Home-made Expodisc

[blurry80]

just curious are you using a canon 400D?

 

[photobum]

Hi photobum... thanks for all the analysis. I'm new to this... and was wondering how you analyze the pictures and determine the +/- of colors and also how much they are over/underexposed. The computers I am using are not calibrated, so what I see on my laptop turns out different from what I see on my desktop... and yesterday, I brought some pics to be printed, and they tend to be underexposed, so the person had to adjust it up... appreciate your suggestions and also on what you do to analyze the pics

Very simple: I use the Eyedropper Sampling Tool in Photoshop.

 

[photobum]

just curious are you using a canon 400D?

Nope! He is using a Nikon D300.

 

[spartacus.ret]

use a pringles cap - 67m diameter somemore.

 

[photobum]

use a pringles cap - 67m diameter somemore.

If anyone can DIY an Expodisc using pringles cap, Ikea drawer liner or translucent corrigated board, they will go out-of-business sooner than we thought.

Expodiscs are specialized tools. Each and every disc is custom calibrated at the factory using precision spectrometer and colormeter.

 

[catchlights]

think this way,
if you go to mount E see a specialist, would you be happy to see the him/her using a cheapo thermometer made by XXX country, cost less than $3 to take you temperature, and the consultation fee is over a hundred?

exposdisc is precision tools for a specialize purpose, do you really need it? only you have the answer.

 

[photobum]

think this way,
if you go to mount E see a specialist, would you be happy to see the him/her using a cheapo thermometer made by XXX country, cost less than $3 to take you temperature, and the consultation fee is over a hundred?

exposdisc is precision tools for a specialize purpose, do you really need it? only you have the answer.

For me... my answer is yes! I don't know about the rest of the folks here, but my Expodisc has literally replace my Minolta Color Meter III F (which costs over $500 when I bought new years ago).

My point is for those of you who don't need such a specialized tool, a standard (not Kodak brand) gray card costs S$5 only at OP. Why even bother to 'reinvent the wheel' by DIYing something that doesn't serves the same purpose of a real Expodisc, and which costs more than a normal gray card (I am referring to the $7.90 Ikea drawer liner) to make? :dunno:

OTing a bit here. I don't mind if the Mt. E specialist uses an el'cheapo thermometer to take my temperature, BUT I do mind if the specialist prescribes el' cheapo 'polyclinic-type' generic drugs. In such a case, I may as well ask my sister-in-law to get me some fever pills since she is a registered pharmacist at SGH.

Let me ask you this question: will prefer to send your car to have its oil change at a workshop, or will you rather save your hard-earn cash and change oil yourself? After all, motor oil sold in canisters is much cheaper. I used to change oil myself with a $15 wrench (it is actually not that difficult to do), but without specialized tools, I eventually did something wrong somewhere and ended up spending more in repair bills.

 

[geraldkhoo]

I agree with the Expodisc being a precision tool... and I own one and love it. However, I'm trying out if there is a way to reproduce an Expodisc in a DIY fashion so that more people are able to use it rather than pay that amount of money for one. It may not be as accurate as the Expodisc... but if I'm able to come up with a formula that is close enough, than more people are able to benefit from it.

Hehe... let me OT with the drug analogy that is being discussed... Drugs are different as they could mean life and death... and just because a person pay's more does not mean that he gets a better drug. You will be shocked at the kind of things that goes on in the medical drug world. Anyway... there are now generic drugs that are produced that are saving millions of people at a fraction of the cost. In my CNY visitation, one of my grand-aunt was telling how the cost of a drug at the specialist costs $1 per tablet, and the exact same one (not generic drug) costs about $0.10 at a polyclinic.

However, and Expodisc is not about life or death... and we can see it as a lifestyle choice. I have chosen to use the Expodisc as my lifestyle choice for photography... and I enjoy it! However, I know the cost of it and know some young budding photographers who are students and do not have the budget to get an Expodisc... so, my agenda in this thread and experiments is to produce a DIY thing that hopefully comes close to an Expodisc.

For those who are able to pay $250 for an Expodisc... they get the best in the market... and for those who are unable to do so, at least someone is looking out for them and finding a way to enhance their photographs by finding a DIY solution :angel:

 

[NoobiePhotographer]

I agree with the Expodisc being a precision tool... and I own one and love it. However, I'm trying out if there is a way to reproduce an Expodisc in a DIY fashion so that more people are able to use it rather than pay that amount of money for one. It may not be as accurate as the Expodisc... but if I'm able to come up with a formula that is close enough, than more people are able to benefit from it.

Hehe... let me OT with the drug analogy that is being discussed... Drugs are different as they could mean life and death... and just because a person pay's more does not mean that he gets a better drug. You will be shocked at the kind of things that goes on in the medical drug world. Anyway... there are now generic drugs that are produced that are saving millions of people at a fraction of the cost. In my CNY visitation, one of my grand-aunt was telling how the cost of a drug at the specialist costs $1 per tablet, and the exact same one (not generic drug) costs about $0.10 at a polyclinic.

However, and Expodisc is not about life or death... and we can see it as a lifestyle choice. I have chosen to use the Expodisc as my lifestyle choice for photography... and I enjoy it! However, I know the cost of it and know some young budding photographers who are students and do not have the budget to get an Expodisc... so, my agenda in this thread and experiments is to produce a DIY thing that hopefully comes close to an Expodisc.

