BRNO baLens 58mm White Balance Lens Cap

Comments about BRNO baLens 58mm White Balance Lens Cap:

Pros: I have found that the baLens 58mm Custom WB Lens Cap I purchased consistently produces photos with highly accurate colors and tone (using the "neutral filter") over the wide variety of lighting conditions I've used it for, indoors and out, on hundreds of shots over the past few weeks. I should qualify that I shoot in RAW with a Canon G12 and develop my RAW files in an ICC standard sRGB IEC611966-2.1 color space for "monitor viewing" renders, and ICC "Adobe RGB (1998)" for printing which I do myself. Without manipulating the colors or tone in post, the photos I shoot using the baLens Custom WB are either spot on to what I saw with the naked eye (though nothing is 100%) or closer than I've ever gotten using "neutral white and gray boards" I've purchased, or the AWB of my camera (which isn't bad), or any of my camera's preset WB's (which work well also). I do mostly "landscape" photos with a tripod and always shoot several, manual "setting brackets" of my compositions sequentially with the camera in the exact same position (using remote shutter release). I now shoot comparison shots at the exact same exposure settings using the Custom WB obtained with the baLens, the camera's AWB and one or two presets. I invariably find the shots using the baLens result in photos more color accurate than the camera AWB and reset WB choices. This is true for both "monitor viewing" renders and print renders. In addition to color accuracy, the photos produced with the baLens rarely have the pesky dull and inaccurate overcast hue found more frequently using other WB methods. The materials and construction of the baLens are excellent. It's made to precise tolerances providing an excellent fit and finish. The baLens has a very solid feel. It seems pretty indestructible unless you stomp on it, melt it, or scrape the dome filter across a jagged surface. The 58mm baLens fits perfectly and securely to my filters and FA-DC58B filter adapter. And it's the most secure lens cap I've had (without a tether). It's very easy to attach and remove. It is convenience and accuracy makes you want to use it every time.

Cons: The "Instructions" are minimalist, minuscule and printed on the back of cardboard packaging material. It would be very easy to inadvertently throw away. You would think this is unimportant because the baLens cap is so simple to use and once done, always remembered. True in my case except for one critical little detail. Hidden in the middle of a little paragraph, the instructions tell you how to remove and replace the interchangeable "dome filters. After working exclusively with the neutral filter for a few weeks, I wished to try out the "warm" filter. I couldn't find the "Instructions" so I went to "pop off" the neutral dome. Since I had done it easily with the instructions, I pressed this way and that way and nothing. I pressed a little harder here and there and nothing. I examined it from every angle and couldn't figure out how to get it off. Maybe I threw out the packaging? No problem. I went to the company website to find and download (or print out) the Instructions. As of this 1/5/12, the company website provides virtually no support. (All I found was one heading saying "Instructions" with nothing under it and it wasn't linked to anything. (At least they are thinking about it.) Hopefully this will change soon, and a backup of the instructions will be available on their web site. In fact it would be good for the company to provide some kind of support section in general. I searched the web for that little piece of information and found promotional materials, editor and user reviews, posts on discussion forums, but not that one detail. Finally I searched the house and found it (in my camera bag). There was that tiny detail. I'll put it here in case some other lost soul is searching for it. "Change from neutral to warm effect by switching filters. From the inside of the lens cap rotate the locking ring counter clockwise to unlock, swap the filters and replace the ring and turn it clockwise to lock." Voila!

Conclusion: The two details mentioned above would have combined into a hassle had I thrown out the packaging materials, forgetting about the instructions printed on the back. I hope the company soon provides a separate, more recognizable, little "User Guide" and makes a downloadable (or at least printable) version available on their web site. I did not take off a star for these oversights because everything about the system itself is innovative, accurate, convenient, durable, and fits precisely. Oh, and it looks cool on the camera (IMHO).

Comments about BRNO baLens 58mm White Balance Lens Cap:

White balance had been an issue with many of my images before getting this cap. I would often correct in post-production. This cap really does an excellent job; especially in a situation where the light is consistent.

Two areas I've had trouble with: custom white balancing with the cap on a circular polarizer filter, and using it on a sunny day with occasional cloud cover (basically any situation where the light temperature is shifting often). However, neither of these trouble areas are because of defect of the cap.

I would definitely recommend purchasing this cap as a solution to acquiring accurate color temperature. As an added bonus for Canon users, these caps fall off less often with the cap release being centrally places (Canon places their release on the outer rim of their caps).

Comments about BRNO baLens 58mm White Balance Lens Cap:

I would give this 5 stars if the release tabs were outside of the cap instead of inside the rim. I took this on a trip to the east coast and it was very difficult removing the cap with gloves. A regular canon cap is much easier to remove and replace, but the white balance cap makes for amazing colors without having to carry around an additional white / grey card.

Comments about BRNO baLens 58mm White Balance Lens Cap:

This is a small price to pay in order to get a proper WB quickly and easily. This is espescially good for mixed light situations like a Church or an office setting with flourecent lights and your flash.

Comments about BRNO baLens 58mm White Balance Lens Cap:

I take a lot of catalogue photographs, and this thing really helps me get the white balance right. It's more expensive than the cheap white balance lens caps, but it does a much better job.

Comments about BRNO baLens 58mm White Balance Lens Cap:

This is the easiest way to set your white balance on your camera. It does make a very large difference in your photos. I would recommend it to any one who wants to get the most from their camera. Try it once and you will not want to be with out it.

Comments about BRNO baLens 58mm White Balance Lens Cap:

The standard filter provides very cool results, I've found. As I mostly shoot weddings (i.e. people), I find the standard filter unsuitable. However, the warmer filter, also provided, is great. Definitely an easy way to get better colours - but if you're like me, you'll likely still fine-tune everything in your post-production work flow any way.