Datacolor SpyderCube Color Balancing Hardware
The SpyderCube Color Balancing Hardware from Datacolor is an advanced gray card system, which can be hung from an object or mounted to a tripod. The device features a variety of faces, perfect for helping you correctly white balance RAW files.
Simply take a RAW shot of the SpyderCube in your working light conditions; balance that properly and use it as a preset to apply to other images shot in the same conditions. It is an excellent tool for event photographers whose livelihood depends on properly balanced images.
- Chrome ball measures catchlight so you can analyze specular highlights
- White faces define highlights in relation to the catchlight
- Gray faces measure color temperature and midtone response
- Black face defines shadows in relation to black trap
- Black trap defines absolute black
- Constructed from ABS Cycoloy, a fade-proof hybrid resin
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 32 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
93%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Reliable (12)
- Small footprint (12)
- Great picture quality (8)
- Easy to use (6)
Cons
- Small viewing area (3)
Best Uses
- Reviewer Profile:
- Graphics enthusiast (4), Photographer (4), Pro photographer (3)
- Primary use:
- Personal (12), Business (10)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (3)
Most Liked Positive Review
Sturdy and easy to use; works well
Pros:
The Spyder 3 Cube provides (1) very dark black through its black hole (no pun intended) and (2) a very bright specular highlight in its reflective ball. These u...Read complete review
Pros:
The Spyder 3 Cube provides (1) very dark black through its black hole (no pun intended) and (2) a very bright specular highlight in its reflective ball. These unique test regions can be used to help calibrate one's camera and an associated workflow.
Some white balance cards have white, gray, and black regions. However, such cards do not usually provide a bright specular highlight patch and do not provide such a dark region for setting a more nearly absolute black level for one's camera and workflow.
Expressed another way, the reflectance of the dark hole in the Spyder 3 cube is lower than the black region of the white balance cards I am familiar with. I believe it is helpful to be closer to zero reflectance for setting the black point of my camera and workflow. (I use Adobe Camera Raw and Photoshop CS4.)
The Spyder 3 cube also provides traditional white and gray regions for setting the white balance and a traditional black region.
Its tripod mounting hole is nice to have and useful in many situations, as is the attached loop from which it can be hung.
Cons:
No major complaints.
The Spyder 3 cube may be slightly less convenient to carry than a traditional white balance card, which are available in very small pocket sizes. However, the cube easily fits in a shirt pocket or camera bag and comes with a protective pouch.
AFAIK it is not yet available in a smaller size for macro photography. As a workaround, I simply take multiple photos of the cube, selecting each region for its own macro photograph. 2-4 photos are all I've needed for calibrating my macro projects.
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
A most have tool for a good photographer
Great help to correct the brightness and contrast of your camera raw files.
Works well with Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop.
SpyderCube is a tool for evaluating lighting
conditions, correcting white bal...Read complete review
Great help to correct the brightness and contrast of your camera raw files.
Works well with Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop.
SpyderCube is a tool for evaluating lighting
conditions, correcting white balance and a lot more.
REVIEWS
Reviewed by 32 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-20
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Pros
- Easy To Use
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Datacolor SpyderCube Color Balancing Hardware:
It works as advertised. I use it with Lightroom and it makes color balancing easy and accurate.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Lightweight
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
- Everyday use
- Macro Photography
- Portraits
- Studio
- Traveling
Comments about Datacolor SpyderCube Color Balancing Hardware:
Small light weight and gets the job done.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
- Reliable
Cons
- Bulky
Best Uses
- Everyday use
- Landscape Photography
- Macro Photography
- Portraits
- Studio
Comments about Datacolor SpyderCube Color Balancing Hardware:
Good product which works as per the web videos suggest.
When I don't require a full colour profile that the Colorchecker Passport gives me the SpyderCube is next on my list.
Being a cube it is more bulky in my camera bag than a grey card.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Adjustable Viewing Angles
Cons
- Cube takes up space
- Large Footprint
Best Uses
Comments about Datacolor SpyderCube Color Balancing Hardware:
This cube works as advertised - provides neutral tone for use in RAW processing and Photoshop. However, the cube shape makes it difficult to find a spot for it in my camera bag. After I received the Spyder Cube, I found the Whibal pocket Size Card (2.1x3.3") I had purchased 2 years ago. Stopped using the SpyderCube. The Whibal card slips into the side pocket of my camera bag - easy to get to, takes up little space. Also, the Whibal card is a lighter shade of gray than the gray on the SpyderCube. The lighter shade of gray is recommended by Jeff Schewe, Martin Evening for using the white balance tool in ACR.
- Primary use:
- Business
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Pros
- Small Footprint
Cons
- Grey is hard to zero out
- Unreliable performance
Best Uses
Comments about Datacolor SpyderCube Color Balancing Hardware:
Its a nice toy,.... now that i have so many in my camera bag.
it white balances..... but when i click on the highlight side i get
not a perfect white balance.
there is most of the time a shift in the perfect white. for a few dollars more, you money is better spent on the xrite color checker passport.
it not only white balances it creates camera profiles which bring your colors that are off in check. And it also has a case to protect the swatches.
as where the cube just fly's around on a lanyard begging to be hit against anything in its path.
