Expodisc

[Me No Nemo]

Anyone use the Expodisc for white balance? I bought one yesterday as I've not been able to get my white balance on my new Canon 40D quite right. Just wondering if anyone has any tips on using this? I also purchased a Canon 100 mm macro and Manfrotto 190xprob tripod and a Manfrotto 804rc2 pan tilt head. I liked this one as it will allow for top down shots. Are these good choices? Any feedback greatly appreciated.

 

[juniormc8704]

an expo disk isnt going to help you will reef photography.

Our cameras sensors cant recognize light temps as high as we use for out tanks.

You can very easily correct this in camera raw, assuming you shoot in RAW.

 

[Tremont]

+1 on not using expodisc and using RAW instead.

That being said, I have used one in the past to find out the color temp for the different light setups I use for time lapse (I can't do raw for time lapse unless I want to wait a day for a clip to finish processing).

Just try to point your camera towards your lights, without pointing it directly at the light source and then follow the instructions on your camera for setting the WB. The only problem I have found is when I went to heavy actinic lighting my 5d always says something like "could not properly set the WB with this image", but the white balance appears correct on the screen.

But, if you are doing stills you should absolutely use RAW...

-Tre

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

Anyone use the Expodisc for white balance? I bought one yesterday
You have a 40D, what do you need that thing for?
I also purchased a Canon 100 mm macro
Great!!
Manfrotto 190xprob tripod
Those should work
Manfrotto 804rc2 pan tilt head
I'm not crazy about that head though

 

[BlueCorn]

If you're in a situation where you need to shoot JPG and the lighting is challenging, the Expodisc can work well for you. I shoot with a guy who uses one and is sponsored by them. (He's the team photographer for a major sports team.) That said it probably won't be a bunch of help with shooting your tank for reasons that Junior pointed out. Shooting RAW and manually adjusting WB after the fact really is the way to go.

I also don't care for the pan/tilt head but they're plenty stable and some folks love them. To each his own.

Cheers