ExpoImaging ExpoDisc ▶︎ Getting Perfect White Balance the Easy Way
Photo Moment - August 29, 2018
I've had an ExpoDisc on my shelves for many, many years. I never used it. Then I saw someone else using it and thought it may be time to give it another chance. Let's find out if it's worth it or not!
Products Mentioned In Today's Photo Moment
- ExpoImaging ExpoDisc 2.0 82mm White Balance Filter Get Yours Here
Videos Mentioned In Today's Photo Moment
Other Links Mentioned In Today's Photo Moment
Do you have a preferred method of getting the white balance you want?
See something on any show that you want to buy?
Head on over to https://kit.com/PhotoJoseph
•• ExpoImaging ExpoDisc 2.0 82mm White Balance Filter ••
GeniusLink - http://geni.us/zWgTsqq
See something on any show that you want to buy?
Head on over to https://kit.com/PhotoJoseph
•• ExpoImaging ExpoDisc 2.0 82mm White Balance Filter ••
GeniusLink - http://geni.us/zWgTsqq
How would I use the expo,disk u dear tungsten fight lights in a mma cage that has always a red mat that seems to act as a reflector to the athletes throwing red into their skin tones ? Should I tried shooting inside the cage up at the lights but the red mat ruined skin tones. Should I go to my outside mma cage shooting position and just shoot across the cage so that the disk licks up sum of the mat? Thanks ?
Why is there a “color change” at 5:00?
I’m brand new to photography. Like, maybe have 1000 photos taken practicing on my kiddos in my home. So, I’m trying to learn as much as I can with photography and videography.
Great informative video!
I’m brand new to photography. Like, maybe have 1000 photos taken practicing on my kiddos in my home. So, I’m trying to learn as much as I can with photography and videography.
Great informative video!
Ha, no idea. That was recorded live a long time ago. Maybe a background light turned on? 🤷♂️ Enjoy the photography journey; it’s a ton of fun!
If I’m understanding this correctly you stand where the subject will be and take the balance shot pointing toward where I’d be standing to take the photo??? Please let me know if I’m correct or not… ❤ also have had this thing for a decade and I’m just now pulling it out and trying to figure it out exactly as you did. That made me chuckle 😂
Hi Joseph, I've been watching some of your videos and they're very helpful. I'm not a photographer and I'm on my own learning about all of this to film my beauty content for YouTube. I can see the colour is off on all of my videos. I'm trying to understand this. If I buy this disc and put it on my camera, should I sit where I sit and point it at the light source to manually white balance?
That’s how it works. Or you can custom white balance off a white card, which is my preference in a studio environment where it’s controlled lighting. You can just use a white piece of paper although a true white balance card is better. But still, a piece of white paper is good enough.
Thank you for this. It was a big leap forward realizing that temperature of light does not equal temperature of the light on subject, bouncing into the lens.
do you have to adjust exposure setting after taking one with the expodisk?
Here’s what still confuses me, if I’m photographing a landscape l can’t usually get all the way to what I want to photograph.
Of course l can go a few meters forward and look back at the camera’s position with the Expo attached but, many times there are parts of the scene between the camera and subject that are being hit by different intensities of light that aren’t picked up by the Expo because it’s not far enough away from the camera position. How can l determine how much of a difference this will make?
Of course l can go a few meters forward and look back at the camera’s position with the Expo attached but, many times there are parts of the scene between the camera and subject that are being hit by different intensities of light that aren’t picked up by the Expo because it’s not far enough away from the camera position. How can l determine how much of a difference this will make?
Great video, I recently learned how to you the Expo Disc.
I've used the ExpoDisc 2.0 for about twelve years. I use it every time I shoot.
My expo disc looks different. Mine looks the same on both sides! What is the deal with that. Mine doesn't have a diffused side.
