Setting white balance

[HT]

I'm slowly messing around with manual settings. Today I started to mess around with custom white balancing on my XTi. I know how to do it (read the manual). My question is how do I set it up with the flash? Do I take a picture of a white card with the flash firing and then set it to that? Or do I adjust it without a flash?

[AndrewCCM]

You can use the FLASH WB setting or set your Kelvin level between 5200 - 6000 depending on how warm you like the image. I am not sure how the XTi works. It may not have a manual Kelvin setting.

[HT]

The XTi doesn't have a custom kelvin setup. It has preset WB's and a "custom" feature which you take a picture of something white in your particular setting and adjust everthing to that. That's pretty much it.

[AndrewCCM]

Ok. The lightning bolt (or Flash WB) is usually set to around 5200 or 5500. That is usually a good starting point. If you want to actually manually set the WB with flash... you can shoot an 18% gray card or White card for that matter with the flash on/and exposed correctly.. then use that as a reference point. Be aware though that light fall off will affect the WB as well.. So if using this approach you may want to shoot the card at a semi relative distance that you'll be shooting at. This is more problematic in low light ballrooms and such where the dropoff can be significant.

Hope this helps.

[HT]

Thanks for the tips. I'm learning as we go..

[brad]

Point the expodisc covered lens at the main light source and fire a frame.. set custom wb to that frame.

Oh, sorry.. that's another thread.


To answer your primary question, yes.. get your image settings first (this is true with expodisc, too) and then set your white balance under the same conditions - with the flash firing if that's what you are using.

[AndrewCCM]

Originally Posted by brad

Point the expodisc covered lens at the main light source and fire a frame.. set custom wb to that frame.

Oh, sorry.. that's another thread.


To answer your primary question, yes.. get your image settings first (this is true with expodisc, too) and then set your white balance under the same conditions - with the flash firing if that's what you are using.

Are they mailing the check to your studio or the house? LOL

[ricemusic]

I have not yet tried the expodisc. How are the results compared to using the exposdisc and custom white balance as opposed to not using it? And as far as the check is concerned, if you don't like sharing information, this is not the best place to be imho.

[Wes]

Originally Posted by ricemusic

And as far as the check is concerned, if you don't like sharing information, this is not the best place to be imho.

He was joking.

As for how the ExpoDisc results.... I used mine for the first time this weekend doing an informal wedding shoot at my church. Not real impressed with the results, but I'm sure that it was me.

[xseption]

Originally Posted by HT

I'm slowly messing around with manual settings. Today I started to mess around with custom white balancing on my XTi. I know how to do it (read the manual). My question is how do I set it up with the flash? Do I take a picture of a white card with the flash firing and then set it to that? Or do I adjust it without a flash?

Just FYI (you probably already know this), the XTi has a White Balance setting for Flash already. That may be a good starting point ...

[CobyPhoto]

Have had the expo disk as well and was not impressed with the results over several times of use. I find that using a grey card and setting the white balance is better than expo disk and just as quick.

[AndrewCCM]

Originally Posted by ricemusic

And as far as the check is concerned, if you don't like sharing information, this is not the best place to be imho.

Thanks for clearing that up for me. I am now so enlightend.

BTW: Can you point me to some useful shared information you have contributed recently? Looking at your posting history, it appears that most everything you "contribute" is "Great pic", "Nice pic", etc...

Obviously, you don't read much here. I try and be as helpful as I can be and am very active here.

Also, did you notice I was the first person to try and answer the OP question? Giving Brad a hard time is none of your business.

IMHO: Keep your opinions about others to yourself unless you know what you are talking about.

Have a nice day.

[brad]

Andrew: you feeling ok? Miss your morning coffee? (And they are sending the check to the post office box. LOL)

Actually, I have no affiliation with them.. I just became a huge fan. The difference between using it and AWB can be shown in these two images I posted from the first time I used it... the AWB is first, expodisc second (same lighting):



And the reason I like it better than a gray or white card is because it is solid and transportable.. it can be stuffed into a camera bag without wrinkling and it is less awkward (to me) than a card. It won't be folded, spindled, or mutilated through normal use... and it won't fade over time with the moisture in the air (at least I don't expect it to since its sealed).

[HeatherLou]

You should warn me when you do that Brad!!!! This info was very helpful and I like the results the expo disc does........Coby, if you get a chance, would you post the difference using a grey card, might be helpful to folks reading this thread, now and later on! Thanks

[Abel]

easy now guys...

i also use a expodisc and i shot a rockets game with it last month and i loved it, everything was right one and no need tweaking things in photoshop.. sure i could have done fine with a grey card but it looks so much cooler when you use a gadget.. hehe jk of coure.

i also like the fact that if use strobes or flashes for studio work you can set your camera to say TV mode and set your shutter to 160th, then have your camera right in the area of where your subject is standing/sitting an then face the camera in the same direction (towards where you will be shooting from) and fire the strobes... then you can get an accurate meter reading for the light you have... so for those of you that dont have a meter this will help your camera act as one.