Light meter, or other measuring device?? (Page 2): It does not give a tint value but the OP was asking about color balance which it does provide.

drmike99 Loc: Fairfield Connecticut

Ysarex wrote:

Well it does show a color temp value. I don't see a tint value which is also essential. Does it toggle the tint value with the temp value? Here's a link to a real color temperature meter: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1436631-REG/sekonic_401_800_c_800_spectomaster_meter.html

The OP would be much better off setting a WB on the camera.

Joe

It does not give a tint value but the OP was asking about color balance which it does provide.

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

Ysarex wrote:

Taking a closer look at that display -- what the bleepin bleep is EV400?

Joe

That would be shorthand for the exposure value (EV) at ISO 400 which is two stops different from EV100, EV at ISO 100.

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

drmike99 wrote:

It does not give a tint value but the OP was asking about color balance which it does provide.

You can spend anywhere from $800 to $2200 and up and all you end up with is a °Kelvin temperature reading and no tint reading.

You are better off just setting the WB in your camera to Daylight and adjusting later during the raw conversion where you have access to both the temperature and tint.

A color meter is for getting multiple light sources to produce matching light color by using filters over the lights, not for adjusting your camera's WB.

Dziadzi Loc: Wilkes-Barre, PA

Ysarex wrote:

Well it does show a color temp value. I don't see a tint value which is also essential. Does it toggle the tint value with the temp value? Here's a link to a real color temperature meter: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1436631-REG/sekonic_401_800_c_800_spectomaster_meter.html

The OP would be much better off setting a WB on the camera.

Joe

OP did set the WB on the camera using the Kelvin scale, however, it took many guesses with the color temperature and test shots as well.

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

Dziadzi wrote:

OP did set the WB on the camera using the Kelvin scale, however, it took many guesses with the color temperature and test shots as well.

Light color in a gym can be difficult if there is any form of florescent lighting.

If you are only interested in a JPEG you would be better off using a 4x5 gray card for $3 and using that to set the camera's custom white balance.

Or the same gray card can be used as a target to pick a custom WB later on your computer.

Ysarex Loc: St. Louis

drmike99 wrote:

It does not give a tint value but the OP was asking about color balance which it does provide.

The OP did mention Kelvin but in the context of needing to set the white balance for his camera. White balance is two values: a) temp and b) tint. Color meters return both values.

Joe

Ysarex Loc: St. Louis

Dziadzi wrote:

OP did set the WB on the camera using the Kelvin scale, however, it took many guesses with the color temperature and test shots as well.

If your camera has the ability to set a Kelvin value then it most likely has the ability to set a custom WB -- do that.

Joe

drmike99 Loc: Fairfield Connecticut

Ysarex wrote:

The OP did mention Kelvin but in the context on needing to set the white balance for his camera. White balance is two values: a) temp and b) tint. Color meters return both values.

Joe

Point taken. However as reflected in the screen shot I posted, the app I referred to indicates “WB” and then only measures Kelvin values with no reference to tint. Is the app at fault or is the definition of WB somewhat fluid?

Ysarex Loc: St. Louis

drmike99 wrote:

Point taken. However as reflected in the screen shot I posted, the app I referred to indicates “WB” and then only measures Kelvin values with no reference to tint. Is the app at fault or is the definition of WB somewhat fluid?

White balance has always required both values. I used to have a color temperature meter many years ago and it read out in both values. My camera allows me to set both values specifically as a degrees K temp and a tint value. (I never use that as the camera's other WB functions are more useful -- hint). There are cameras that only provide a degrees K value setting, but seriously the camera's other WB options are typically the more appropriate solution. Most cameras provide WB presets, an AWB setting, and an option to set a custom WB on site. That's what the OP needs.

Yes, the app is faulty; WB is not Kelvin temperature.

Joe

Ysarex Loc: St. Louis

BebuLamar wrote:

You can get the Sekonic C7000 or the Konica Minolta CL-200A. They are both very expensive and accurate BUT (a big but) you may not get the right color due to your own camera color temp setting isn't very accurate.

Yes, yes, yes, YES!

Listen to BebuLamar here. You don't want to use a color meter with a modern digital camera and then go trying to transfer settings from the meter to the camera. That's a precision mismatch. Try this analogy: You fall and a rusty metal shard breaks off in your leg. The color meter is like a surgeon with a scalpel who will remove the shard from your leg. The Kelvin values you set on your camera is your kid sister sharpening a stick and telling you she's got this.

Joe

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Dziadzi wrote:

Having been to a couple of dozen different school ... (show quote)

I think you have misidentified the problem and the solution.

Gym lighting is going to flicker. If you use a shutter speed shorter than 1/125 second, you will have uneven color and exposure. The solution is a lot easier and maybe cheaper than a color temperature meter and something that will provide color tint balance. But your camera needs to have an anti-flicker mode, which senses the flicker and times the exposure to avoid the flicker effect when using faster shutter speeds.

Adding an XRite Color Checker Passport will get you the correct neutral color balance - both color temp and tint.

https://www.the-digital-picture.com/Canon-Cameras/Anti-Flicker-Mode.aspx

https://photo.stackexchange.com/questions/4115/do-fluorescent-lighting-and-shutter-speed-create-a-problem-with-color-cast

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDtebpvATzc

All the well-meaning advice posted here, and only one other poster, selmslie, got it right. Rather than trying to measure the color and trying to set the camera according to the measurement, it's better to shoot raw, use a target (Color Checker) as a control, and make the necessary adjustments in post processing. But this will only work if your camera has an anti-flicker mode or you keep your shutter speeds longer than 1/125 sec.

JDG3

Gyms can be a tough place to shoot. I have noticed that in many gyms, especially older ones, there can be a wide variety and mix of lighting is use. Often one will find mercury vapor, HID, florescent, maybe even some incandescent and now LED. Depending on the budget of the organization responsible for the gym anything is possible. I agree with solution to shoot raw, shoot some test shots and correct in post.

steve33 Loc: Yarmouth MA

Ysarex wrote:

Taking a closer look at that display -- what the bleepin bleep is EV400?

Joe

I Googled it
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exposure_value

Tomfl101 Loc: Mount Airy, MD

JDG3 wrote:

Gyms can be a tough place to shoot. I have noticed that in many gyms, especially older ones, there can be a wide variety and mix of lighting is use. Often one will find mercury vapor, HID, florescent, maybe even some incandescent and now LED. Depending on the budget of the organization responsible for the gym anything is possible. I agree with solution to shoot raw, shoot some test shots and correct in post.

You are correct about color variance. I would also add daylight coming through windows and outside doors that change as the sun goes down. I always start with a custom WB and either do another later in the game or make the corrections to individual images in post depending on how close the action is to the dominant source. As others have noted, the use of a color meter is an outdated method based on the need to balance particular light sources with the use of CC filters and tungsten/daylight films. Completely unnecessary in the digital age.

Heather Iles Loc: UK, Somerset

Longshadow wrote:

Sounds like you want a color temperature meter, not a light meter.
For what it's worth. - GPS STATUS app for my Android phone measures color temp in degrees Kelvin and light intensity in LUX. Might require calibration...

or

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1390250-REG/sekonic_401_305_l_308x_u_flashmate_light_meter.html

$219? Wow!