Questions about white balance

[OUScubaGrad07]

I currently have a Canon SD870 IS and was wondering if anyone knows where I can get a white balance card that will work well with it?

Is there a type made specifically for underwater use? Also will I be able to use the same white balance card on land as well?

[bvanant]

I just use the palm of my hand for white balance. There are lots of folks who use one of the slates that take a pencil to write on.
Bill

[Bubbletrubble]

I just use the palm of my hand for white balance. There are lots of folks who use one of the slates that take a pencil to write on.
Bill
@bvanant: Are you usually wearing neoprene or dry gloves? I ask because I have yet to see gloves with a white palm. It's an interesting idea, though. Hmmm. Perhaps palms that are a mid-neutral gray might work. I think Henderson Hyperstretch gloves have those but they include a bunch of black in the palm pattern, too.
I have considered taping the back end of my primary light (Princeton Tec Schockwave eLED) with white "electrical" tape. I think it would work pretty well.
Alternatively, I guess I could brush the back end of the light with white paint.
Currently I strap a small white slate on my left forearm. It's a little annoying to get on and off, but it does the job.
I have one friend who uses his compass face to white balance. He says that it seems to work.
The other idea that I had was to use the flash diffuser, so long as the tether is long enough and you can get it in front of the lens. It might be kind of a pain to pop it in and out of its holder, though.

More than one way to skin a cat...

[shawrg]

I currently have a Canon SD870 IS and was wondering if anyone knows where I can get a white balance card that will work well with it?

Is there a type made specifically for underwater use? Also will I be able to use the same white balance card on land as well?

First of all, I am definitely an amateur uw photographer so I consider myself a diver that sometimes takes snapshots underwater. However, I have a A720 and usually just point at a patch of sand. Otherwise, I just point at my slate. I don't have a true white balance card. I've read on another site of someone saying that they manually focus on a pringles lid then set WB. i'll have to try that trick!

[OUScubaGrad07]

First of all, I am definitely an amateur uw photographer so I consider myself a diver that sometimes takes snapshots underwater. However, I have a A720 and usually just point at a patch of sand. Otherwise, I just point at my slate. I don't have a true white balance card. I've read on another site of someone saying that they manually focus on a pringles lid then set WB. i'll have to try that trick!


i've heard the sand trick before...however my problem is that most of my diving is lake diving in Oklahoma where most of the bottoms of the lakes are dark silt.

[shawrg]

i've heard the sand trick before...however my problem is that most of my diving is lake diving in Oklahoma where most of the bottoms of the lakes are dark silt.

Oh. I was thinking ocean dives. Well, maybe a standard dive slate would work for you or try the pringle can! I've seen grey and white cards available for sale on photo equipment websites.

[bleeb]

Oh. I was thinking ocean dives. Well, maybe a standard dive slate would work for you or try the pringle can! I've seen grey and white cards available for sale on photo equipment websites.

In a pinch, I've even used a buddy's tank as a stop gap until a better shot at the reference came along.

[diver 85]

I just use a white patch of sand or a light colored piece of coral....

[BTravlin]

I went to the hardware and bought one of those plastic FOR SALE signs like you would put in the window of a car. Cut out a small rectangle and use the back of it. Nice clean white surface and fits in my BCD pocket. Cost $.59.

[ryanc65]

as others have mentioned, i use the sandy bottom or a dive slate. I do have gloves with a white palm although i have never used them for white balance.

I have also heard of putting white tape on the end of one of your fins to use for white balance.

Ryan

[RonFrank]

I shoot RAW, and don't worry about it much. I have used sand. ANY white chunk of plastic works, and I like the idea of the for sale sign. No need to pay $25 for a card as that is likely about what they would charge.

[shawrg]

I went to the hardware and bought one of those plastic FOR SALE signs like you would put in the window of a car. Cut out a small rectangle and use the back of it. Nice clean white surface and fits in my BCD pocket. Cost $.59.

I was in the hardware store today and picked up a few white paint chips. I think they will work fine but I'm not certain they will last for more than a few dives. As usual, you get what you pay for!

[octopuppy]

Tried this out in pool session yesterday. I attached a 4" x 6" piece of white plastic to the top of my jet fin. I could easily do a white balance off of it (UW video). So now plan on using underwater paint and apply to fin. I'll easily be able to do a very quick WB as I descend to dive instead of futsing with cards or spending time locating a sand patch. Plus it'll be easy to redo at different depths as needed.

[ptyx]

WhiBal (http://www.rawworkflow.com/whibal/) cards are waterproof and worked well for me so far.

I like light gray better than white because white overexposes too easily (and I don't like changing settings just for a balance shot).

(And yes, price is insane - but relatively to what I spent in dive gear and photo gear, it's negligible).

[Brewski]

I've used my buddies VIP sticker. Except when he notices me getting close and turns to see whats up.

I like the idea of using white elcectrical tape on a strobe or paint.
Also if you carry a slate to write on use that.

[saturn27]

I just bought a pair of White Lightening Mantaray fins. I hope to try them out this weekend.

[octopuppy]

I did go ahead and paint a large white rectangle on the top of my black fin. Absolutely works like a charm! Was able to WB at several depths and in different lighting conditions easily.