For those who are able to pay $250 for an Expodisc... they get the best in the market... and for those who are unable to do so, at least someone is looking out for them and finding a way to enhance their photographs by finding a DIY solution :angel:

:thumbsup: Yeah i kinda agree with you.. but then again.. a $5 grey card aint expensive either ,i think it's still up to individuals. Nice DIY btw.:thumbsup:

 

[cichlid]

I agree with the Expodisc being a precision tool... and I own one and love it. However, I'm trying out if there is a way to reproduce an Expodisc in a DIY fashion so that more people are able to use it rather than pay that amount of money for one. It may not be as accurate as the Expodisc... but if I'm able to come up with a formula that is close enough, than more people are able to benefit from it.

agree with you on this, thanks for sharing

 

[geraldkhoo]

Gerald,

Thanks for sharing your idea.
I like your DIY disc color in the room lighting.

When you are free can you try it out a comparison with the Expodisc on outdoor light.
Say late afternoon or early morning, or cloudy time and see how your DIY fare with the Expodisc.

Appreciate you post your sample shots.

Here's the pics from an outdoor evening shoot (about 6:30pm)... it was quite cloudy with sun shining through the clouds...

AWB

with Expodisc

with Device 1

with Device 2

with Device 1+2

 

[photobum]

Here's the pics from an outdoor evening shoot (about 6:30pm)... it was quite cloudy with sun shining through the clouds...

I did a simple test on all of your images. Please take note that this time all are 1/5 stop underexposed.

Here are test results. The image WB with an Expodisc is, again, the best of all. Device 2 is too damn blue (+48!!!). Device 1 is slightly better but still too blue (+14). Device 1+2 is better, but a little too cyan (+6%).

In conclusion, I can say your best bet is Device 1+2. Performance-wise, it is the closest to the Expodisc. Then again, due to the slight cyanish tint, it is not ideal for portraitures. Outdoor scenics similar to those of your test shots are fine.

 

[photobum]

I agree with the Expodisc being a precision tool... and I own one and love it. However, I'm trying out if there is a way to reproduce an Expodisc in a DIY fashion so that more people are able to use it rather than pay that amount of money for one. It may not be as accurate as the Expodisc... but if I'm able to come up with a formula that is close enough, than more people are able to benefit from it.

Hehe... let me OT with the drug analogy that is being discussed... Drugs are different as they could mean life and death... and just because a person pay's more does not mean that he gets a better drug. You will be shocked at the kind of things that goes on in the medical drug world. Anyway... there are now generic drugs that are produced that are saving millions of people at a fraction of the cost. In my CNY visitation, one of my grand-aunt was telling how the cost of a drug at the specialist costs $1 per tablet, and the exact same one (not generic drug) costs about $0.10 at a polyclinic.

However, and Expodisc is not about life or death... and we can see it as a lifestyle choice. I have chosen to use the Expodisc as my lifestyle choice for photography... and I enjoy it! However, I know the cost of it and know some young budding photographers who are students and do not have the budget to get an Expodisc... so, my agenda in this thread and experiments is to produce a DIY thing that hopefully comes close to an Expodisc.

For those who are able to pay $250 for an Expodisc... they get the best in the market... and for those who are unable to do so, at least someone is looking out for them and finding a way to enhance their photographs by finding a DIY solution :angel:

A standard 18% gray card is just $5 anyway. Your Device 1+2 is $7.90 + $1.60 = $9.50. If I add $0.50 more, I can buy 2 gray cards. My point is why even bother to fuss on something that costs more than a standard gray card?

Let me ask you this simple question. Assume that you are paid $1,000 to cover customary wedding, holy matrimony and celebration dinner. Will you rather use your Expodisc or your DIY Device 1+2?

Clients are very knowledgeable nowadays. If they see you using a crude-looking home-made device to photograph their weddings, what will they be thinking? Similarly, I will know if my specialist is cheating me on medication. Even though I am not a trained pharmacist, I know my drugs. I always read the prescription before I pay. If I spot that my specialist is not prescribing quality drugs, I will question him without doubt.

 

[metals99]

hey Gerald made the DIY disc.. Works well and I would like to thank you for your very genorous sharing..

By the way when you put the white disc ont the plain side or the spotted sites of the ikea drawer matt?

 

[geraldkhoo]

hey Gerald made the DIY disc.. Works well and I would like to thank you for your very genorous sharing..

By the way when you put the white disc ont the plain side or the spotted sites of the ikea drawer matt?

Hi! I'm so happy that you are benefiting from it...

For me... I stick the white paper on the plain/smooth side of the Ikea drawer mat. When I use it for metering, I put the paper side infront of the lens

 

[metals99]

Thank you so much for you promt reply
This is the expodisc I made

same as yours

 

[oswin]

Cool DIY

Just saw it only! Thanks for sharing!

 

[Henessy]

Hi, but will the white paper turned dirty overtime? Possible to stick the rubber matting on both sides?

 

[Yatlapball]

Why nobody mentioned the pringles cap yet?

 

[geraldkhoo]

Why nobody mentioned the pringles cap yet?

ha ha! the next time i buy a tube of Pringles... which I really dunno when that would be... I'll remember to do a test with it and post up the results... or maybe someone would like to buy me a tube of sour cream and onions Pringles??? :bsmilie: