White balance question

[Gene Herzberg]

I shoot raw and know that in effect the white balance I choose when I take a picture doesn't matter because it can be changed in processing. But, I wonder if most people use auto white balance or choose a fixed white balance when shooting and why you choose one method (auto) or another (fixed white balance).

Thanks

Gene

[allanrube]

I never use auto wb. I used to shoot at 5300 as this would get me close and I often knew which way I wanted to adjust - a bit warmer or cooler. (Now, using a Nikon D300 I use uniwb and then use a settings file in NX to add a bit of usm and change the wb to 5300.)

[Ed Cordes]

I use auto when the light is changing a lot. This could occur when a lot of clouds come and go with Sun in between. If the light is reasonably stable, I try to pick the setting closest to the ambient conditions.

[Robert O'Toole]

I shoot raw and know that in effect the white balance I choose when I take a picture doesn't matter because it can be changed in processing. But, I wonder if most people use auto white balance or choose a fixed white balance when shooting and why you choose one method (auto) or another (fixed white balance).

Thanks

Gene

90% of DSLR owners use AWB. As long as you shoot in Raw you are safe either way.

I do not use AWB as I try to get the image as close to optimum in camera rather than in PS for the most accurate color.

Remember the histogram you are looking is based on the JPEG thumbnail (embedded in the Raw file). WB settings will effect this image, and in effect your histogram. Most people think the histogram is based on the Raw data, this is not the case.

Robert

[Roger Clark]

I agree with Robert. I never use AWB, and I set the white balance to the conditions in the field. But I do it simply: sunny, shade, cloudy, tungsten, or fluorescent. I do fine tunning as needed at the time of raw conversion. Have the white balance close is important for seeing the histogram and checking each color is important, not just luminance.

AWB sure makes a red sunset look dull!

Roger

[Mark Schmitt]

O'Tool brings up an interesting point. As he stated, the histogram is based on a histogram of a JPEG image. Almost all DSLR cameras use an algorithom that is calibrated to the manufacturers settings. And, as JPEG images are already compressed, some data is compressed including White balance information. I, therefore, shoot exclusively RAW and set WB manually or use a custom setting based on reflected light in the shooting conditions. RAW, in post processing, is only DATA, it is not an image per se. Therefore as you change the WB settings you only adjusing DATA, which means it is non-lossy (can manipulate with out loosing information); and alows for more latitude when changing WB. General rule of thumb: in bright sunny days WB = 5300-5800K Overcast cloudy WB = 6000-6500 K; early morning late afternoon (low angle of sun) WB = 4800-5000K. Good shooting

[Maxis Gamez]

I have my two cameras set at Daylight.

[Rich Williams]

Since I got my D300 I use auto WB. Never before did I do this when I had a D70 or D80. I like the D300 auto WB.

[Xristos Zo]

O'Tool brings up an interesting point. As he stated, the histogram is based on a histogram of a JPEG image. Almost all DSLR cameras use an algorithom that is calibrated to the manufacturers settings. And, as JPEG images are already compressed, some data is compressed including White balance information. I, therefore, shoot exclusively RAW and set WB manually or use a custom setting based on reflected light in the shooting conditions. RAW, in post processing, is only DATA, it is not an image per se. Therefore as you change the WB settings you only adjusing DATA, which means it is non-lossy (can manipulate with out loosing information); and alows for more latitude when changing WB. General rule of thumb: in bright sunny days WB = 5300-5800K Overcast cloudy WB = 6000-6500 K; early morning late afternoon (low angle of sun) WB = 4800-5000K. Good shooting

Thanks for the general rule of thumb mentioned above.

Who uses the custom white balance, were you take a picture of a white card and the camera sets the white balance?

Sorry if I’m confusing you with my terminology but I am quite new to photography.