X-Rite ColorChecker Passport

Could someone please explain in a quick nutshell why the X-Rite ColorChecker Passport is worth buying, I have heard things about it from research but am not sold it's a tool I absolutely need. Hoping to be convinced
though. Also hoping to get better at color correction - Using a BMCC

Thanks
James

I have both the classic color checker and the passport. For video, the classic is really all you need, and honestly is probably the better choice, due to its size, but the passport is very handy, and does a great job.

The passport includes the typical color chart, as well as a white (grey) card and warm/cool tones to pick from. I also like how the tri-fold, which allows the subject to hold it from the back, without risk of touching the swatches. Not to mention It's small and fits right in your pocket, which is really nice.

When you combine the color checkers with DaVinci Resolve's color match tool, Resolve will do the primary color balancing for you. It's actually a really nice feature.

ok, thanks for that,
When using it will it be protocol to place the checker in front of each shot or only each location?

Am I right in thinking that davinci software figures out the differences in each shot where the color is not exactly the same, and then tunes you shots to all be the same???

ok, thanks for that,
When using it will it be protocol to place the checker in front of each shot or only each location?

Am I right in thinking that davinci software figures out the differences in each shot where the color is not exactly the same, and then tunes you shots to all be the same???

The color match feature in Resolve is meant for a single shot basis; however you can use the shot matching feature for the consecutive shots. U should use it for each new location though.

The color checker was originally designed for stills where you're trying to match different lenses, sensors, and lighting situations. There's a neat plug-in for Lightroom which helps adjust for these differences.

For film, you should shoot a new chip chart when the following changes:
1) A new lens
2) A new lighting situation (key changes, extra fill etc.)
3) A new angle
4) A second camera, especially a different brand or sensor
5) A new location or overall lighting change (daylight vs tungsten)

If you're staying in mostly the same setup with the same lens, then one at the head of shooting should suffice. You might shoot one at the head of each card if you're really anal.

Then apply the Color Match to its own node before other corrections or LUTS to even out the differences. This works, but take it with a grain of salt because what it does may be "correct" but not necessarily what you want. I would use it to match different elements as opposed as a creative choice.

The other reason to use it would be where you're shooting color correct product for a client and you want to make sure you've matched the exact shades of their label.

I agree that the pocket version is often too small to be useful, but it would help to have both: 1 for inserts and 1 for distance.

Actually, color checker predates digitial photography, and was used by pros to get a lighting sample on a given film emulsion run, so the lab could do a color balance. Color film would vary color balance a little from batch to batch, and the film emulsion batch number was printed on the film box (for Pro still and Cine films both). You would include the color checker on the first shot, and the lab would ha pace a color standard for color correcting for the roll, or sequence.
Cheers

That's really great guys thanks, decent info in this thread!!! I should probably get one now already. cheers

That's really great guys thanks, decent info in this thread!!! I should probably get one now already. cheers

No problem, James.

There are always going to be conflicting opinions on things, so the best you can do is evaluate your own needs.

Personally, i have found it to be very handy.

In order to confuse you more (sorry), I like the DSC Labs Front Box One Shot. It has a right color arrangement, IMO, that lines up nicely on a vector scope and a white and gray card on the back. As a DP and a colorist, I have found this chart more helpful than my X-Rite products (I have both). I don’t use the Resolve color match feature. I prefer to balance manually with the DSC and white card, color wheels and scopes. Anyway, if you want to buy my X-Rite chart and tri-fold passport, I will sell then to you.

Because even when you have higher camera set to daylight and are shooting in sunlight, it still is not accurate. Also it helps match with shots taken at different times. All the great DP's shot a few frames of the color chart and told the lab to correct to that, so it is an old Hollywood standard. And as someone posted in a threat on the BMCUser forum (Note-This is not my picture. A user on BMCUser.com posted this in a thread and since you can not load pics directly from your computer to a post here and have to link it from online, I loaded it to my server just so it can be seen here. But I do not own these pictures in case the guy who took and posted them there gets mad at me thinking I am saying it is mine or I have copyright. Posting it here as it is the clearest example of what the X-Rite color checker does for you.)

Do we point the colour checker directly towards the camera, or a little towards the key light?

Point it at the camera under the existing lighting conditions you re shooting under and where your talent is going to be in from. Just have them hold it up the the way with eh colors going left to right that Deviance will see it in the program (although many users on youtube have done it the wrong way and it still works but it is easy to have the person hold it up hold it one way still for a few seconds, then turn it over and the other way in case you forget) and that is all you need.

I point mine to the camera and have it next to who or whatever I am shooting. It does work well.

Just to note, Davinci Resolve 12 supports several different color charts.

For example, the small OneShot chart also works very effectively with DR12:
http://store.smpte.org/product_p/dlab-smpte-pos.htm

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Just to note, Davinci Resolve 12 supports several different color charts.

For example, the small OneShot chart also works very effectively with DR12:
http://store.smpte.org/product_p/dlab-smpte-pos.htm

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This is actually a great deal. It's about the same size as a passport and superb DSC quality.

Resolve also supports DSC Lab's Chroma DuMonde chart. Those charts have 28 video waveform and vector scope friendly chips for accurate manual grading.

The Chroma DuMonde charts are rather expensive, but the DSC Red Cambook contains one for a lot less.



http://dsclabs.com/dsc-products/front-lit-2/camalign-carry-on-charts/cambooks/



The Red version is a little bit different, but does work well with Resolve. As I recall, I got mine from Red's store

http://www.red.com/store/products/red-cambook

David