white balance question
Feb 18, 2012 09:54:46 #
when shooting in av mode and trying to set the proper white balance, do you set the white balance for what lighting the camera is in or the subject? or is is just easier to leave it in auto and correct it in post production?
not that it matters, but i'm shooting with a t3i and a sigma 50-200. ( i know that i should be using a better lens, but unless someone is willing to offer me one, it'll have to wait until i have some extra moolah)
not that it matters, but i'm shooting with a t3i and a sigma 50-200. ( i know that i should be using a better lens, but unless someone is willing to offer me one, it'll have to wait until i have some extra moolah)
Feb 18, 2012 09:58:14 #
It's actually easiest to leave it on auto and that if you need to tweak it you can do it in post. The white balance needs to be set for the subject you're photographing if you going to do it manually. So if you were standing in the sun but shooting a bird in a tree you'd need to set the balance for the shade of the tree. I just leave it on auto and then correct it later, it's like a five second job in Lightroom or Photoshop.
Feb 18, 2012 10:10:25 #
if you shoot in RAW format then changing the white ballance is much easier then making changes in a jpec format. Even in auto the camera can be fooled by the type of lighting. There is a white card/gray card you can buy that will help you to get the white ballance correct, talk to B&H and they will help.
Feb 19, 2012 10:53:48 #
I find it difficult to correct for many white balance problems in Photoshop, especially when shooting at indoor events. Modest shifts are pretty easy, but some never come out right. That may well be due in part to the limitations of my camera. However, I get MUCH better results when I adjust the white balance setting for the subject in the camera before taking the shots. I was with my daughter in the hospital after she had surgery yesterday, set the WB for fluorescent lighting, and got several good shots which needed no color correction at all in Photoshop. (Must remember to reset the white balance to Auto!)
Feb 19, 2012 12:55:38 #
Even shooting RAW I never use Auto WB. Doing this forces me to pick a WB and this gives better pics whether in RAW or JPG. I still check the WB in Lightroom but quite often it needs no correction. If it does, it is only modest and quick and can be done in the library module without going to develop module. As I do shoot mostly RAW, if I have to fire quick to get a shot without time to select a new WB and the WB is wrong, then LR can fix it.
Feb 19, 2012 14:11:18 #
myts10
Loc: SE Ohio
To me white balance is like horse shoes, close enough for a snap shot. But for a 'ringer' photo, use manual.
As Frank T said, the white balance is at the subject. Or in other words it is set for what the camera sees, not where it is.
I always have mine set on Auto everything, since most shots are at the moment and I don't have time to set WB or anything else. In such a case you wait for the subject or action to move on than step to where the subject was and take a picture of your WB card. THAT shot of the gray card you use in PP to set the WB of all shots taken in THAT light.
Search for Whibal. Their site has how to videos that are very good about the use of an 18% gray card.
As Frank T said, the white balance is at the subject. Or in other words it is set for what the camera sees, not where it is.
I always have mine set on Auto everything, since most shots are at the moment and I don't have time to set WB or anything else. In such a case you wait for the subject or action to move on than step to where the subject was and take a picture of your WB card. THAT shot of the gray card you use in PP to set the WB of all shots taken in THAT light.
Search for Whibal. Their site has how to videos that are very good about the use of an 18% gray card.
Feb 19, 2012 14:48:42 #
Old Timer
Loc: Greenfield, In.
I shoot only raw on account of the white balance. I have a Canon and use their program as it is made for the camera and If I forget to change settings I do it when I download them and then adjust in the tune setting. The reason I shoot in raw is that white balance is easy to correct. As stated above if the light changes you may be off.
Feb 19, 2012 18:04:36 #
I recently read in the book, "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson, he uses 'cloudy' WB 99% of the time (shoots in raw). Gives pics more warmth, and when shooting in raw, it's easy to change in post processing; but he says it's rarely necessary to. :)
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