The Expodisc is meant as an incident light meter, not a reflective one. It doesn't matter if you're in the shade or even under the same light source as that landscape waaaaaaaaaaaay over yonder. The light on a landscape in the distance will not be the same amount of light falling on the environment immediately around you where you're standing, and it's not hitting the landscape at the same angles as it's hitting you and your immediate environs so the same amount of light isn't hitting every visible part of the landscape the same way. It may seem that way but it's not. There's a reason you don't use an incident light meter (in incident mode anyhow) to meter this scenario. It's not possible to get an accurate incident reading of the exact amount of light falling on that landscape if you're not actually there, which is why it's better to base that reading off of reflective metering and adjust accordingly. Ask yourself why no landscape photographer ever uses incident metering for distant landscapes.
I am sure your a very nice man, but you talk to fast and kind of mumble throughout the video. For us old people you must slow down.
There’s a 0.75x speed toggle you can use. This was a live show and live shows moved fast.
I don’t understand. If you are pointing your camera at the light source then how do you take a picture of your subject. The light on your subject is going to be a bit different. So you set the white balance in kelvins and then use that kelvin for the WB on your subject?
You’re pointing at the light to measure the light. I think you should watch the video again; perhaps you skipped past critical parts of it.
Very engaging speaker. One of the best I've seen. Thanks for the info.
I had read in the instructions sometime back that before taking an incident light reading from the light source, you should use the Expo disc and point it at the subject to get/select the best exposure and then go to the subject and use it the way you talk about. There is a subtle difference when one does that. But there is a difference. Is it something that can be corrected in post-processing especially when shooting in RAW? Yes, definitely, and sometimes one doesn't have the time to jump back from source to subject. Just something I had read on the Expo Disc site. A very good tutorial on the Expo Disc. An excellent tool for when your picture does not have 18% grey area or even white and is all in color.
The Expodisc is meant as an incident light meter, not a reflective one. The light on a landscape in the distance will not be the same amount of light falling on the environment immediately around you where you're standing, and it's not hitting the landscape at the same angles as it's hitting you and your immediate environs. It may seem that way but it's not. There's a reason you don't use an incident light meter (in incident mode anyhow) to meter distant landscapes. It's not possible to get an accurate incident reading of the exact amount of light falling on that landscape if you're not actually there, which is why it's better to base that reading off of reflective metering and adjust accordingly.
So really the disc only good for controlled studio lighting rather than outdoors or in a mixed lighting environment. I'll stick to AWB or my grey card
I have it but it has not been completely clear to me where I have to sign up to do it well, for example if I'm going to record at a restaurant where I sign up? Or imagine that I'm going to take pictures in a gym, I thought I had to point to the subject but I see that I don't... could you tell me some tips thank you very much
@@photojoseph It's just that I didn't understand it well, if for example I record video in the living room of a gym, photo no, video... where do I have to measure?
Sign up? Don’t know what you mean, but you point to where the light is coming from or where the camera will be. I thought that was really clear in this video, no?
Is it okay to point the expodic with your camera at the direct sun? So, can you get your white balance and exposure?
@@photojoseph okay. Thank you.
No. Never point anything directly at the Sun. Point towards where the camera will be.
Love the video!!! Keep up the great work!
Fantastic video - thank you! One thing that I’m still not 100% on that I’m hoping you can answer here: I shoot video in a studio location - it’s always the same in terms of the subject, the lights and the camera positions. However there are a total of four angles that I shoot so the cameras are getting a slightly different image each in terms of white balance. I’ve used a color checker in the past and it’s pretty OK but especially with my background lights being purple and cyan it’s still not as good as I think it could be.
Now I’m wondering if in the case of using the Expodisc I’d have to point each of the cameras to where they are shooting from correct? So one would be straight ahead, one is an overhead shot, one is on the right at an angle and the last one left at an angle.
Hope the makes sense 😅
Thanks for the help!
Now I’m wondering if in the case of using the Expodisc I’d have to point each of the cameras to where they are shooting from correct? So one would be straight ahead, one is an overhead shot, one is on the right at an angle and the last one left at an angle.
Hope the makes sense 😅
Thanks for the help!
