[Leica] Easy way to set white balance on digital cameras.

[pklein at 2alpha.net (Peter Klein)]

Chris:  If you want to be an even cheaper s.o.b., you could try what some 
people on the Oympus DSLR list have been using--the white plastic lid from 
a tin of Pringles(*).  I haven't tried it myself, but some folks swear by 
it, and their posted pictures look good on my screen.  Others have used, 
believe it or not, coffee filters.  As Dave Barry says, I am not making 
this up.

(For non-US LUGgers, Pringles are specialty potato chips that come stacked 
in a cylindrical tin, which I'm told conveniently has an outer diameter 
close to that of the E-1 kit lens.  Shades of Kyle Cassidy and his 
vitamin-bottle lids as M-mount rear lens cap.)

As for the Leica Digital-Weissebalancescheibe , the one with the black rim 
will cost $995.  The silver rimmed version will go for $1095, but will 
eventually be reduced to $945.00 by dealers.  As for Titanium and 
Hammertone, they will be part of the a la carte program, $1249 and $1895, 
with a one and two-year waiting list.

--Peter


At 06:08 PM 2/8/05 -0800, Chris Lawson wrote:
>http://www.expodisc.com/
>In brief, it's a disc that fits the front of the lens to read the color 
>temperature.
>
>I haven't tried this tool, but it was recommended by a studio lighting 
>equipment sales rep. It's supposed to be more reliable than white or grey 
>cards for setting white balance because there no hassles with tilting the 
>card and glare and all that. Much cheaper than a color temp meter.
>. . . (snip) . . .
>Of course, when Leica introduces the digital M, I'll have to get the 
>Leica-approved disc to cover 39mm, 55mm and 60mm. For, oh, $995.00. Of 
>course.