I found the tests very informative, and really appreciate your work to do them and post the results. A great learning experience.
Expodisc White Balance Filter
Started by videodan, Jul 07 2006 01:17 PM
163 replies to this topic
#162
sjspeck
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- Member
- 202 posts
Sting Ray
- Location:Phoenix
- Interests:U/W Video
Posted 21 May 2007 - 11:34 AM
I thought I'd report back on my totally non-scientific tests with the Expodisc and my EVO housing.
As mentioned previously, my idea was to buy an Expodisc and then power-up my EVO/HC1 with it in place since I don't have MWB control with my housing.
So a couple weeks ago in Curacao that's what I did.
Unfortunately, the results for me were indifferent at best. I tried several tests while pointing at both white sand and the sun from around 60' during the startup process but I really can't say that I saw much of a difference.
There is a slightly more neutral tone to the footage shot doing this process vs. just starting up the camera without the Expodisc in place but it's more of a cooler, slightly greyer tone than anything else. The colors didn't seem to be much better in either sample. Based on previous results posted by others here I expected warmer, more lifelike tones using the Expodisc.
I suppose it's also possible that the whole process of starting up the camera in this fashion has some flaw I've not considered that precludes this idea from working.
And I only tried it one day, under semi-bright conditions, so there might be other situations where it would've worked better. The one day we had really bright skies, I left the filter in my apt...
Bottom line:
I have an 82MM Expodisc for sale in the classifieds.
As mentioned previously, my idea was to buy an Expodisc and then power-up my EVO/HC1 with it in place since I don't have MWB control with my housing.
So a couple weeks ago in Curacao that's what I did.
Unfortunately, the results for me were indifferent at best. I tried several tests while pointing at both white sand and the sun from around 60' during the startup process but I really can't say that I saw much of a difference.
There is a slightly more neutral tone to the footage shot doing this process vs. just starting up the camera without the Expodisc in place but it's more of a cooler, slightly greyer tone than anything else. The colors didn't seem to be much better in either sample. Based on previous results posted by others here I expected warmer, more lifelike tones using the Expodisc.
I suppose it's also possible that the whole process of starting up the camera in this fashion has some flaw I've not considered that precludes this idea from working.
And I only tried it one day, under semi-bright conditions, so there might be other situations where it would've worked better. The one day we had really bright skies, I left the filter in my apt...
Bottom line:
I have an 82MM Expodisc for sale in the classifieds.
Edited by sjspeck, 21 May 2007 - 05:23 PM.
#163
ronrosa
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- Member
- 228 posts
Sting Ray
Posted 21 May 2007 - 12:47 PM
Can Amphibico add the MWB control option to your housing ?
#164
sjspeck
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- Member
- 202 posts
Sting Ray
- Location:Phoenix
- Interests:U/W Video
Posted 21 May 2007 - 05:21 PM
Their solution is a mechanical button to press the assignable button on the A1U. But I have an HC1 - it doesn't have an assign button.Can Amphibico add the MWB control option to your housing ?
I knew that when I bought the EVO though. It wasn't until almost a year later that I decided to play around with MWB.
For what I normally shoot - clear Caribbean water, less than 90' - I'm finding that my HC1 does a nice job of Auto WB. And I can fix it in post....
I just saw a video posted by someone on another forum, their contention was that although they could "fix" the blue, they left it in since that was what they perceived while shooting. I think I'm starting to agree...
Edited by sjspeck, 21 May 2007 - 05:23 PM.
