CBL Lens CBL Color Balance Lens - 110mm Large Disc

Comments about CBL Lens CBL Color Balance Lens - 110mm Large Disc:

I love this item!!

Comments about CBL Lens CBL Color Balance Lens - 110mm Large Disc:

Used it under some bad lighting situation, really does a lot better job than the Auto WB mode.

easy to use with my Nikon D700.

Comments about CBL Lens CBL Color Balance Lens - 110mm Large Disc:

This made a big difference in clarity of color.
I would recommend this product to enthusiasts.

Comments about CBL Lens CBL Color Balance Lens - 110mm Large Disc:

I have really mixed feelings on this product - it came highly recommended from the reviews online and a workshop session endorsement with Hanson Fong and I wanted to like it.HOWEVER, in field experience with it leads me to think the [$] is better spent elsewhere, and the net, net is I returned it. Read on for the long summary.For the record I used the 110mm version as a custom White Balance on a Nikon D700 and as a post processing aid (Hanson uses a Cannon - maybe their whitebalance isn't so good ;-). I tried it with single light sources and with multiple light sources (daylight mixed with incandescent. With daylight, shade, and green canopy overcast, etc.). For the most part I used the white side only, ignoring the grey side (I don't need more grey targets).So here is the good and bad in summary:The Good:1) Looks more professional and high tech than most, cheaper white balance solutions (this doesn't matter to me, but may matter to you - it gets mentioned a lot in the reviews).2) Occasionally produces better white balance in limited situations than a grey card, expodisc, or color checker passport. This is a subjective statement, and the degree to which it was better didn't warrant the cost or size for me.The Bad,1) The instructions are HORRIBLE, they mostly consist of product endorsements from Asian Professors. Essentially they state that you can use it in standard mode (taking a flat of picture of the disc) or Flood light mode (this is never explained but appears to me and angled shot of the disc). Nor are there any good instructions online in YouTube or other places. I went looking because my results were not impressing me, and I figured I had to be missing something somehow. Something in the manner of it's use after the fact Post processing the "magic" Flood light mode. 2) The results are inconsistent. Some times the white balance is spot on and some times it wasn't as good as the other methods (Grey card, presets, etc) I compared it to. For what it is worth this may partly be because the model I had hold it in the various shots may have held it differently each time, but then that is part of it isn't it? I also found the result pretty inconsistent when I held it at arms length. So this isn't a one stop shop, you are going to have to tweak white balance.3) It's large to carry and store. For me, I prefer more portable solutions. For example a collapsable 10" or 24" grey target for example, Color Checker Passport, etc), and Expodisc (these have a different set of pluses and minuses)4) It's expensive.5) It is unclear to me how durable the white side is - if scratches in the plastic lens cover would effect it's performance for example since it is claiming to rely on prism effect.Overall it wasn't something I found worth carrying or owning.

Comments about CBL Lens CBL Color Balance Lens - 110mm Large Disc:

I kept it simple. Set my camera to "Custom White Balance" Shot the CBL Lens Pic in the direction of my lighting, set the WB, and" whah La" perfect balance every time. I Love it!

Comments about CBL Lens CBL Color Balance Lens - 110mm Large Disc:

After attending a weeklong photography school staffed by accomplished, experienced professional instructors, I have learned that Auto White Balance, even in good cameras, just does not get the job done, especially in multiple light source situations.

The use of grey cards is the common route. My instructor in the school used the CBL at all times and praised its merits. I bought this one and have started using it on all my shoots. I believe the full-color spectrum abilities of the lens makes a great deal of difference in my shots. As advertised, the use of the lens reduces post production work because the shots exhibit bright, full color as the eye sees it in the frame, without the typical color cast so common to even the "packaged" specific white balance settings.

I am new to the CBL and am learning as I go. The manual for its use is hard to understand and so does not give very clear directions. On the job training is the most likely route to competence. The CBL is easy to carry and convenient in its size. I am becoming very reliant on this product and can't imagine shooting without it from now on.

Comments about CBL Lens CBL Color Balance Lens - 110mm Large Disc:

I use it when I don't want to mess around too much with Photoshop.
It's one less step.

Comments about CBL Lens CBL Color Balance Lens - 110mm Large Disc:

I can carry this in my bag without it getting bent up and worn like a gray card, and it works better to boot. Simple to use, accurate color balance, and durable construction make this a real winner. I only wish I discovered it sooner.

Comments about CBL Lens CBL Color Balance Lens - 110mm Large Disc:

Used this product right out of the box, skip the PowerPoint, look up you camera in the book and follow easy instructions. Indoor, outdoor color is spot on, great for mixed light environment. If you don't like the initial read, set it up again, it takes 3 sec, and usually the second exposure will be spot on. This is an accessory I bought on impulse and I'm glad I did.

