Review: PhotoVision Digital Calibration Target

There are as many white balance targets and calibrators out there as there are camera models, but one worth looking at is PhotoVision’s Digital Calibration Target. Available in four sizes—6, 14, 24 and 34 inches—the front of each target features three panels: black, 18% gray and white. It works by providing shadow, middle gray and highlight references by which to accurately set your camera’s custom white balance. Flip it over and the target doubles as a reflector (although the 6-inch version might not offer much, it could help in a pinch). All but the 6-inch are wrapped around collapsible frames like regular reflectors, and they all come with their own pouch for storage. A well-produced training DVD demonstrating how to use the target in multiple locations and light sources is included with each target.

Using the Digital Calibration Target is easier than many other white balance targets I’ve tried. There’s nothing to stick on the end of the lens and no pointing at the light source. First, your camera must be on manual mode (be sure your exposure is correct). Then, simply place the target in your scene with the white panel closest to the light source (to accurately meter highlights), fill as much of your frame with the target as possible, shoot, and then select that image as your reference shot in your camera’s custom white balance setting. Your histogram should have fairly defined spikes in the darks, mids and highlights.

ABOVE: Shooting digital calibration target to fit majority of frame. Inset: Histogram showing clearly defined darks, mids and highlights.

Here are the images shot before custom white balance using the target, and after.

LEFT Before: First image shot with camera’s auto white balance setting (4900K; straight from camera, no editing).

RIGHT After: Final image shot using custom white balance from target (5400K; straight from camera, no editing).

Depending on your camera and metering settings, you may not have to fill as much of the frame with the target as you’d expect. In my studio test I made sure my metering mode was center-weighted, which allowed me to get well-balanced results without filling my entire frame.

ABOVE As long as the metering was center-weighted, I was able to achieve a well defined histogram.

For my outdoor test I shot at dusk to ensure a white balance challenge.

ABOVE Before: First image shot with camera’s auto white balance setting (6250K; straight from camera, no editing).

Even in the warm glow of golden hour, the Digital Calibration Target nailed the white balance, even if it took away from the aesthetic quality of the photo.

LEFT Target shot with camera metering mode center-weighted, auto white balance. This photo was set as the custom white balance reference in camera.

RIGHT After: Final image shot using custom white balance from target (3300K; straight from camera, no editing).

As long as your exposure is good and you’ve set your white balance, you’re ready to keep shooting, and as long as the lighting doesn’t change, all your images should maintain proper balance.

If you forget to shoot your first frame with the target and don’t set your custom white balance at the start of your shoot, all is not lost. You can still balance with this target in post-production. When you’re finished shooting, or when you remember, make sure to shoot the target in the same lighting conditions as the rest of the shoot, just like you would with a traditional gray card. Then, in post-processing, open that image and define the 18% gray panel as neutral for a custom white balance. Sync the white balance with the rest of the images from the shoot for a properly balanced set.

I’ve used several white balance calibrators in the past, but I experienced the most consistent and accurate results using this one than I have with any other. PhotoVision’s is also one of the easiest to use. It works well in ambient, continuous and strobe lighting situations, and the entire process of setting the custom white balance is much faster than other methods. For my portrait work, the 14″ target has worked well in the studio, but I’d prefer a larger size for location shooting.

For more information, current pricing and demo videos, visit www.photovisionvideo.com.