Color temperature.
Jan 16, 2019 21:27:42 #
I found out that the app “light meter” on my iPhone actually can measure color temp.
So I did some metering in different light...candle light, fluorescent light, normal lamp etc. I then set the measured temp and took a picture. It turned out perfect. I also compared the measure with what Nikon default setting was. ( fluorecent light 2700 K for example). The light meter came out with very close values and the pictures had perfect white balance!
I also took some pictures with auto white balance and compared the results. I found that auto white balance worked really good, so I will leave that setting on for probably 98% of all situations!
(I deleted all photos, so I can not show you how it turned out)
May I suggest you do the same test yourself?
Opinions please!
So I did some metering in different light...candle light, fluorescent light, normal lamp etc. I then set the measured temp and took a picture. It turned out perfect. I also compared the measure with what Nikon default setting was. ( fluorecent light 2700 K for example). The light meter came out with very close values and the pictures had perfect white balance!
I also took some pictures with auto white balance and compared the results. I found that auto white balance worked really good, so I will leave that setting on for probably 98% of all situations!
(I deleted all photos, so I can not show you how it turned out)
May I suggest you do the same test yourself?
Opinions please!
Jan 16, 2019 21:37:42 #
Elmerviking wrote:
I don't think so. I use a Macbeth Color Checker if I need a perfect image.I found out that the app “light meter” on my iPhon... (show quote)
Jan 16, 2019 21:45:49 #
Jan 16, 2019 21:57:12 #
Elmerviking wrote:
I could not find it free.$3.95My point was that auto WB seems to work pretty good.😊
And besides that the app is free!
And besides that the app is free!
Jan 16, 2019 22:23:58 #
I have a vintage Minolta color temp meter that I would like to learn to use. I think it is good to have as many tools in your toolbox as you can. I have friends who don't need meers. They just look and know what to set. Someday...
Jan 16, 2019 22:26:04 #
Jan 16, 2019 22:51:38 #
Elmerviking wrote:
I found out that the app “light meter” on my iPhon... (show quote)
Getting correct color temp is half of getting accurate color. The other half is green-magenta balance. In Photoshop and other programs it's referred to as tint. How does Pocket Light Meter handle tint?
Jan 16, 2019 22:58:47 #
Gene51 wrote:
Getting correct color temp is half of getting accurate color. The other half is green-magenta balance. In Photoshop and other programs it's referred to as tint. How does Pocket Light Meter handle tint?
All I noticed is that the colors turned out exactly as a saw them when I used the measured value for white balance and that is was no difference if I used auto WB.
Jan 17, 2019 04:33:14 #
Elmerviking wrote:
I found out that the app “light meter” on my iPhon... (show quote)
There is a lot more to geting good color than white balance.
You can white balance until the cows come home, but under a sodium vapor lamp,
there are only two colors: yellow and black.
Thise is an exmaple of a color reproduction problem caused by lighting.
Not all "white" lights are created. equal. Fluorscent tubes range from
pretty good to terrible. Some colors may look black--and there's nothing
you can do about it except use a different light (e.g. a flash).
Sunlight, incandescent light, and xenon flash are all continuos spectrum--
but vary in color tempoerature. Most other sources of light are missing
larger parts of the spectrum -- though they may look white.
Color Reproduction Index (CRI) measures how much of the spectrum is present
in a given light. Sunlight = 100. Incandescent bulb - 100. Typeical fluorescents
range from 50 to 98. Low pressure sodium vapor lamp has a negative CRI!
A newer measure, Extended CRI (ECRI), is even better.
Jan 17, 2019 07:23:18 #
Elmerviking wrote:
All I noticed is that the colors turned out exactly as a saw them when I used the measured value for white balance and that is was no difference if I used auto WB.
Sounds like it's worth looking into . . .
Jan 17, 2019 11:30:18 #
I have found the AUTO WB on my present set of Nikon cameras to be fairly accurate. I continue to set custom white balance when I believe I need to and I've rarely found an image that couldn't use some tweaking a la Gene51s comment. It all depends upon the result you need. Best of luck.
Jan 17, 2019 11:32:30 #
Elmerviking wrote:
It is called “Pocket Light Meter”
"Pocket Light Meter" App on my iPhone is listed at $10.99!! Not free for sure. Although the cost is not prohibitive, it might be worth looking into. Interesting to say the least.
Jan 17, 2019 11:40:39 #
RWR
Loc: La Mesa, CA
Elmerviking wrote:
I found out that the app “light meter” on my iPhon... (show quote)
Seems unnecessary to me. With digital color can be faked to about anything you want. (Says this old film shooter!)
Jan 17, 2019 11:50:41 #
RWR wrote:
Seems unnecessary to me. With digital color can be faked to about anything you want. (Says this old film shooter!)
Faked? I prefer to think that I can SELECT the WB that best suits the image.
Jan 17, 2019 12:02:08 #
geezer76 wrote:
"Pocket Light Meter" App on my iPhone is listed at $10.99!! Not free for sure. Although the cost is not prohibitive, it might be worth looking into. Interesting to say the least.
I am sure I didn’t pay for. It when I downloaded it ,probably 2years ago. They might have upgraded it..I don’t know.
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