Comments on: Build Your Own White Balance Kit For Free

By: JimmySchaefer

JimmySchaefer — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 02:44:00 +0000

I don’t know if thats such a great idea to be posting stuff like that. I mean yes it free, yes they offer it for anyone, but it still cost the company money and now that the masses of people reading this, it could hurt their company.

By: Luke Melchert

Luke Melchert — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 00:17:00 +0000

This is the exact same thing that happened with Rosco Filters. They had a sample pack that they sent out, free of charge, to potential customers. It just so happened that the samples were about the perfect size to fit the end of a speedlight.

Sweet! Free color correcting gels for all!

Then Rosco figured out why they were inundated with requests and stopped giving them away. Now you can buy the Strobist Kit for about $8 or order a “sample” from Rosco for about the same cost.

By: Jayson Carey

Jayson Carey — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 17:53:00 +0000

Dave hobby did the same thing with Rosco gel sample packs, as the samples are the perfect size for hot-shoe flashes. Rosco figured this out and have since released a “strobist pack” containing many more gels than came with the sample pack. I picked up one for under $10. If this company encounters a problem with their sample program, they could easily monetize it. I’ve seen many companies charge for samples, presumably because of things like this.

By: Barry MacKenzie

Barry MacKenzie — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 13:33:00 +0000

Awesome – I just ordered and 8 x 10 of each. Thanks for sharing!

By: EnticingHavoc

EnticingHavoc — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 11:10:00 +0000

Thanks so much. After having bought a Leica M9 I’m broke.

By: JVP404

JVP404 — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 03:08:00 +0000

Grey cards are one of the cheapest photography tools around, but regardless, requesting the samples under false pretense is a question of integrity. I’m disappointed with this post and the recent “get Adobe CS2 for free” post. I bought TAOTHS Hurley video and wouldn’t think of falsely claiming dissatisfaction.

By: leethecam

leethecam — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 20:55:00 +0000

You’re right… nothing wrong with taking advantage of a freely available offer… Nobody told them to do this.

Actually I have one to advertise myself. It’s with the lovely chaps here at Fstoppers. Apparently you can purchase their great new Wedding Video tutorial at just $300 and, get this… they say “We will give anyone their money back if they are unhappy with this tutorial for any reason.”

So if you can’t afford a video tutorial, just say you’re not happy and get you’re hard earned pennies back. But make sure you tell others about this great new video and all will be well.

Of course, this sort of offer may cost Fstoppers financially, but on the up side it could generate lots of press and their readership could increase (a bit like all those freebee chasing photographers who I’m sure will be returning with studio builds and other projects…)

And if it doesn’t work out for Fstoppers they can always stop making such a kind offer and say all sales are final – it probably wouldn’t hurt the few legitimate claims for refunds.

Sorry Lee for making his suggestion – I’m actually appalled by the thought. I’m sure your wedding tutorial is worth every penny and would question the integrity of anyone taking advantage. (Indeed I paid out for the Peter Hurley video myself). Kudos to you for making such a generous offer. But if members of the team are recommending taking advantage of a company under false pretenses then it’s worth looking at things from both sides.

And with all those $10 everyone has saved themselves, I’m sure they’ll now have extra pennies to put towards that “studio build” in the very near future and direct that money towards Wilson Art… ahem…

By: Jay Gough

Jay Gough — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 19:56:00 +0000

If this starts getting to be more than Wilson Art anticipated, they have the right to shut this supply off. Nobody told them to do this.
If you have THAT much of an objection, email them directly and tell them about this nefarious scheme by thousands of photographer to bilk them for free samples!Face it, this may mean thousands of new customers for WilsonArt. I had never heard of them until today. And if I ever need the products and services they offer, I more than likely will be back to them for it.

By: leethecam

leethecam — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 19:42:00 +0000

So… pretend you need their samples on a false basis and obtain freebees at someone else’s hard earned cost.

Repeat lots of times (or as many as people find out they can get stuff for free).

Save yourself a few pennies and collectively cost some poor company materials and postage costs.

Everyone make themselves feel better by suggesting they think of the poor company in case you’re “building a studio.” Or maybe consciences can be appeased by “spreading their name.”

If the boot was on the other foot I wonder if photographers would mind Joe public doing he same to us.

For each of us it seems like a little thing, but this little jape could cost WilsonArt $100′s

Shame on Fstopers for suggesting what can only be a dishonest representation to get a freebee. If we can’t afford a $10 card then perhaps we should double check the value of the kit we cheerfully hang around our necks when out shooting…

Feel free to claim this is purely honest and above board – but before anyone does, ask whether you’d like a few hundred strangers taking advantage because a website suggested they could save a penny or two…

By: Richard Skoonberg

Richard Skoonberg — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 18:59:00 +0000

I have an X-rite color checker card, but I find that in a pinch a white foam cup, used for coffee and hot drinks, works really well. I stick the cup over the end of my lens and use it to set the manual white balance. It can also double as an incident meter for daylight or remote flash. Take a picture with the cup on the lens and just make sure the luminosity peak is in the center of the histogram.