DSLRUsers.com

Just wondering how many of us here on the forum commonly used preset white balance when shooting for fun or profession? Be keen to see the replies...time for a poll!

Geoff.

Hi,
I normally set auto for white balance.
It is only when checking the image after the shot and when it appears way out that I try a custom WB with a plastic lid.
I also am now anly shooting NEF.

Cheers
CD

Geoff

I'm a newb so I never play with WB. Plus I can't find any of the old Pringle's lids !

I went for never because I only shoot in .nef

However... I do alter the WB while shooting nef so that it'll hopefully be accurate and I wont have to do as much PP work..

I do preset WB with Expodisc in some seriously portrait shootings and WB with shooting indoor for some events with mixed lighting of floro and downlight.
I shoot NEF 100% also but would like to have the right WB at the start.
Some scene is harder to guess WB, even in Auto and gone thru NC, it's better play it at first light.

To my mind, this is not something that one would do x% of the time. Rather, it's a situation dependant thing, and it would be done as and when deemed neccessary.

sometimes I do, just to see what kind of effect I get. But most of the time I leave it on auto WB. It the picture turns out really weird, I'll manually set it.

Like Gary... depends on the circumstances... shooting raw means I can change it later, but it's good to have it at least very close, if not spot on, right away. In terms of method, I have been using pringles finely crafted toolset when presetting, but find that indoors (where I think preset WB is probably most needed) doesn't always work well, tending to give a yellow cast (might try as different lid maybe). Will probably go get a grey card at some stage, though I think that method isn't always terribly convenient.

Michael.

Mj wrote:Like Gary... depends on the circumstances... shooting raw means I can change it later, but it's good to have it at least very close, if not spot on, right away. In terms of method, I have been using pringles finely crafted toolset when presetting, but find that indoors (where I think preset WB is probably most needed) doesn't always work well, tending to give a yellow cast (might try as different lid maybe). Will probably go get a grey card at some stage, though I think that method isn't always terribly convenient.

Michael.

Get an Expodisc and you'll change your mind! Pringle cap is only work if it's the right one from the old caps.
I also used the Pringle cap in the past but no more since I had the Exposdisc, and Exposdisc now has two versions: one for the WB and other for portrait.
If you have money to spend on these tools, you'll appreciate with what they can do for you.
I can fix WB in NC but not 100% as I wish and it's same as in portrait.

Yeah, the Expodiscs are very good, but expensive and Pringles lids are good because you can eat the contents of the packaging, if you like extra-salty deep fried re-constituted potatoes.

Can someone show me the correct pringles lid type?

I never do as I figure that shooting in RAW I have control after, also with my memory I would always be forgetting

Steve,

Killakoala wrote:Can someone show me the correct pringles lid type?

No worries. I'm holding it up to my monitor now.

Killakoala wrote:Yeah, the Expodiscs are very good, but expensive and Pringles lids are good because you can eat the contents of the packaging, if you like extra-salty deep fried re-constituted potatoes.

Can someone show me the correct pringles lid type?

I can show you the correct one on your next visit, I have thre difference Pringle caps, and let you see the difference in between the Expodisc and and the Pringle caps.
You can try them on and see what the difference in WB.

I would have to go with never, as PP is not something I dislike. Not too long ago I used to create abstract compositions using stock photography and so I enjoy tweaking my photos.

Obviously if it was my profession I would want to streamline my workflow and cut down on the time I spend in front of the computer. But its not

I shoot RAW when out and about and so auto WB.

For product shots I have a pre-set white balance and still shoot RAW.

I very seldom have to change the WB in PP

Chris

I usually like the scene warmth up from true representation. I use WB to manipulate that aspect instead of it being as true to life as possible. I find Auto does a good job most of the time, except when conditions falls outside its range (<3500K ie. indoors artificially lit) and in deep shade, where it tends select within the ~4000K fluoro range for some weird reason.

Oneputt wrote:I never do as I figure that shooting in RAW I have control after, also with my memory I would always be forgetting

Ok newb question: so there is absolutely no gain besides saving some time fiddling in NC by choosing the correct WB on location, instead of just using auto if your shotting RAW?

Sunny -2 seems to be a reliable and popular setting. Give it a try.

When I first got the camera I was all gung-ho (?) about using all the settings and read up on WB and would set presets all the time.

But then I would always forget to change it when I moved around in different light and the WB would be wrong anyway. Eventaully it clicked that the WB Auto was just fine for most circumstances and why was I creating more headaches for myself??

iscar wrote:Ok newb question: so there is absolutely no gain besides saving some time fiddling in NC by choosing the correct WB on location, instead of just using auto if your shotting RAW?

You are correct.

Not quite correct. Capturing correct white balance at the time of shooting is more reliable then altering it on the computer...UNLESS you are absolutley positive your monitor is accurately calibrated. If your monitor is slightly off then ALL of your adjustments will be destructive.

As I mentioned few times on many threads on this forum:
I'm shooting 100% RAW
1/ The WB is the one you should look at when you first put your finger on the shutter release and it's important with your work flow, the Auto WB is not always corrected.
2/ I always arrived at the shooting events (indoor or outdoor) at least an hour to play around with the WB in difference corners to make sure I'm understanding how to preset WB or play with the present WB before the game start.
3/ All the Pro whom I've known, always have grey card, pringle lids, Expodisc or light meter in their bag and they're not fool to do it.
4/ I never trust my eye on WB and my monitor, but I trusted my Expodisc and Pringle caps.

Thats for the info Matt and Birddog

G'day,
Voted never and surpringly that seems to be the majority. Assumedly it doesn't alter the image in raw, and if the monitor's reasonably close finalise in PP.

Until I learnt more about how raw files tag aspects such as WB etc. I thought I was just being lazy... Woo hoo, I'm not that bad after all

Cheers,
Mudder

mudder - it’s about time you changed your L’s for P’s

Chris

I use the presets most of the time, especially if am using any type of filter. This always seems to give me the result that I am after.

Regards
Meic