by Scottes

I'm curious about this device. Why Black, grey, and white? A grey card would set white balance and exposure. And the grey cards are a heckuva lot cheaper.

Basically in an application like Phase One and I believe Photoshop you not only can set the "White" point you can choose all 3 to get the colors "Perfect" I've done it in Phase One and I really did like the results. Again I don't use mine as often as I used to or should but I might revisit it.

[Buspilot]

Originally Posted by asysin2leads

Ok, I finally got around to putting together a few sample images to show off the capabilities of the digital calibration target (http://www.photovisionvideo.com/stor...egory_Code=DCT). The EXIF should be intact. BTW, I am NOT looking for critiques of the images. These were handheld shots. I just wanted to show off what the calibration target can do.

What size target did you purchase? I would be interested to know how much need you see in your personal shooting for a large target.

[FlyingPhotog]

Originally Posted by Scottes

I'm curious about this device. Why Black, grey, and white? A grey card would set white balance and exposure. And the grey cards are a heckuva lot cheaper.

So you can set White, Grey and Black points using the eyedroppers in Levels or Curves.

[RDKirk]

Originally Posted by FlyingPhotog

So you can set White, Grey and Black points using the eyedroppers in Levels or Curves.

Except that the target does not give you those three tones to set those points, as I explained above. You can get one or two of them, but not all three and usually not more than one.

[asysin2leads]

Originally Posted by Buspilot

What size target did you purchase? I would be interested to know how much need you see in your personal shooting for a large target.

I bought the 14" and the 34" targets as a package. I like the 34" because the backside is white and is a pretty decent reflector. I got a pretty good deal on the package or I wouldn't have bought them. I'm pretty tight w/ money.

Some may think of it as a gimmick, but it works, as you can see in the above images. It serves my purpose and am happy with it.

[ben_r_]

I have the 14" one and love it! IMO its the best option out there!

[mufutau55]

I just pick-up the 14" too for $35, with the discount Photovision sent me for their DVD 2009 discount set. I have not used it yet.. Hope to use it soon.

Mufutau

Originally Posted by ben_r_

I have the 14" one and love it! IMO its the best option out there!

[bobbyz]

I was deciding between this photovision and lasolite ezybalance and finally went with the ezybalance.