manual WB and a coffee filter

xecutech · 02-11-2007, 07:49 PM

Well, I am a noob, so I don't have alot to compare with, but I think the coffee filter mad the light look more natural. Are you talking about the round white film canisters?

**NaClH2O** · 02-11-2007, 07:58 PM

"film cannister"? What's that? (just kidding) but I wouldn't be surprised to see that question in about 5 years or so.
BTW Matt, thanks for the info, don't use the popup for much except as a 'fill flash' but it's always good to know a few "tricks"

NaCl(civil engineers call them "the quick and dirty way" )H2O

Arpe · 02-11-2007, 10:57 PM

Originally posted by MPrince

I did some unscientific experimenting with a coffee filter as a flash diffuser vs a fuji film canister. I found the film canister works better if you are farther from your subject, and the coffee filter performs better if you are closer to your subject. I didn't measure the distance, but I would say around 10 feet and closer the filter did the better job, while beyond 10 feet the film canister did better.

Isn't the flash only supposed to go to about (from memeory) 3m anyway?

Damn our in-house coffee guru, doesn't use filters for the coffee!

Kitanis · 02-11-2007, 11:34 PM

Originally posted by Arpe

Isn't the flash only supposed to go to about (from memeory) 3m anyway?

Damn our in-house coffee guru, doesn't use filters for the coffee!

Don't worry. You can get about 500 filters for a whopping $1.50 in some stores.. what a inexpensive accessory.

Arpe · 02-12-2007, 12:04 AM

Ah, okay, didn't know that! But that's probably about $2 here! I'm doomed!

MPrince · 02-12-2007, 04:16 AM

Originally posted by Arpe

Isn't the flash only supposed to go to about (from memeory) 3m anyway?

Damn our in-house coffee guru, doesn't use filters for the coffee!

Well, I didn't measure, so maybe the effective range is closer to 5 or 6 feet than it is to 10 feet. Not only did I not measure, I'm not good at estimating distances either.

The manual says the flash range is .7 meters to 4 meters (around 2 feet to 13 feet).

So until I can be a little more scientific and do some measuring, I'll amend my statement to say that the film canister outperforms the coffee filter between 13 and 8 feet from the subject, while the coffee filter outperforms the film canister from a distance of 2 to 7 feet from the subject.

As with everything else in life, YMMV.

MPrince · 02-12-2007, 04:24 AM

Originally posted by xecutech

Well, I am a noob, so I don't have alot to compare with, but I think the coffee filter mad the light look more natural. Are you talking about the round white film canisters?

I agree, the coffee filter makes the light look more natural. So does the film canister, but I found that at longer distances, the coffee filter underexposed, and at closer distances, the fim canister overexposed. Carry one of each in your camera bag, and you're prepared for either situation.

As to the film canister, I'm talking specifically about the canisters that Fuji 35mm film comes in. The canisters are a translucent white. All you have to do is (carefully) cut a rectangle out of the canister with a boxcutter so the canister can be placed over the flash.

I've never done this, but you can also use a ping pong ball. I've also heard of people using facial tissue as a diffuser.

MPrince · 02-12-2007, 04:27 AM

regken, I seem to have hijacked your thread. You posted a great tip about using a coffee filter to set manual white balance, and now we're talking mostly about ways to diffuse flash.

I apologize for that.

regken · 02-12-2007, 05:02 AM

Matt,
No need for apology. This is great that one idea led to another. I think it fits the character of Pentax owners. Cheap old lenses instead of overpriced new, coffee filters instead of over priced accessories.
The more ideas the better.

Regards,

slip · 02-12-2007, 04:33 PM

[dumb question]

do you completely cover the lens with the coffee filter?
wouldn't this block to much light?
[/ of dumb question]

thanks

randy

xecutech · 02-12-2007, 05:18 PM

Yes, you cover the lens and take a shot, go back to the setting and click ok, then your ready to shoot. It works great.

slip · 02-12-2007, 05:36 PM

Originally posted by xecutech

Yes, you cover the lens and take a shot, go back to the setting and click ok, then your ready to shoot. It works great.

thanks very much

randy

Xgear · 02-12-2007, 07:03 PM

This may be more stupid coffee filter talk but I use the cone shape not round. This matter?

xecutech · 02-12-2007, 07:07 PM

Well, I have only tried round, but would assume either would work.

Teko · 02-12-2007, 09:39 PM

I am still trying to set WB manually... but I am a bit confused, when we shoot a piece of white paper, filter... whatever it is, do we place the paper on the table or hold it with our hand right in front of the lens? Does it fill up the whole image or just show a piece of it and focus on the part?

Thx...

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02-11-2007, 07:49 PM	#16
xecutech Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Nashville Photos: Gallery Posts: 223	Well, I am a noob, so I don't have alot to compare with, but I think the coffee filter mad the light look more natural. Are you talking about the round white film canisters?

