Canon 1D MKIII

1. Remove The Color Parrot from the included base plate.

2. Turn off Auto-Focus on the lens and make sure your camera is in "P", "S", "A" or "M" mode not the green box. If using "M" mode be sure to set the proper exposure.

3. Hold The Color Parrot over the front of the lens. (Be sure to place the side with the smaller white circular target towards the camera lens.)

4. Point the camera lens at your subject(s) of interest, or the light source(s) illuminating your subject(s) of interest.

5. Take 1 photo.

6. Push the "Menu" button.

7. Locate the "Custom WB" menu option and enter this menu.

8. Select the photo you just took (it should be a frame which is all a shade of white or gray).

9. A reminder notice will appear if your camera is not in "Custom WB" mode.

10. If your camera is not in "Custom WB" mode select the "WB" button on the camera body. Select the custom wb symbol (square between two triangles).

11. Start taking photos. Repeat steps 3-8 as needed (whenever the light source changes, or you change locations).


You may also wish to download the camera PDF Manual Here and go to page 64 for full instructions on custom white balance options for your camera.

[Ross Becker]

Drew
I studied the 1D3 manual to check on custom white balance (CWB) and you can set the CWB directly without recording an image.
This is the procedure I use.
-set the lens to manual focus
-press the FUNC button to select white balance & roll the rear wheel to select "Custom White Balance" & select with the wheel 1 to 5
-press the FOLDER button (next to the FUNC button)
-take the shot through the Colorright (message on the LCD screen tells you that the CWB is set)
-switch the lens to autofocus
& you're done.
No image is recorded on the cards and the frame counter doesn't increment.

[Doug_Kerr]

Hi, Ross,

That is really neat! Thanks for pointing it out.

It appears that the same is true for the EOS 1Ds Mark II as well.

Originally Posted by Ross Becker

-press the FOLDER button (next to the FUNC button)

I think that is called the "Picture Style setting" button (also has the "Protect/Sound Recording" designation with another icon).

Note that this procedure as described in the manuals contemplates filling the spot metering circle with a "white" (neutral) object in the scene.

Thanks for the alternate method, Ross. I'll have to give it a try!

Your method of attaching a lanyard to the product is very innovative, as well. Not sure how clear the plastic really is, but probably doesn't impact the real world performance much.

We are looking at a way of offering a lanyard attachment for the product. It will be available separately, if offered.

Drew

[Ross Becker]

Drew/Doug
Thanks for the responses.
I posted in another thread (in probably too many words) that I'd checked the neutrality of the ColorRight case.
In any event this is what I did
-Set the WB to manual and 5500K. Took an image through the ColorRight alone (no case) & checked the RGB histogram.
-Repeated this changing the WB in 100K increments until the righthand edge of each of the RGB histograms were exactly vertically aligned (5900K)
-Using this same setting (5900K) put the ColorRight into the case and took an image & looked at the RGB histogram.
-Still exactly aligned as far as I could see.
I decided that that was good enough for me. And this means that the ColorRight never gets dirty or scratched & if the plastic case gets damaged a new one is easy to get at any camera store.
The test could be done much better with instruments & I'm sure that the purists would want to see the results but for all practical purposes the in-case ColorRight surfices beautifully.
I'm heading away for an extended weekend to picturesque Christchurch so I'll check it out in the field. (Nearly midwinter here)

[Doug_Kerr]

Hi, Ross,

Originally Posted by Ross Becker

The test could be done much better with instruments . .

Sure, but your test was ingenious, and certainly tells what is needed to know about the use of the ColorRight/Color Right in its case. Thanks for the report.

It's a clever technique. And what a lifesaver for those who can't figure out how to get the case open!

I'm heading away for an extended weekend to picturesque Christchurch so I'll check it out in the field. (Nearly midwinter here)

I had the pleasure of being in Christchurch in winter a number of years ago, and it was a lovely experience.