I own both and the cube and the passport and the cube is hanging on its lanyard on the wall.
I am a portrait and a commercial photographer, the cube has no place in portrait photography, as the passport can be used anywhere.
hope this review helps.
T. Morgan, M. Photog. Cr. CPP
- Primary use:
- Business
- Computer Platform:
- Mac
Pros
- Great picture quality
- Small Footprint
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Datacolor SpyderCube Color Balancing Hardware:
I bought this to replace my 18% grey card. You can easily adjust white balance, white and black points. I am really happy with the purchase that I did.
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Great picture quality
- Reliable Performance
- Small Footprint
Cons
Best Uses
- Color management aid
- Setting white balance
Comments about Datacolor SpyderCube Color Balancing Hardware:
I do a lot of photo work in a room with multiple light sources which creates a nightmare when trying to set white balance. The SpyderCube has completely solved that problem. It is so simple to use yet does the job perfectly. I recommend it over any other method I have ever used. Setting blacks for contrast is another great feature.
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Adjustable Viewing Angles
Cons
Best Uses
- Photography raw files
Comments about Datacolor SpyderCube Color Balancing Hardware:
Great help to correct the brightness and contrast of your camera raw files.
Works well with Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop.
SpyderCube is a tool for evaluating lighting
conditions, correcting white balance and a lot more.
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Versatile
Cons
- Small
Best Uses
- Good color balancer
Comments about Datacolor SpyderCube Color Balancing Hardware:
I think it works quite well for what it's purpose is.
I think I wish it were just a little larger, but then I might not use it as much.
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Works as designed
Cons
- Priced a little high
Best Uses
- Photo Editing
Comments about Datacolor SpyderCube Color Balancing Hardware:
only used twice works as designed but priced a little high for plastic
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Good price value
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Datacolor SpyderCube Color Balancing Hardware:
Good [...]
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Great picture quality
- Reliable Performance
- Small Footprint
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Datacolor SpyderCube Color Balancing Hardware:
This device is the most amazing invention since sliced bread, especially for studio photography, as well as some location work.
The people that invented should be given an award for brilliant & simple design
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Great picture quality
- Reliable Performance
- Small Footprint
Cons
- Lacks Adjustability
- Small Viewing Area
Best Uses
- White balancing
Comments about Datacolor SpyderCube Color Balancing Hardware:
I shoot in raw, so when I import to Photoshop, I need a proper reference for white balance. When I start a days shoot, I place the cube prominently in the first few shots for reference. It not only provides a proper gray, but also basic black and deepest black. It reduces color and light balancing down to a couple of clicks and slide adjustments.
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Small it works
Cons
- Small for in camera use
Best Uses
- Model shoots
- Still life
Comments about Datacolor SpyderCube Color Balancing Hardware:
Wouldn't use it for in camera balancing, put in post it's awesome.
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Great picture quality
- Reliable Performance
- Small Footprint
Cons
- None
Best Uses
- Photography
Comments about Datacolor SpyderCube Color Balancing Hardware:
Great tool to ensure accurate color balance in post processing. Very simple to use.
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Easy to use
Cons
- None
Best Uses
- Product and Portrait
Comments about Datacolor SpyderCube Color Balancing Hardware:
I use SpyderCube on product shots and Portrait shots.
Works great.
Size was bit too small than what I had expected though.
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Easy to set up
- Easy to use
Cons
- Too small
Best Uses
Comments about Datacolor SpyderCube Color Balancing Hardware:
I photogragh products for web and catalog sales where color accuracy is imparative. The spyder cube is a helpful product.
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Reliable Performance
- Small Footprint
Cons
- Needs to be bigger
- Small Viewing Area
Best Uses
Comments about Datacolor SpyderCube Color Balancing Hardware:
I shoot product photography for web and catalogs where color accuracy is imperative. The spyder cube makes post processing a snap.
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Pocket size
- Small Footprint
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Datacolor SpyderCube Color Balancing Hardware:
Great tool, pull the cube out and "whats that" helps make you sound professional when you can explain what it does. A little small for wide shots but effective. you can even remove it with your healing brush if you forget it in the shot
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Great picture quality
- Reliable Performance
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Datacolor SpyderCube Color Balancing Hardware:
It's smaller than I expected and works just as easy as the reviews I read about it. Now I have good control of both white balance and exposure. I suggest to use with raw and following some good online reviews about how to use it.
- Primary use:
- Personal
Displaying reviews 1-20
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Care & Cleaning
-
- Original: $4.99
- Save: $0.50
- Price: $4.49
What's in the Box
- Protective Pouch
- Quick Start Guide
- 1-Year Limited Warranty
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