WHITE BALANCE Help for newbie

pman1

Hi, I am new to digital SLR photography and have a Canon 1100D. I have a simple question and it this: When I am shooting a white card to set a custom WB what mode do I use. Do I use fully auto (in which case the flash seems to fire ?) of do I use fully manual and use the dial to "Zero" the exposure to match what the camea is saying is the correct exposure, or do I use some other mode. Any help much appreciated.

Thanks

Paulw

You're confusing white balance with exposure compensation.

What balance is more to do with the colour of the light.
Exposure compensation is how bright/dark the image is, relative to what the camera thinks it should be.

pman1

Hi, maybe I didnt explain it properly but I am just wondering when I shoot a photo of a white card so that I can set the custom white balance what mode do I use to shoot it and if I use manual do I just expose it to the cameras suggested exposure if using manual, as in on my particular camera there is a scale and the centre point is the camera meters suggested correct exposure so do I (if using manual for this shot) adjust the aperture and shutter speed until I get to that centre point which is the cameras suggested exposure.

Kenny Logins

If you use RAW instead of JPEG you never need to worry about white balance, just leave it on auto, and correct later if necessary.

Kenny Logins

...but in answer to your question; I'd use aperture or shutter priority. It probably doesn't really matter as long as it shows as exposed correctly and the flash doesn't fire.

CabanSail

I have never used Custom White Balance, mine is set to Flash all the time and I vary that in PP as required. That is not answering the question.

If you are, for some unfathomable reason, shooting jpeg and want to set the custom white balance you have to think what you are trying to achieve. You will need a Neutral Colour (one where the Red Green and Blue channels are equal) to shoot. The camera will then adjust the White Balance so the channels are all the same under the light being used. You would generally not use Flash as its a known temperature. You will be more often balancing the ambient light. That will the be ok while that light stays constant. If it changes you have to repeat the process.

Easier to decide on White Balance when processing rather than shooting, which is one advantage of RAW.

Does the 1100D have live view (ability to view through the LCD rather than the viewfinder)?

If so, switch over to that and find the button or setting in the menu system for white balance temperature. I use the 7D, which has a dedicated menu that overlays the LCD, so the 1100D might be different.

Anyway, in live view, find the white balance setting in the menu and click on it. This should allow you to change the temperature whilst still viewing through the LCD. Face the camera at something white and scroll the temperature each way until the white looks white (lower temperatures will look blue, higher temperatures will look red).


I'm not sure if that'll work for you, but that's how it is on the 7D. Alternatively, take a photo of a white object and cycle through the different white balance settings (chances are you'll be shooting under conditions that makes at least one of them right.


I'm assuming you're using it for video (as DSLRs actually meter off 18% gray, but video people always go for a bright white anyway).