grey card for white baalnce? at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > Canon EOS / MXF / AVCHD / HDV / DV Camera Systems > Canon HDV and DV Camera Systems > Canon XL and GL Series DV Camcorders > Canon XL1S / XL1 Watchdog

Canon XL1S / XL1 Watchdog
Can't find it on the XL1 Watchdog site? Discuss it here.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old March 28th, 2006, 10:17 AM   #1
Major Player
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: NYC
Posts: 260
grey card for white baalnce?

Why is white balancing in video always with a white card, wouldn't a mid-grey card work just as well?
Doug Bennett is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 28th, 2006, 10:23 AM   #2
Major Player
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Saint John, CANADA
Posts: 633
it depends on what you want your picture to look like... every different color is going to give you a different white balance. i mostly use a really light blue card.. if the grayish card gives you the colors you're after then stick with it
__________________
video : xl2 / letus35xl / bogen 503
photo- canon 1dmkII - bronica etrsi
Andrew Todd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 28th, 2006, 10:29 AM   #3
Wrangler
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: DFW area, TX
Posts: 6,117
Images: 1
Quote:
Originally Posted by Doug Bennett
Why is white balancing in video always with a white card, wouldn't a mid-grey card work just as well?
FWIW, I have an 18% grey card that I used to w/b outdoors the other day just to see how it would work. It matched the colors in the viewfinder with what my eyes were seeing perfectly.

-gb-
Greg Boston is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 28th, 2006, 10:52 AM   #4
Major Player
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Philadelphia, PA, USA
Posts: 548
Grey card will work fine.
The white balance operation is matching the RBG channels values to each other assuming it's viewing a reference that is reflecting equal levels of these colors to the camera.

What will "trick" white balance is off-white colors that contain some tinting towards red, green and/or blue.
__________________
Nick Jushchyshyn Matchmoving, Compositing, TD
imdb
Nick Jushchyshyn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 28th, 2006, 02:07 PM   #5
Major Player
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: NYC
Posts: 260
so why always the white card for WB in the DV world? A bright white card can blow out easily...
Doug Bennett is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 28th, 2006, 02:19 PM   #6
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 29
warm cards

White cards do not blow out. The iris needs to be adjusted to your source. I use www.warmcards.com on almost all of my interviews and exteriors.
Peter Costello is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 28th, 2006, 03:58 PM   #7
Major Player
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 493
Gray card is fine. White card is more likely to blow out than a gray card. I always argue that balance to pure white or black is hitting the extremes of the imaging systems, where they are more prone to error. Balancing to a properly exposed gray card hits the system in the middle, where it will be most accurate.
__________________
Owner/Operator, 727 Records
Co-Founder, Matter of Chance Productions
Blogger, Try Avoidance
Joshua Provost is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 30th, 2006, 11:28 AM   #8
Major Player
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Southend-On-Sea, England
Posts: 368
these warmcards seem cool, i'd never realised what you use to white balance could make such a difference.
one thing i've always noticed. should you hold the card exactly where your subjects face will be, or will it be just as effective if you just hold it just infront of the lens?
Thanks
David J. Payne is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 30th, 2006, 11:56 AM   #9
Major Player
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 493
Ideally the card should be in the same light as your subject. That is the appropriate way to do it for accurate whtie balance. The light directly in front of the lens probably differs from the light your are casting on your subject. Of course, you can break the rules for creative effect.
__________________
Owner/Operator, 727 Records
Co-Founder, Matter of Chance Productions
Blogger, Try Avoidance
Joshua Provost is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 30th, 2006, 12:01 PM   #10
Major Player
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Southend-On-Sea, England
Posts: 368
Quote:
Originally Posted by Joshua Provost
Ideally the card should be in the same light as your subject. That is the appropriate way to do it for accurate whtie balance. The light directly in front of the lens probably differs from the light your are casting on your subject. Of course, you can break the rules for creative effect.
thanks. thats what ive always done up to now, i just wondered if for example i needed to zoom in massively to ensure the card fills the viewfinder, this would effect the whitebalance?
David J. Payne is offline   Reply
Reply

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > Canon EOS / MXF / AVCHD / HDV / DV Camera Systems > Canon HDV and DV Camera Systems > Canon XL and GL Series DV Camcorders > Canon XL1S / XL1 Watchdog

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:33 AM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network