Color Parrot stuck inside

Well I've had the color parrot for about 2 hours now and my initial impressions are...

No idea, because the filter container in which it has been shipped refuses to open. Its stuck. I and two other people have tried everything we can think of, and it looks like the only solution will...

Hi, Noel,

No threads in mine - just a set of three "ramps" on each part.

On mine, when you turn the lid clockwise, the ramps eventually abut but don't "ramp up", so the lid doesn't become "tight".

When you turn the lid counter-clockwise on mine, the ramps "climb up on one another" and "wedge the lid in place".

You must have a different kind of case (or clocks run the other way where you are).

On my cases, if you take the "outer" part (with the ramps on the inner surface), and hold it (open-side up) with the end of one of the little ramps at the "12 o'clock" position, the "dropoff" of the ramp faces your left, and its thickness decreases as you move to the right.

Best regards,

Doug

That's interesting. I just checked it again. Mine is made exactly the opposite of yours, Doug.

Holding the thing in hand, my top lid turns CCW to loosen the ramps.

It's almost hard to imagine someone redesigned the case to change the direction, but on the other hand I suppose if too many people tried to open it the wrong way it could be that the maker had to go through redesign (and retooling, etc.) to change it. Buyers might shy away from the "left-handed" model and so competition may have demanded the redesign.

This got me to thinking... Are there countries in the world where they use primarily left-handed thread (e.g., kind of like driving on the 'wrong' side of the road)? I would suspect not but it's worth asking.

-Noel

Hi, Noel,

An interesting prospect. I have no idea.

I once bought a lovely winter coat at a very low price at Sam's Club (they had it in my size, which is "rather large"). It buttoned in the wrong direction (like a woman's coat). I suppose this was an error on the part of an overseas maker and resulted in a rejected lot being sold at a low price.

I wore it on a trip to the DC area to a technical facility of a branch of the Department of Justice. It was just after Janet Reno had been named Attorney General, and there were a lot of jokes circulating about her substantial size and her somewhat "masculine" bearing.

When I arrived, my host commented on my nice coat, and I called attention to its wrong-handedness. "Hand me down from the AG, was it?", my host said.

Glad your case is "lefty-loosey"!

Best regards,

Doug

I just received my new version of the Color Parrot in a bubble pack and mine is threaded backwards to what makes sense to me. Opened easily because I was careful not to yank it too hard the wrong way. I can see having some fun if I had not known, but I would have got the hammer out in that case. I enjoy smashing things. Helps the stress!

No problem at all with shipping to Canada, rec'd in perfect condition.

Hi Drew
I’ve been using a WhiBal gray card (credit card size) for about a year with pretty good results. It’s light, pocketable & not easily damaged and has a lanyard attached which fits onto my belt loop.
BUT there are plenty of situations where measuring the light at the camera with it isn’t OK.

I’ve had my ColorRight for a week, it’s fantastic.

I’ve practised setting the custom WB on my Canon 1D3 & it averages 8 seconds.
This is the procedure I use.
-set the lens to manual focus
-press the FUNC button
-press the FOLDER button (next to the FUNC button)
-take the shot through the Colorright
-switch the lens to autofocus
-8 seconds – DONE.

However I’ve a suggestion. There’s no built-in way to attach a lanyard to tether the Colorright so that you don’t have to put it down. Also you need to take it out of the case. If you take all this time into account
-to remove it from your pocket
-take it out of the case
-put the case down
-pick up your camera
-set the WB as above
-put the camera down
-put the Colorright away
-pick up the camera & take the shot. Well the subject is by now probably 2 miles away.

SO

I have tested the difference in the WB setting with the Colorright alone & with it in its supplied plastic case (not a scientific test but taking a shot with/without the case and checking the histogram). As far as I can tell the case is neutral, no change with or without it. I peeled off the label on the plastic lid & cleaned off the residual glue with isopropyl alcohol. Then I cut a central hole in the foam support so the Colorright doesn’t rattle around in the case & use it packaged. Saves most of the time above.

I’ve drilled a hole through the edge of the case & fixed a lanyard so that it is tethered, then I can’t leave it behind or lose it. I can either wear it around my neck or attach it to my belt.

Maybe you can supply them with the hole in the foam packing, no sticky label (maybe the marketing dept won’t like that) & get the case made with a loop to affix a lanyard or cord. You could even supply the lanyard as WhiBal does.

I hope you don’t mind the suggestions.

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I find that the Color Parrot works best when left in the container, in the studio, it's a pain in the ass all around!