Help with White Balance !

[RVO]

Except the very expensive ones 1D, 1Ds and now the Nikon D2H, do have a seperate sensor to measure exactly the right WB-setting.

I personally find it difficult to get the right WB-setting on my 10D. Some pictures have a blue cast, some a red cast with Auto-WB. Most people say to use Manual-WB or Kelvin-WB.

Ok, you may try to use the Kelvin setting on the camera, but are there any reference charts for lightmeasurement in Kelvin (daylight, indoor...)

Another point is the use of a white-grey card, the you have to focus on this card (how big does it has to be?) and then use it as a reference.
Explaination about the use of this feature is very welcom !

Or is it better to buy a very expensive colormeter?, these measure in Kelvin.

Point is, I want to shoot pictures as they are at that moment, and not compensate them in PS with ACR, why, because sometimes I don't know in what circumstances I took the picture.

 

[The Raven]

Except the very expensive ones 1D, 1Ds and now the Nikon D2H, do
have a seperate sensor to measure exactly the right WB-setting.

I personally find it difficult to get the right WB-setting on my
10D. Some pictures have a blue cast, some a red cast with Auto-WB.
Most people say to use Manual-WB or Kelvin-WB.

Ok, you may try to use the Kelvin setting on the camera, but are
there any reference charts for lightmeasurement in Kelvin
(daylight, indoor...)

Another point is the use of a white-grey card, the you have to
focus on this card (how big does it has to be?) and then use it as
a reference.
Explaination about the use of this feature is very welcom !

Or is it better to buy a very expensive colormeter?, these measure
in Kelvin.

Point is, I want to shoot pictures as they are at that moment, and
not compensate them in PS with ACR, why, because sometimes I don't
know in what circumstances I took the picture.

You should try the white card/paper method first. You just need to fill the frame with it. You don't have to focus on it. You'll need to place your lens on manual focus to enable the camera to take the shot.

 

[Doug Walker]

get an expodisc (www.expodisc.com). This is the simplest way to get accurate WB. You can use it to set exposure also. Many of us here use it.

Here's a link to a test I did of various WB settings, Gray card, White card and expodisc.
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1019&message=4153539

Except the very expensive ones 1D, 1Ds and now the Nikon D2H, do
have a seperate sensor to measure exactly the right WB-setting.

I personally find it difficult to get the right WB-setting on my
10D. Some pictures have a blue cast, some a red cast with Auto-WB.
Most people say to use Manual-WB or Kelvin-WB.

Ok, you may try to use the Kelvin setting on the camera, but are
there any reference charts for lightmeasurement in Kelvin
(daylight, indoor...)

Another point is the use of a white-grey card, the you have to
focus on this card (how big does it has to be?) and then use it as
a reference.
Explaination about the use of this feature is very welcom !

Or is it better to buy a very expensive colormeter?, these measure
in Kelvin.

Point is, I want to shoot pictures as they are at that moment, and
not compensate them in PS with ACR, why, because sometimes I don't
know in what circumstances I took the picture.

--
Doug Walker
Check my profile for equipment list.