Comments about CBL Lens CBL Color Balance Lens - 110mm Large Disc:

I bought this to save time post-shoot by not having to adjust the white balance in RAW and so far I would have to say the results have borne this out. There is a learning curve on how to hold the lens when setting it up and the fact that for Nikons, you have to hold the WB button several seconds before taking its "photo" to set the WB in manual. But if you are taking many shots in the same light, it is worth the effort.

Comments about CBL Lens CBL Color Balance Lens - 110mm Large Disc:

Incredible results on indoor shooting.
Easy to use.
A litte bit too much expensive

Comments about CBL Lens CBL Color Balance Lens - 110mm Large Disc:

After researching this product I believed that it would give me accurate white balance for ambient exposures made under artificial lighting. One of my regular shooting locations is a ballroom with a very red color cast. My CBL Lens arrived earlier this week. After reading the manual and watching the included video disc I attempted to make an accurate white balance in the ballroom. I shot the white side of the lens from a variety of angles and in several locations throughout the room; I used different lenses; I even tried using the grey side for white balancing. All of my 'white balanced' exposures came out looking like they were shot through orange Jello. Finally I just gave up on the CBL and switched to Kelvin mode and dialed all the way down to 2500K, and that gave me the most accurate scene rendition.

Don't take this review as my final verdict; I might have been using the device in too extreme a lighting condition to get the proper results. However, since I have seen nothing but glowing reviews about this product I felt an alternative perspective might be helpful.

Comments about CBL Lens CBL Color Balance Lens - 110mm Large Disc:

Besides the atrociously translated PowerPoint show and manual this is a must have piece of equipment. I didn't know how wonderful the colours my camera could produce were until I used this. It also comes with a strange box that has silk lining . . . more appropriate for panties? - probably. Besides all of its (silly") drawbacks GET THIS ITEM NOW!!! It's worth the rather steep cost. Buy once, cry once.

Comments about CBL Lens CBL Color Balance Lens - 110mm Large Disc:

Perfect white balance! Perfect light-metering with the grey backside!
Before bying the CBL i used "flash" as standard and did the rest in Photoshop, because other default settings never exactly did what i want.
Even taking infrared-photos works great! The camera-monitor shows black white images at once, no color cast! I only have to do some contrast corrections for a perfect IR-photo!

Comments about CBL Lens CBL Color Balance Lens - 110mm Large Disc:

All I can say is buy this product. It works great. I use it for portraits inside and some outside work. Once I balance my camera I'm all set, just shoot. Make sure if you have any default or set custom white balance, it's set to all zeros for the white balance to start, then do your shot and set the balance picture of the CBL. It seems to work best if you get a good close up shot of the CBL, not angled to one side which can produce glare in the white balance picture shot. Make sure to read the manual entirely to get the best results. I can't say enough good things about this product, very satisfied.

Comments about CBL Lens CBL Color Balance Lens - 110mm Large Disc:

I was getting a little yellow shift from my studio lighting. I tried different camera settings and color temperatures,on my Canon 5D, but I still had to make a minor adjustment in Photoshop.
As soon as I got the CBL lens, I did one test shot, per the instructions, then photographed a Senior. Wow they look great.

Comments about CBL Lens CBL Color Balance Lens - 110mm Large Disc:

I use this "lens" in mixed lighting situations e.g. at a dinner party in a living room with different light sources scattered about the room; this would normally result in photos with strong color cast and inconsistent photos. With a little bit of practice I quickly learned how to use the CBL Color Balance Lens to improve colors in my photographs. The visually illustrated instruction manual that shows how to setup various brands of camera was most useful. Unlike what other reviewers have suggested, I did not think it was too wordy although there are some obvious grammatical and spelling errors that can easily be fixed with the help of a good editor.

Nizar Jiwan
Frequent B & H customer from Canada

Comments about CBL Lens CBL Color Balance Lens - 110mm Large Disc:

I am a Canon 40D user. The auto white balance on the 40D is great in all of the basic modes. The 40D creative modes allow settings such as color temperature, shade, tungsten light, fluroescent light, etc. These also work pretty well, but not as well as I'd like. I purchased the CBL lens to make the white balance better whithout going to Photoshop when shooting in the creative modes using the camera's custom white setting. The CBL lens works great once you get used to using it. The real color really pops and I do not have to do much work on the shots afterwards in photoshop.

Comments about CBL Lens CBL Color Balance Lens - 110mm Large Disc:

CBL has been used for portraits, landscapes, and nature photography. The difference in the quality of the white balance, compared to the very good AWB on the Nikon D2Xs is amazing. After you get used to taking the time to set the white balance, the results are very rewarding.
If I could change one thing: the lanyard that comes with the CBL is too short. A wrist strap would be more useful.

Comments about CBL Lens CBL Color Balance Lens - 110mm Large Disc:

This small lightweight white balance device beats out all its competition.
Takes up no space in your gear bag, very easy to use,
and extremely accurate. Keep your colors perfect use the CBL white balance lens.