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Just wondering if anyone uses one of these to set a custom white balance?
They are not real cheap.

http://www.expoimaging.net/

I find a Pringles lid does just as good a job on those rare occasions I do take a custom measure. I can't believe the price they charge for expodiscs but I'd love to hear from someone who has one and gets value from it. I'm sure the pros use and swear by them.

Strong supporter of the Pringles lid here. You even get some bonus free chips with it - and at a fraction of the cost of the Expodisc

JordanP wrote:bonus free chips with it...

Let's see Expodisc match that!!!

I'm told that you can use the lid off a pringles chips tube and get the same results (and you get to eat the chips)
so if I was you I would try the pringles lid first and see how you go before outlaying any serious money (not sure how often you would use this in a std day)

edit: I must learn to refresh the page before I reply

firsty wrote:not sure how often you would use this in a std day

Good point Keith. I actually find the in-camera presets are pretty close to the mark (with up-to-date firmware, that is). When I do adjust WB in Camera Raw, it's normally only a very minor change to what was shot in the first place.

Thanks all for the advice.
Makes a good excuse for eating pringles as my wife hates them!!!

Not all the Pringle's lids are the same colour.
The earlier product of Pringle lids are more good than the later.

Hi,

have a read of this review that looks at expodisc, pringles lid, grey cards, etc.

http://www.camerahobby.com/Digital_WhiteBalance.htm

the expodisc came out ahead. One would hope after forking out that much money, but YMMV.

HTH,

André

so this disc plugs into the camera and alters the white balance temp and tint etc, automatically?

First post on these forums so G'Day

I have a Expodisc and while I've only been using it for a few weeks so far I'm very happy with the results (not so happy with the price even though I got it a few months back when it was on sale).

Having said that I'm a DSLR noob having owned one for only 3 weeks so I'm not that qualified to say it's the best of the best. I read a few reviews before purchasing and it sounded the goods and given the WB problems I've had in the past and how easy it appeared to be to use I went ahead and picked one up. I have no problem recommending them from a performance point of view (to my eyes anyway) but the price.....

Another pringles fan here .As birddog mentioned , they have changed them to a clear shade now . I've heard of other people using coffee filters as well .

Laurie wrote:so this disc plugs into the camera and alters the white balance temp and tint etc, automatically?

You use it by photographing (the disc) in the light and area where you are trying to shoot .Then set that image as your custom white balance . Its really easy to do . I've found most camera instruction boooklets are a bit vague in there discription on how to set this up .They really need to explain it a little better.

F#*% me dead .The prices are from $80 - $200 bucks for this thing. That's beyond ridiculous .

I tried the pringles trick, but alas, the only ones we have in the house are the newer clear lids.

What you need is pretty much simply a white thing that lets light through. I've had semi-good results using the inverted dome of my Lightsphere PJ, but it would probably be better with a flat white disc.

Ages ago , I had a great seal of trouble finding the non clear style pringle lid. Eventually found that the small kiddy size pringles still had them.

Probably used it 5 times in 12mnths...


MATT

There are quite a few guys on Nikon cafe who swear by the expodisc. as well as white balance it can be used to check your exposure meter and to set exposure in tricky light. They are available from Nulab and Borge's.

Apparently the pessary cap on your gary fong lightsphere can be held over the lens and gives a good white balance preset

Haven't tried it


Bob G

I have all version of Expodiscs, work well for me and well recommended.

Yes, they ain't cheap! but it serves the purpose and the cause which I wanted.
GF Lightsphere lid does the job well, I tested it, but too bulky and hard to carry it with, so I used the ED more often if needed.

Pringle lids work.
Coffee filter works.
Non clear plexiglass works (milky colour is same as Pringle lid)
I tried few more difference things with similar colour (milky) and all work well.

If you have some loose changes, get the ED.
If not, DIY or find something available at your supermarkets.

And I'm not wrong with my above statement.

I use an ED and find it excellent when I pre-WB a portrait. That way i make sure i get accurate skintones. Problem is that if the light changes, (IE clouds) then you need to pre-WB again.

But it's worth it to get the WB correct as it saves on time when PPing.

Some info here about homemade expodiscs

http://www.dslrusers.net/viewtopic.php? ... e+expodisc

Mine gives excellent results (when I can be bothered to use it)

Cheers

I looked into the Pringles lid last weekend only to find they have changed the lid to clear.

I am however experimenting with my Lightsphere PJ inverted dome. I just hold it over the end of the lens and do a custom WB. Initial tests showing it's pretty close. As an added bonus it's always in my camera bag

Maybe a few more LSPJ owners could give it a go...

There is another alternative but is an after image capture process..it's call a WhiBal....basically it is a set of plastci cards that are color calibrated or correct (however you want to term).....you hold the cards or can have the person you are photograhing hold the cards and take a sample shot.

After your shooting session you simply take your sample shot and balance off the grey card...it's one click and then you can apply to the rest of your shots. All the info is on the website http://www.rawworkflow.com/products/whibal/index.html and I believe the newest version is just 1 card where mine is a set of 3.

Worth looking at....I have myself...don't use often but when I do under controlled lighting you just go from your refernce shot and and apply to the rest.

I use an expodisc as well. Works great when I remember to use it