Hmm, for color matching cameras I always do it with custom white balance then possibly do a final match in post. I don’t think this tool is the way to go for multicam.
Expodisk does exactly what I can do with one change in WB setting in clear sky daylight, except I gotta pay $50 and fiddle with some dangly thing in front of my lens first??? No thanks.
There’s a sucker born every minute.
There’s a sucker born every minute.
Tell me you don’t understand white balance without telling me you don’t understand white balance.
your talking is great but we can't actually see you do the work, talking and doing is different, we need to see the process not afterwards
Actually, you are talking so much the interest in learning becomes irritating. Why not just set up and show step by step while talking and then show us. This expo disc is something that has always caused a huge issue with me because its more difficult than it needs to be
@@jacquelinejackson5191 this was a live show, not a five minute tutorial. I’m sorry it didn’t meet your expectations.
@@photojoseph I'm not trying to be pleased, I'm trying to learn how to use this expo disc in its basic terms. If you view the video you're playing as if you are a student, you will be frustrated. Learning photography is a beautiful gift all I am saying is that do the process step 1-the last step to actually show how something works. You have great tips but the video is missing the most important part, you're also using the card with the expo disc which is another confusing element. Please make a video that shows the steps......Step 1 Go to the AWB setting on your camera Step 2 Stand facing where you will be shooting toward and aim the camera where you will be standing Step 3 take the expo disc and cover the lens, take the photo Step 4 whatever the next step is........we are content creators make life too difficult in the photography industry
Followed by an unnecessary comment, but hey, thanks for the engagement!
It's 'incorrectly'.
How would this work when shooting outdoors and not in a static spot?
Until the lighting changes dramatically, yes
First off I thank you for your help in the past. Joseph I have use No filters for over 20 years & trained by Janice Wendt. I brought Nik Filters 4. I could get it to my Mac M1 to work in Photoshop. There is no tech support for Nik’s now since they were brought I need help to get my Nik’s to work inside of my Nik filters 4.
I have a 12” Mac 2012 laptop with Nik’s filters 3 on it. Inorder to do my retouching I have import my file into my Nik’s filter 3 on my 12” 2012 Mac laptop computer to use Nik’s
If you have a contact number go Nik’s 4 customer service. This would be great or a email for a intelligent customer service person at Nik’s or what ever the French owners are called now . This would be great. I was going to Nik 5. I would do this irritate myself
I have a 12” Mac 2012 laptop with Nik’s filters 3 on it. Inorder to do my retouching I have import my file into my Nik’s filter 3 on my 12” 2012 Mac laptop computer to use Nik’s
If you have a contact number go Nik’s 4 customer service. This would be great or a email for a intelligent customer service person at Nik’s or what ever the French owners are called now . This would be great. I was going to Nik 5. I would do this irritate myself
The owner of Nik Collection is DxO, and it is at version 5 now. You need to upgrade for it to work on your M1. https://photojoseph.com/NikCollection
I have one and use it when shooting people. Do not use it for landscapes, wildlife, sports, etc. Does help with weddings and face shots or glamor shots where you want to be right. Remember, if the light source changes (late evening with the sun setting) you have to reset for the new light.
White text over yellow? Dude, really?
I’m so glad that this is what you’ve taken from this video. 🙄
I carry a ream of paper on my car, always great white balance, why the disk when a simple sheet of paper does the job, been doing it sice 2010.
Here’s why https://youtu.be/-DsQDZaGckY
I own an Expodisc2 and use it occasionally, especially if I don't see some neutral gray (kinda) in the picture I'm taking. If I do then I adjust the white balance in Lightroom, or Elements of Photoshop, and it's good enough for me and my family. I have used the Expodisc and found it to be very good. My question is BEFORE is it necessary to use the Expodisc and get the exposure right down the middle before using it? Is there much of a difference if you just use the camera to get the right exposure before, or use the Expodisc to get the right exposure first?
You know... when you set the playback speed on PhotoJoseph's videos to 75%, it sound perfectly normal. Try it, you'll see!
