Home > Electronics > Digital Camera Accessories > Expodisc ExpoImaging ExpoCap 77mm Digital Custom White Balance Aid (EXPOK77) Lens Filter for Digital Still & Video Cameras
Expodisc ExpoImaging ExpoCap 77mm Digital Custom White Balance Aid (EXPOK77) Lens Filter for Digital Still & Video Cameras
Pros: Simple to use, inexpensive, makes a visible difference to your photographs.
Cons: I should have bought one earlier!
The Bottom Line: If you want accurate colors from your DSLR camera, this is the best solution on the market today for the price. Very easy to use as well.
ncphototrekker's Full Review: Expodisc ExpoImaging ExpoCap 77mm Digital Custom W...
For those that shoot digital, you have likely become very familiar with the term white balance. Even on the most simple point and shoot cameras, you are able to set the white balance to daylight, cloudy, interior, etc... The reason for this is different sources of light have different color temperatures, or color casts. I would venture to say that the majority of amateur shooters just leave the WB setting on Auto and click away. This is usually fairly accurate, but not 100%. The camera can be fooled, and your picture will turn out all wrong from what you intended.
If you shoot in RAW format, this is not a huge problem because you can correct it after the fact in post processing. However, if you are shooting in .jpg format, it becomes very difficult to correct your color balance after the exposure is made. Having began my photography carreer as a landscape photographer, I have learned to use white balance settings as part of my creative process. I typically will set a color temperature that will show the scene a tad warmer (more amber color) than what is actually present. I have recently explored portraiture which has a whole different set of "rules".
In portraiture, color balance is imperative, and your clients will be especially picky about how they are rendered in the final photograph. There is much less wiggle room for creativity when it comes to white balance here. I have always shot my portraits in RAW so I could go in and adjust the color temperature after the shoot, but my landscape eye will trick me into warming the scene more than I should. I started looking into a solution to this. The ExpoCap by ExpoImaging was the solution I was looking for.
What the ExpoCap is.....
As the name implies, this is basically a lens cap. It is available in a variety of sizes, but I went with a 77mm which fit the largest diameter lens I carry, and my smaller lenses have step-up rings. The cap is quite simple in construction and consists of a plastic ring with a light transmitting white plastic surface over the lens. There are two nibs on the outside of the ring that operate the securing mechanism, which attaches to the lens like a standard lens cap.
The ExpoCap is not shipped with a protective case, but it will fit in most filter boxes. I have mine stored in a B+W filter box and it fits just fine, affording protection for the ExpoCap while in my bag. This is not meant to be used during the photo shoot, but at the beginning, and every time that your lighting changes.
How it works....
The idea here is that the ExpoCap provides a baseline for your camera when it comes to white balance. The opaque surface is designed to transmit light into the camera, and establish where the middle point is...much like an 18% gray card. Doing this is very simple, and can be done in any mode (M, Tv, Av, P, A). Since I am shooting with a Canon 40D, I will include the process for Canon's, but other manufacturers might be a bit different.
After fitting the ExpoCap to your lens, you will point it into the area that you will be photographing. Make sure you are aimed at the area where the lighting is similar to what you will be using (ie, not in the shadows if you will be shooting in the light). Be careful not to point the camera directly into the sun. Check your light meter, and make sure that you are shooting at a 0EV value. Set your focus to manual and release the shutter. You will get an image that looks like a strange colored background.
With this picture saved, go to the menu, and select the custom function "Custom WB". This will open up a window where you will set the image you want the WB set from. Use the shot that was done with the ExpoCap, and save that. You will be prompted to use the custom WB setting at this point so you don't forget to select that option before starting your session. Each time you do this, you will replace the previous WB Custom reference point.
Now that you have the Custom WB set, and the correct reference point saved, you can remove the ExpoCap and start taking pictures. Your WB will remain correct until the lighting, or the venue changes. If you change locations, or the lighting starts to change (sun starts going down), you will need to repeat the procedure. This is not a problem, after you get used to doing it, it only takes about 45 seconds to a minute.
Uses....
As I mentioned, this ExpoCap is great for shooting portraits, or even studio work where color accuracy is paramount. It is hard to fool this cap, and in all the times that I have used it, I have not had to alter the color balance a single time in post processing.
For landscape work, the ExpoCap could be useful as well for oddly lit scenes. Like I mentioned, I prefer to use the WB settings creatively, and don't always go for complete accuracy in that respect. However, there have been some shots I have taken that would have benefited from this Cap and would have saved me time sitting in front of the computer later.
There is another option from ExpoImaging that is basically the same thing although with a slight warming element to it. This would possibly be better for portrait work, but I have found that I prefer the basic WB correction that the ExpoCap provides. For that slight warming effect that is nice to accentuate a tan skin tone, I will fit an 81A warming filter to the lens after getting the white balance set. This is not a major change, and will warm things just a little bit for that pleasing skin tone. This way works out better for me since I already have the warming filter, and I won't always desire to have the color balance leaning toward the warm side of the spectrum.
Final Impressions....
For the money, the ExpoCap should be in every digital photographer's bag. Whether you shoot portraits, landscapes, products, or just about anything else you will see a great improvement in your photographs when you get out of Auto WB mode, and when complete color accuracy is the goal, this product will satisfy you every time.
The ExpoCap Custom White Balance Aid is an easy to use white balancing tool designed for use with fixed lens prosumer and entry-level DSLR cameras. E...More at Adorama
Produces more accurate and pleasing colors than most in-camera auto and preset white balance settings. Convenient and easy to use custom white balanci...More at Amazon Marketplace
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