M8 require Expodisc?

CooperS · 11th June 2008

Hi all,

I was wandering around Peninsula today and suddenly I had an itch on my backside which could only be gotten rid off by spending some money on a new toy.

Fortunately, I held back on a Nikon D3. But after having read the some findings of the Expodisc in the latest LFI magazine, I decided to get one to try on my M8 hoping to improve the WB of it.

I went home, read a bit of the instructions, set the WB to manual and released the shutter with the Expodisc in my study which is lit by Halogen lighting. I did a few times, pointing at the light source or at objects where the light was falling on.

The end result, I feel that it is over compensating and now my image looks too cool in temperature.

Does anyone here use this thing on the M8? Or is the M8 just too 'Leica-ish' to be compensated? Or am I just using it wrong? I am set at shooting DNG mode.

Thanks.

Hacker · 11th June 2008

I was like you. I even had WhiBal (I prefer this over ExpoDisc) and in the end, I found the current AWB good enough. Even for grey cards (and so called light meters), there is still a variance as there is no standard as to what is 18% grey! Some wll argue that white is preferred over grey, etc. One standard will be different from the other, and in the end, it boils down to personal taste.

jeediver · 11th June 2008

i try it using it with my m8, i find it too warm as well as my canon EOS system.

jeediver · 11th June 2008

With expodisc, I find the background color different from my wall color. Look yellowish.

Without expodisc. pic abit blur sorry about that

Look at the white shirt for comparison.

sabrewolf · 11th June 2008

back in my canon 10D days, when Expodisc first came out, people recommend using the Pringles (potato chips) white cap. I have the cap now permanently on my photobag to take WB.

Hacker · 11th June 2008

Originally Posted by jeediver

With expodisc, I find the background color different from my wall color. Look yellowish.

Without expodisc. pic abit blur sorry about that

Look at the white shirt for comparison.

Are you using a UV/IR filter?

jeediver · 12th June 2008

Originally Posted by Hacker

Are you using a UV/IR filter?

yup. it was on.

clubgrit · 13th June 2008

The Expodisc is a favorite tool of mine, it works well on my DSLRs, not Leica. What I like is that they retain some ambient light. For example, if light is yellow, there will still be some yellow. If I want it all white, just set to "Flash" or use a Pringles cap, or a white piece of paper :-). It's an expensive thing, though, and does not suit everyone (although for someone who bought an M8, the Expodisc price is irrelevant I guess :-))

As for Leica M8, one pro has a problem with WB, and many other problems. I agree with him that Leica M8, and Epson for that matter, are years behind other dslr cameras. It's a nice novelty to have, though, for die-hard users until Leica masters dslrs as they did with their superb Leica M film models ... YMMV.

http://web.mac.com/kamberm/Leica_M8_...aq/Page_1.html

.

nordleadx · 13th June 2008

Great link clubgrit !!!

chiif · 13th June 2008

Originally Posted by clubgrit

The Expodisc is a favorite tool of mine, it works well on my DSLRs, not Leica. What I like is that they retain some ambient light. For example, if light is yellow, there will still be some yellow. If I want it all white, just set to "Flash" or use a Pringles cap, or a white piece of paper :-). It's an expensive thing, though, and does not suit everyone (although for someone who bought an M8, the Expodisc price is irrelevant I guess :-))

As for Leica M8, one pro has a problem with WB, and many other problems. I agree with him that Leica M8, and Epson for that matter, are years behind other dslr cameras. It's a nice novelty to have, though, for die-hard users until Leica masters dslrs as they did with their superb Leica M film models ... YMMV.

http://web.mac.com/kamberm/Leica_M8_...aq/Page_1.html

.

Thanks clubgrit for the link!

Quite a good read... from the look of it... M8 is not a "professional" tool then, it's just for the hobbiest with deep pockets.

Hopefully the M9 will be better on the fields after they've gathered feedback from the war journalists & photographers.

CooperS · 24th June 2008

Hmmm although the white shirt is fine on the image, the skin tones are a little pinkish.

I do like the skin tones after expo disc though. Just that whites are always wrong.

Or uncle really got such rosy cheeks?

11th June 2008	#1
CooperS Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 518	M8 require Expodisc? Hi all, I was wandering around Peninsula today and suddenly I had an itch on my backside which could only be gotten rid off by spending some money on a new toy. Fortunately, I held back on a Nikon D3. But after having read the some findings of the Expodisc in the latest LFI magazine, I decided to get one to try on my M8 hoping to improve the WB of it. I went home, read a bit of the instructions, set the WB to manual and released the shutter with the Expodisc in my study which is lit by Halogen lighting. I did a few times, pointing at the light source or at objects where the light was falling on. The end result, I feel that it is over compensating and now my image looks too cool in temperature. Does anyone here use this thing on the M8? Or is the M8 just too 'Leica-ish' to be compensated? Or am I just using it wrong? I am set at shooting DNG mode. Thanks.

11th June 2008	#2
Hacker Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Cyberspace Posts: 3,023	Re: M8 require Expodisc? I was like you. I even had WhiBal (I prefer this over ExpoDisc) and in the end, I found the current AWB good enough. Even for grey cards (and so called light meters), there is still a variance as there is no standard as to what is 18% grey! Some wll argue that white is preferred over grey, etc. One standard will be different from the other, and in the end, it boils down to personal taste.

11th June 2008	#3
jeediver Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 186	Re: M8 require Expodisc? i try it using it with my m8, i find it too warm as well as my canon EOS system. __________________ canon 350D EF 20-35mm F2.8L, 50mm F1.8

11th June 2008	#4
jeediver Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 186	Re: M8 require Expodisc? With expodisc, I find the background color different from my wall color. Look yellowish. Without expodisc. pic abit blur sorry about that Look at the white shirt for comparison. __________________ canon 350D EF 20-35mm F2.8L, 50mm F1.8

11th June 2008	#5
sabrewolf Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Jakarta, Indonesia Posts: 241	Re: M8 require Expodisc? back in my canon 10D days, when Expodisc first came out, people recommend using the Pringles (potato chips) white cap. I have the cap now permanently on my photobag to take WB.

13th June 2008	#8
clubgrit Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pacland Posts: 1,827	Re: M8 require Expodisc? The Expodisc is a favorite tool of mine, it works well on my DSLRs, not Leica. What I like is that they retain some ambient light. For example, if light is yellow, there will still be some yellow. If I want it all white, just set to "Flash" or use a Pringles cap, or a white piece of paper :-). It's an expensive thing, though, and does not suit everyone (although for someone who bought an M8, the Expodisc price is irrelevant I guess :-)) As for Leica M8, one pro has a problem with WB, and many other problems. I agree with him that Leica M8, and Epson for that matter, are years behind other dslr cameras. It's a nice novelty to have, though, for die-hard users until Leica masters dslrs as they did with their superb Leica M film models ... YMMV. http://web.mac.com/kamberm/Leica_M8_...aq/Page_1.html . Last edited by clubgrit; 13th June 2008 at 04:27 AM.

13th June 2008	#9
nordleadx Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: West Posts: 781	Re: M8 require Expodisc? Great link clubgrit !!!

24th June 2008	#11
CooperS Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 518	Re: M8 require Expodisc? Hmmm although the white shirt is fine on the image, the skin tones are a little pinkish. I do like the skin tones after expo disc though. Just that whites are always wrong. Or uncle really got such rosy cheeks?