@@57JackCaptainSparrow thanks man… you have no idea how much comments like yours are appreciated. Thank you.
@@photojoseph Seriously Joseph, your channel rocks! I've been a fan and a sub of yours for years and you just keep getting better! Keep it up, we're watching (and listening very carefully)!!!
LOL I tell people that all the time who complain that I talk too fast!
If you're taking portraits it would seem like the ExpoDisc is useless because you're using strobe lighting. How can that do a white balance during the time of a flash burst? Unless you use the flash photo in post production.
I don’t follow. THe white balance is set by the camera when it takes a photo. Either it takes a photo to set a white balance, or you take a photo first then use that to set the white balance. Either way, the flash will fire. Just try it… you’ll see. It’ll make more sense when you try it.
@@photojoseph Then with strobes, you could only use the Expo Disc in post production, once you took the strobe photo with it, correct? ie, you would then use that photo with the white balance tool to come up with a WB and apply that to all other photos in post production. You couldn't use the expo disc to give you a white balance of the CAMERA by taking a strobe photo since the burst of light is too fast to set your camera's WB to.
If you're only using strobe lighting, then sure a custom WB may not be necessary. If you're balancing strobe and natural lighting though, then this can be exceptionally helpful to find the right white balance. When you measure the white balance as directed in this video, if you're going to use a strobe, then the strobe would fire during the WB calculation.
15:35 yeah i use the jjc one and its pretty decent outside but inside buildings it just makes the light temp go too cold so it get a bit bluish.
outside in the sun is what the expodisc is good for, but inside buildings not so much
outside in the sun is what the expodisc is good for, but inside buildings not so much
Hello there! Just ran across your video and was quite surprised to see how many people in the comments used this wrong! 😊 I've used the ExpoDisk 2.0 for years and (maybe it's cause I read the information that came with it) thankfully I have been using it correctly the entire time! Glad this video is out there so people who maybe have had difficulty using it can see the proper use cases and how to get the best results! Thanks PhotoJoseph!
Great video. Thank you. How would you go about using this outdoors? Pointing it towards the sun would surely fry the sensor. Any suggestions?
Pointing it towards the sun WITH the Expodisc in front of the lens completely will not hurt the camera or sensor. In fact, if you look at the histogram after taking a picture of the sun, you will see a "perfect" histogram. I was really worried about this, but I did it and have done it a few times and have not had any problems. BUT, please put the Expodisc over the lens BEFORE pointing it directly at the sun.
You point it towards the camera or the light source, but even if you point it at the Sun it only transmits 18% of the light.
What do YOU say about it? are you using it more now that you learned how to use it? is it worth the $
lots of poeple say not so good. Auto WB
I think it’s great in some cases. Nothing is perfect for everything. It’s another tool in the bag. I’d use it mostly for mixed lighting.
Great, thorough and clear. Thanks so much!
very confusing is any way just getting a model
I don’t understand the question
Where can I find the color card that you're using?
@@photojoseph Ok, thank you very much.
It’s called an “X-Rite color checker”.
I have one. Tricky for video use
never really used it for video!
Did not like how you explained the use of the product.
maybe the expodisc for portrait will warm , and the neutral for landcape, is it the neutral one that you have?
As far as I know they are all neutral, but mine came with warming/cooling discs that you add on, in case you want a warmer or cooler WB calculation
If you have an on Camera flash how do you use the expodisc
The same way you use it without, but you have to move the flash off-camera and point it at the subject/camera/expodisc to measure. However if you're shooting on-camera flash, then camera will default to flash WB. It'd only make sense to do a custom WB if your flash is really low, i.e. as a fill flash, and you're also exposing for ambient light.
This thing is so awful! LOL. Just think about it. If your model is wearing a pink dress and that light will be reflected towards the camera, now you're gonna have to PUT ON that pink dress and position yourself where the model would be when you adjust your white balance with this! There's nothing easy about using this.
You’re not actually serious, are you?
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