02-11-2007, 07:58 PM	#17
NaClH2O Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bronx NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,631	"film cannister"? What's that? (just kidding) but I wouldn't be surprised to see that question in about 5 years or so. BTW Matt, thanks for the info, don't use the popup for much except as a 'fill flash' but it's always good to know a few "tricks" NaCl(civil engineers call them "the quick and dirty way" )H2O

02-11-2007, 10:57 PM	#18
Arpe Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,452	Originally posted by MPrince I did some unscientific experimenting with a coffee filter as a flash diffuser vs a fuji film canister. I found the film canister works better if you are farther from your subject, and the coffee filter performs better if you are closer to your subject. I didn't measure the distance, but I would say around 10 feet and closer the filter did the better job, while beyond 10 feet the film canister did better. Isn't the flash only supposed to go to about (from memeory) 3m anyway? Damn our in-house coffee guru, doesn't use filters for the coffee!

02-11-2007, 11:34 PM	#19
Kitanis Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Rapid City, SD Photos: Gallery Posts: 138	Originally posted by Arpe Isn't the flash only supposed to go to about (from memeory) 3m anyway? Damn our in-house coffee guru, doesn't use filters for the coffee! Don't worry. You can get about 500 filters for a whopping $1.50 in some stores.. what a inexpensive accessory.

02-12-2007, 12:04 AM	#20
Arpe Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,452	Ah, okay, didn't know that! But that's probably about $2 here! I'm doomed!

02-12-2007, 04:16 AM	#21
MPrince Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: WV Posts: 1,495	Originally posted by Arpe Isn't the flash only supposed to go to about (from memeory) 3m anyway? Damn our in-house coffee guru, doesn't use filters for the coffee! Well, I didn't measure, so maybe the effective range is closer to 5 or 6 feet than it is to 10 feet. Not only did I not measure, I'm not good at estimating distances either. The manual says the flash range is .7 meters to 4 meters (around 2 feet to 13 feet). So until I can be a little more scientific and do some measuring, I'll amend my statement to say that the film canister outperforms the coffee filter between 13 and 8 feet from the subject, while the coffee filter outperforms the film canister from a distance of 2 to 7 feet from the subject. As with everything else in life, YMMV.

02-12-2007, 04:24 AM	#22
MPrince Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: WV Posts: 1,495	Originally posted by xecutech Well, I am a noob, so I don't have alot to compare with, but I think the coffee filter mad the light look more natural. Are you talking about the round white film canisters? I agree, the coffee filter makes the light look more natural. So does the film canister, but I found that at longer distances, the coffee filter underexposed, and at closer distances, the fim canister overexposed. Carry one of each in your camera bag, and you're prepared for either situation. As to the film canister, I'm talking specifically about the canisters that Fuji 35mm film comes in. The canisters are a translucent white. All you have to do is (carefully) cut a rectangle out of the canister with a boxcutter so the canister can be placed over the flash. I've never done this, but you can also use a ping pong ball. I've also heard of people using facial tissue as a diffuser.

02-12-2007, 04:27 AM	#23
MPrince Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: WV Posts: 1,495	regken, I seem to have hijacked your thread. You posted a great tip about using a coffee filter to set manual white balance, and now we're talking mostly about ways to diffuse flash. I apologize for that.

02-12-2007, 05:02 AM	#24
regken Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bangor, Maine Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,377 Original Poster	Matt, No need for apology. This is great that one idea led to another. I think it fits the character of Pentax owners. Cheap old lenses instead of overpriced new, coffee filters instead of over priced accessories. The more ideas the better. Regards,

02-12-2007, 04:33 PM	#25
slip Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 2 hours north of toronto ontario canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,535	[dumb question] do you completely cover the lens with the coffee filter? wouldn't this block to much light? [/ of dumb question] thanks randy

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02-12-2007, 05:18 PM	#26
xecutech Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Nashville Photos: Gallery Posts: 223	Yes, you cover the lens and take a shot, go back to the setting and click ok, then your ready to shoot. It works great.

02-12-2007, 05:36 PM	#27
slip Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 2 hours north of toronto ontario canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,535	Originally posted by xecutech Yes, you cover the lens and take a shot, go back to the setting and click ok, then your ready to shoot. It works great. thanks very much randy

02-12-2007, 07:03 PM	#28
Xgear Guest	This may be more stupid coffee filter talk but I use the cone shape not round. This matter?

02-12-2007, 07:07 PM	#29
xecutech Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Nashville Photos: Gallery Posts: 223	Well, I have only tried round, but would assume either would work.

02-12-2007, 09:39 PM	#30
Teko Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Montreal, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 67	I am still trying to set WB manually... but I am a bit confused, when we shoot a piece of white paper, filter... whatever it is, do we place the paper on the table or hold it with our hand right in front of the lens? Does it fill up the whole image or just show a piece of it and focus on the part? Thx...