GENUINE WhiBal G7 Certified Neutral White Balance Card - Pocket Kit (2.1"x3.3")

by Michael Tapes Design

Product Details

• Item Weight: 1 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B000ARHJPW
• Item model number: WB7-PK
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #591 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: August 11, 2005

Product Description

With more than 40,000 customers, the Genuine WhiBal has become the standard in the industry for precision WB Reference "Gray Cards". Each and every card is measured with a precision spectrophotometer to assure you that *your* card meets our industry leading specification of +/-0.5 within the a* and b* channels. Do not be fooled by RGB measurements (they have no meaning in this context). Very simply, WhiBal combines all the best features of all available White Balance cards, and meets or exceeds their technical performance in a unique package that can be used conveniently in all your shooting situations. In addition, WhiBal provides convenient neutral White and Black reference areas for setting dynamic range in your digital capture using the Black and White Eyedroppers available in RAW conversion software, PhotoshopTM, and most other editing software. Check out the educational videos on-line. (Search for WhiBal). They tell the entire story. Feature Summary: ? It fits in your shirt pocket.(same size as an American business card ...2.1x3.5 inches)...so you will actually use it rather than have it in your bag! ? It is basically indestructible, waterproof, etc ? Both Pocket and Studio versions come with convenient stand for ease of setup on tables or flat surfaces. No need for someone to hold the WhiBal. ? All 4 reference "colors" are essentially equal to or better than all tested "reference cards" for neutrality and spectral flatness. ? All cards are designed for low reflectivity, except the BlackPoint sticker which intentionally is highly reflective so that maximum Blackpoint level may be achieved. ? Larger are smaller sizes are available ? Can be used to set white balance reference, Black point and White point. ? Fits shirt pocket or can hang on studio hook or lanyard, or set on a table with included table stand. ? WhiBal is a product of PictureFlow LLC, is patent-pending and proudly made in the USA.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great, but isn't automatic., August 4, 2008

By 

Albert J. Lee - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: GENUINE WhiBal G7 Certified Neutral White Balance Card - Pocket Kit (2.1"x3.3") (Electronics)

When I first got this card, I thought all my white balance problems were fixed. However, as I used it for a few months, it became clear that it is not a dummy-proof solution.

It is imperative that you get a shot of the card in exactly the same lighting conditions as the picture you want to adjust in post-processing. This can be a challenge if you're outside with your kids and you're poking in and out of buildings and the trees are casting deep shadows in an otherwise sunny day. You'd potentially have to get many card exposures for all the various light settings you encounter throughout the day. The immediate surroundings have a large effect, as well. Take the same sunny conditions, and pictures on a grass field will have a different tint than ones taken on parking lot or on a brick road.

I also noticed that chromatic noise skewed my post-processing attempts when I used my software's water-dropper tool. If I happened to pick a pixel that was actually a blurp of chromatic noise, then the WB got terribly skewed. So, I'd either have arbitrarily pick a pixel that looked grey to me or smooth the results with chromatic noise reduction. Best results are had with well-exposed, low-ISO pictures where the card shows up as a uniform, solid grey with as little noise as possible.

Though with the caveats above, I highly recommend this card. It's easy to carry and is a better WB solution than relying on in-camera settings or eyeballing it in post-processing (which works, too, if you can get the hang of it). Remember to constantly take shots of the card and using the lowest ISO and you should get accurate results in post-processing.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Indispensable for digital photography, August 11, 2005

By 

J. C. Schochet (Las Vegas, NV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: GENUINE WhiBal G7 Certified Neutral White Balance Card - Pocket Kit (2.1"x3.3") (Electronics)

To get the most out digital photography, I shoot RAW all the time. And to get the most accurate white balance, I use the WhiBal. It's so convenient and ingeniuous, it's one of those "why didn't I think of that" items. Just photograph the WhiBal and you now have a white balance reference. Shoot it before other photos, in the middle or at the end - it doesn't matter as long as it's in the same light as your subject. Then when you're processing your photos, click on the WhiBal to set your white balance; and copy that setting to the other photos. It's that easy. And because the WhiBal is so small, you never have to leave home without it. I carry it on the lanyard and stuff it in my pocket or shirt, and it's always ready. It's basically indestructible; but even if you were to chip it, no matter -- the card is the same color through and through, the color is not painted on. If you're serious about digital photography, this is a "gotta have it."

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An essential tool, August 11, 2005

By 

M. Poster - See all my reviews
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This review is from: GENUINE WhiBal G7 Certified Neutral White Balance Card - Pocket Kit (2.1"x3.3") (Electronics)

No matter what the lighting conditions I can expect perfectly neutral results using the WhiBal. I shoot only raw and often in varying combinations of daylight, incandescent, and fluorescent lights. I don't believe there's a better way to obtain digital color accuracy than an accurate reference and I don't believe there's a more accurate or convenient reference than a WhiBal.