K-5II white balance - auto vs manual

toukan · 09-12-2013, 02:15 PM

I generally have white balance set to auto, but have noticed that I also need to adjust it quite often in Lightroom afterwards to get proper white balance. I am wondering if there is a known issue with the AWB on the K-5II, or should I just be using manual all the time, or if I am doing something else wrong. Any assistance/guidance would be most helpful. Thanks.

elliott · 09-12-2013, 02:56 PM

Auto can never be perfect in every situation, but it is usually close enough to get a good starting point. Of course manual will usually be better, you're specifically telling it what white is instead of letting it guess. It just comes down to which you would rather do, spend the time with a grey card setting a manual white balance or spend the time later in post.

rawr · 09-12-2013, 03:49 PM

Originally posted by elliott

Auto can never be perfect in every situation, but it is usually close enough to get a good starting point.

This. Same with any camera.

I use AWB most times but do keep a small grey card in my camera bag to use in tricky lighting situations to take some lighting reference shots at the scene. Even if it is pretty reliable, the AWB (or even a manual WB setting) often looks wrong in post, so I then use my grey card shots to help tune the WB in Lightroom.

DSims · 09-12-2013, 04:08 PM

If you have time to set up the shot (such as with a portrait) it's better to use an ExpoDisc ExpoImaging - ExpoDisc White Balance, which is the easiest and often best (since it even sets the out-of-the-camera WB correctly on your JPEGs, if you shoot JPG+RAW like I do). The aforementioned gray card will also work.

If you do get an ExpoDisc, the standard practice is to buy one the same size as your largest lens' filter threads (commonly 77mm with Pentax; sometimes 82mm with Sigma). You can hold it over any smaller size lens (except the FA31 with its non-retractable built-in hood) and it works fine.

elliott · 09-12-2013, 04:47 PM

Originally posted by DSims

If you have time to set up the shot (such as with a portrait) it's better to use an ExpoDisc ExpoImaging - ExpoDisc White Balance, which is the easiest and often best (since it even sets the out-of-the-camera WB correctly on your JPEGs, if you shoot JPG+RAW like I do). The aforementioned gray card will also work.

If you do get an ExpoDisc, the standard practice is to buy one the same size as your largest lens' filter threads (commonly 77mm with Pentax; sometimes 82mm with Sigma). You can hold it over any smaller size lens (except the FA31 with its non-retractable built-in hood) and it works fine.

You can make a pretty good version of this using a couple UV filters and a white coffee filter. I made one as a temporary solution and it worked so well it became permanent.

**Wingincamera** · 09-15-2013, 03:02 PM

I use to carry a gray card for those times when the lighting varied, but now I just use a white coffee filter to make a custom white balance and save it in the camera for when I need it.
Here is a link that explains it pretty good.
Product Comparison: White Balance Filters (Professional Photographer Magazine Web Exclusives)

**Wingincamera** · 09-15-2013, 03:03 PM

Also, I just a rubber band around the coffee filter & lens to hold it.

09-12-2013, 02:15 PM	#1
toukan Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Photos: Gallery Posts: 140	K-5II white balance - auto vs manual I generally have white balance set to auto, but have noticed that I also need to adjust it quite often in Lightroom afterwards to get proper white balance. I am wondering if there is a known issue with the AWB on the K-5II, or should I just be using manual all the time, or if I am doing something else wrong. Any assistance/guidance would be most helpful. Thanks.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Why doesn't Auto White Balance work with manual lenses?	vonBaloney	Pentax DSLR Discussion	16	10-27-2011 03:00 PM
K-7 Auto White Balance problem	bymy141	Pentax DSLR Discussion	16	09-26-2009 11:07 AM
K-7 Auto White Balance	lawsonstone	Pentax DSLR Discussion	4	07-11-2009 04:57 PM
RAW vs Manual White Balance for Color Cast Correction	JCharles	Pentax DSLR Discussion	18	11-09-2008 07:35 AM
Auto white balance vs. daylight balance outdoors.	fevbusch	Pentax DSLR Discussion	7	02-18-2007 03:04 PM

09-12-2013, 02:56 PM	#2
elliott Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: North Carolina Photos: Albums Posts: 1,720	Auto can never be perfect in every situation, but it is usually close enough to get a good starting point. Of course manual will usually be better, you're specifically telling it what white is instead of letting it guess. It just comes down to which you would rather do, spend the time with a grey card setting a manual white balance or spend the time later in post.

09-12-2013, 03:49 PM	#3
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Originally posted by elliott Auto can never be perfect in every situation, but it is usually close enough to get a good starting point. This. Same with any camera. I use AWB most times but do keep a small grey card in my camera bag to use in tricky lighting situations to take some lighting reference shots at the scene. Even if it is pretty reliable, the AWB (or even a manual WB setting) often looks wrong in post, so I then use my grey card shots to help tune the WB in Lightroom.

09-12-2013, 04:08 PM	#4
DSims Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Southern California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,236	If you have time to set up the shot (such as with a portrait) it's better to use an ExpoDisc ExpoImaging - ExpoDisc White Balance, which is the easiest and often best (since it even sets the out-of-the-camera WB correctly on your JPEGs, if you shoot JPG+RAW like I do). The aforementioned gray card will also work. If you do get an ExpoDisc, the standard practice is to buy one the same size as your largest lens' filter threads (commonly 77mm with Pentax; sometimes 82mm with Sigma). You can hold it over any smaller size lens (except the FA31 with its non-retractable built-in hood) and it works fine.

09-12-2013, 04:47 PM	#5
elliott Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: North Carolina Photos: Albums Posts: 1,720	Originally posted by DSims If you have time to set up the shot (such as with a portrait) it's better to use an ExpoDisc ExpoImaging - ExpoDisc White Balance, which is the easiest and often best (since it even sets the out-of-the-camera WB correctly on your JPEGs, if you shoot JPG+RAW like I do). The aforementioned gray card will also work. If you do get an ExpoDisc, the standard practice is to buy one the same size as your largest lens' filter threads (commonly 77mm with Pentax; sometimes 82mm with Sigma). You can hold it over any smaller size lens (except the FA31 with its non-retractable built-in hood) and it works fine. You can make a pretty good version of this using a couple UV filters and a white coffee filter. I made one as a temporary solution and it worked so well it became permanent.

09-15-2013, 03:02 PM	#6
Wingincamera Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Pine Haven, Wyoming Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,182	I use to carry a gray card for those times when the lighting varied, but now I just use a white coffee filter to make a custom white balance and save it in the camera for when I need it. Here is a link that explains it pretty good. Product Comparison: White Balance Filters (Professional Photographer Magazine Web Exclusives)

09-15-2013, 03:03 PM	#7
Wingincamera Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Pine Haven, Wyoming Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,182	Also, I just a rubber band around the coffee filter & lens to hold it.