Custom white balance??

[camerafreak707]

I keep hearing about cameras that have or dont have a custom white balance feature. I know what white balance is, and what it is used for, but how does the custom white balance feature work. In the F10 review, Jeff said you could get a perfect white balance for any lighting condition using the custom white balance feature with a white or gray card. I don't get that?

[Guybrush]

It works like that:
You take a shot of white or gray card within the "custom white balance" feature. Now the camera is adjusted to the current lightning conditions and the colors should be great.

[camerafreak707]

So I just take a picture of a white or gray card once, and then set the white balance to custom from then on and it will be perfect? Thanks

[Guybrush]

I can only speak of my current cam, a Canon S45. I choose "custom" from the white balance menu, then I can take the "calibration shot" with a certain button. Otherwise the last calibration ist used.
Of course the white balance will only be perfect as long as the light stays the same, it's not a "do it once forever"-thing

[John_Reed]

So I just take a picture of a white or gray card once, and then set the white balance to custom from then on and it will be perfect? Thanks

If you're in a place where the lighting changes from incandescent to flourescent, or sometimes a mix of the two, you may have to calibrate the WB for each different lighting scenario you find. I've found that other white surfaces besides white cards work pretty well, like someone's white shirt, for example. I once calibrated for some stage shots off a white "Igloo" cooler that someone brought in.

But after you set the custom white balance, you MUST avoid the most common mistake that people make - That is, forgetting you have it set for indoor lighting, and then going outside and shooting some other shots in sunlight, with the WB set for indoors! Breathes there a digital camera photographer who hasn't committed this sin? Tough thing to correct with post-processing!

[emalvick]

I have a FZ15. I used the custom white balance for the first time the other day. I didn't remember how to do it, and I didn't have the manual, but I figured it out quite easily.

I used the back of a white program and set the WB by taking a "shot" (in set WB I point at the white spot and click the shutter). I then put the WB on the custom setting.

On the otherhand, I have taken shots with the wrong WB set, and I have found that changing the WB in photoshop isn't terribly difficult. Sometimes even the autobalance feature will give a good correction for white balance. If not, there are various tutorials on the web for adjusting white balance in PSP and Photoshop, and you shouldn't have to pay a dime. It is easy enough, that you should not buy a plug-in to do the work.

Erik

[John_Reed]

On the otherhand, I have taken shots with the wrong WB set, and I have found that changing the WB in photoshop isn't terribly difficult. Sometimes even the autobalance feature will give a good correction for white balance. If not, there are various tutorials on the web for adjusting white balance in PSP and Photoshop, and you shouldn't have to pay a dime. It is easy enough, that you should not buy a plug-in to do the work.

Erik

Especially after setting the WB for "Tungsten," or custom setting it under Tungsten light, I find that outdoor shots are so blue that they're very difficult to recover fully, at least with my knowledge of Photoshop. You just can't get back to the same dynamic range of chroma and luminance you would have if you'd shot with the correct WB for the outdoor light.

[emalvick]

Ok... in extreme cases I can see correcting for white balance being a problem. I've never had the white balance so "out of balance" that I couldn't correct them for the error. I also recall a discussion I think you talked about the Tungsten setting, and I haven't ever had it that bad either as I recall from the examples you (or someone else) posted.

There is of course a limit to how much one can do to any photograph. Most of my white balance problems haven't been too bad that I couldn't correct them in Photoshop and have a good photo. Usually, the errors I've had to correct were ones that I couldn't see from just reviewing. If I have bigger errors, they usually show up in the quick review on the camera, and I'll adjust the white balance and retake the photo.

Additionally, when it comes to action type of shots be it birds, sports, etc; I alway take a few practice shots to see how the camera is doing for the settings I have. I really don't like having to correct things at all or minimally once the shot is taken. Usually just a slight change in WB or other balancing is all I want to have to do.

Erik