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01/17/2007 11:02:32 AM · #1 |
Using one or the other, which is better or is one more correct/accurate?
I am using 3200k bulbs in my lights. If I shoot a custom white balance shot and use that the whites are white, as they should be. Last night, after I had set the custom white balance shot, for some reason I decided to set the color temp in camera to 3200k. When done, the message came up on the LCD that custom white balance had been set to 3200k - thus, I am assuming, the picture I shot for custom WB was no longer being used. I then shot the exact same shot as previous and the results were identical.
So is one better to use than the other if you know the temperature of the lights you are using?
How accurate would using color temp be, say in a landscape shot, if you set the color temp to the approximate value based on available charts for natural light level color temps?
Does anyone use this setting in their camera? |
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01/17/2007 11:09:50 AM · #2 |
I use custom WB (when I'm not shooting RAW). If you know the color tempterature of the lights, then there should be no difference between a temperature setting and a custom WB. However, the exact temperature is rarely known, so it's just easier to set a custom WB with a gray card.
Message edited by author 2007-01-17 11:13:33. |
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01/17/2007 11:10:48 AM · #3 |
I use it in the RAW processor, not in-camera. I can fine-tune the color balance very precisely by changing the color temperature in very small increments. If you are shooting JPG on location, CWB is a much safer approach. Just because a bulb is "tungsten" doesn't mean it's precisely 3200 kelvin; if nothing else, the light gets noticeably warmer as the bulb ages. Plus, most of the time you are dealing with mixed light sources.
If you own a color temperature meter, then you're definitely in business with the color temperature WB.
R.
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01/17/2007 11:17:55 AM · #4 |
Scalvert: Why not use it in RAW?
Bear: The lights I use in studio are all the same and stamped right on them is 3200k. I have tried to do it in the RAW processor after NOT using any CWB setting and set the temp to 3200k (studio shot) and it is never as good as using a CWB gray card shot or as of last night's experiment, setting color temp in cam. Even when tweaked a bit it still never looks as good. Am I missing something in this approach? |
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01/17/2007 11:21:52 AM · #5 |
Originally posted by CEJ:
Why not use it in RAW? |
I still do sometimes, but it's less of a concern since you can change the WB of a RAW file as if you had shot it that way. Usually I just leave the WB on Auto or one of the presets for RAW shooting.
Message edited by author 2007-01-17 11:22:07. |
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01/17/2007 11:23:18 AM · #6 |
sorry to jump in here, but should I not use custom WB if shooting JPG-Raw? I had just started doing that recently....is this a bad habit/idea?
edit: oops CEJ asked the same thing
Message edited by author 2007-01-17 11:24:17.
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01/17/2007 11:28:45 AM · #7 |
Originally posted by dassilem:
...is this a bad habit/idea? |
The RAW file can be changed, but the JPEG is stuck with whatever white balance your camera was set at. For that reason, it's important to get the WB correct and Custom WB is a good way to do that. |
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01/17/2007 11:34:14 AM · #8 |
Originally posted by CEJ:
Bear: The lights I use in studio are all the same and stamped right on them is 3200k. I have tried to do it in the RAW processor after NOT using any CWB setting and set the temp to 3200k (studio shot) and it is never as good as using a CWB gray card shot or as of last night's experiment, setting color temp in cam. Even when tweaked a bit it still never looks as good. Am I missing something in this approach? |
There should be NO difference between setting degrees kelvin in camera or after shooting in the RAW processor. If there IS a difference, something's screwy.
R.
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