Obsolete light treatments - Expo Disc,UV Filter,Light Meter,ND filters

[Caps]

Hey guys,

I'm obviously a new guy by the title so let me explain.

I was wondering what equipment folks are using and not using. By this I mean, what has digital and post production rendered obsolete or mostly obsolete.

Example 1 - If you're not working in a studio with flash - do you need a light meter ($300.00 Sekonic)?

Example 2 - If you are shooting raw - Do you need an expodisc for white balance?

Example 3 - Is a UV filter more for lens protection than anything else?

Thanks in advance...

 

[Buckster]

1. I shoot lots of studio stuff, so still use a meter plenty. Also shoot some medium format film in studio or outdoors and use it for that as well.

2. I always shoot RAW and use a gray card for proper white balance. Some prefer expodisc, etc., but something should be used IMHO.

3. UV filters with digital cameras are not just unnecessary, they introduce problems. I advise not using them at all on digital cameras.

 

[KmH]

1. I also often used a hand help flash/incident/reflected light meter in the studio. Sekonic L-758DR Light Meter (Black)

2. I recommend using a certified gray card - GENUINE WhiBal G7 Certified Neutral White Balance Card - Studio Kit (3.5"x6")
2a. I also used a color card - X-Rite ColorChecker Passport Software

3. Digital camera image sensors have a UV filter built in. UV filters used for 'protection' often cause more problems (soft focus, lens flare, other optical aberrations) than they solve, and if broken often damage the very lens they were expected to 'protect'. Routine use of a lens hoods solves problems with lens flare, and offers a measure of protection for the front of a lens.

 

[epatsellis]

I still use meters, both in studio and out.

A gray card is still part of my toolkit

I still use a lot of filters, especially decamired filters. While one can balance a digital sensor to any light source within reason, doing so almost always increases noise in the blue channel, as the sensor is balanced to 5000K. By using decamired filters to color balance to 5000K, you eliminate the noise in the blue channel. For 99.99% of shooters, it probably doesn't matter, but my commercial work has to be dead on, in both color balance throughout the gray scale (including shadows) as well as overall color accuracy. For most jobs, it's typical for me to shoot a Macbeth chart and generate a color profile for that specific shoot.

 

[tirediron]

What they all said! ^^ The only thing that has really changed in photography (from a professional standpoint) is the physical recording medium and the fact that you no longer smell like vinegar after two hours of massaging prints!

 

[Forkie]

1. I tend to use a light meter in the studio although, not always. It depends how much of a rush I'm in. But for personal shots in my own time I'm quite happy to do without.
2. For white balance I just use a white piece of paper that I take out of my printer drawer.
3. I don't use UV filters because I just can't justify spending even a little money on a little piece of glass that actually doesn't do anything to noticeably alter my photos. I use a lens hood for protection.

 

[KmH]

Most 'white' copy paper has a color tint and isn't actually white.

 

[Caps]

One information trail leads to another and another and .....and... I keep looking up all the terms and equipment you guys mentioned such as a Mcbeth Chart and decamired filters.....

And from now on I'll take the cheap UV filters off when shooting anything (yes - I did notice flare at the beach but dismissed it as a lens reality).

Wealth of info...



Thanks everybody I read everything.