Calibrating The K-5's WB with...

tabl10s · 06-21-2013, 10:30 PM

an 18% Gray Card. How do you do it?

bdparker · 06-21-2013, 10:46 PM

select WB and scroll down to the icon that looks like two wedges under a box. Arrow right twice, the screen should display Manual WB - Shutter Adjust.... take a photo now of your Grey Card... the screen will then display your image with a green selection box to more accurately choose the grey area... press ok until you are back to your setting screen and your set to go.

Images are of my K-7 but its the same process even on my K-5ii

tabl10s · 06-22-2013, 08:00 AM

Thanks. Will I always be in that mode our do I have to choose it? When would AWB or other custom settings be sufficient?

Driline · 06-22-2013, 03:50 PM

Do you have to use an 18% gray card? How about just a white sheet of paper.

**JimJohnson** · 06-22-2013, 06:43 PM

Originally posted by Driline

Do you have to use an 18% gray card? How about just a white sheet of paper.

So long as you are using it solely for white balance, it might work depending on how white is your white sheet of paper. 18% gray cards are calibrated, a randomly selected sheet of white paper, not. If you visit your local office shop, you will note that paper is sold not only by weight, but degree of whiteness, called brightness. Further, I have no idea how the paper industry's values equate to what your camera calls "white". Finally, most office paper yellows rather quickly due to acid content. Still, it would be better than nothing.

An 18% gray card can also be used to set exposure. A white sheet of paper is so variable, I'd hate to use it for anything critical.

Driline · 06-22-2013, 07:08 PM

Originally posted by JimJohnson

An 18% gray card can also be used to set exposure. A white sheet of paper is so variable, I'd hate to use it for anything critical

I ask because in television we always used a professional "white card" in the studio to set up white balance. Of course out in the field our "video" photographers would use anything white. Usually just a piece of paper lying around.

bdparker · 06-22-2013, 07:24 PM

Originally posted by tabl10s

Thanks. Will I always be in that mode our do I have to choose it? When would AWB or other custom settings be sufficient?

The setting for WB is set until you change it.
Don't forget that WB is situational, meaning: the WB you set for that shot under that lighting (in broad terms) may not be correct for the next location. even if you change rooms in your house, the reflective ambient lighting from furniture/walls and the amount of natural light (coming at the particular time of the day) changes.

I general I shoot in AWB because I shoot RAW and can correct it in Lightroom and DXO, the consistence of the lighting changes (inside/outside) throughout a single shoot.
If I am shooting in the same lighting for the whole day or shoot, then I will us one of the pre-sets or grey card it.

**JimJohnson** · 06-22-2013, 07:27 PM

Originally posted by Driline

I ask because in television we always used a professional "white card" in the studio to set up white balance. Of course out in the field our "video" photographers would use anything white. Usually just a piece of paper lying around.

And did the audience notice a difference in color balance and exposure when bouncing between the anchors and the filed reports? Probably, but the audience is a lot more forgiving of a live one-time newscast than they are of variations in a pre-recorded event. The same goes for something like a wedding album. That white dress needs to be equally white in every shot.

tabl10s · 06-22-2013, 10:23 PM

Originally posted by bdparker

select WB and scroll down to the icon that looks like two wedges under a box. Arrow right twice, the screen should display Manual WB - Shutter Adjust.... take a photo now of your Grey Card... the screen will then display your image with a green selection box to more accurately choose the grey area... press ok until you are back to your setting screen and your set to go.

Images are of my K-7 but its the same process even on my K-5ii

I think I'm going to get one of those exposure discs instead. It'll be $100, but I won't have to deal with the damn card which didn't seem to work.

bdparker · 06-22-2013, 11:21 PM

Originally posted by tabl10s

I think I'm going to get one of those exposure discs instead. It'll be $100, but I won't have to deal with the damn card which didn't seem to work.

???? Exposure and WB are not the same thing. Getting your exposure correct will not fix the WB and visa-versa.

what exactly is not working.

06-21-2013, 10:30 PM	#1
tabl10s Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Sacramento(formerly from B'Ham, England). Posts: 1,424	Calibrating The K-5's WB with... an 18% Gray Card. How do you do it?

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06-22-2013, 08:00 AM	#3
tabl10s Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Sacramento(formerly from B'Ham, England). Posts: 1,424 Original Poster	Thanks. Will I always be in that mode our do I have to choose it? When would AWB or other custom settings be sufficient?

06-22-2013, 03:50 PM	#4
Driline Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: IOWA Where the Tall Corn Grows Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,695	Do you have to use an 18% gray card? How about just a white sheet of paper.

06-22-2013, 06:43 PM	#5
JimJohnson Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Summer:Lake Superior - Michigan Winter:Texas Hill Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,772	Originally posted by Driline Do you have to use an 18% gray card? How about just a white sheet of paper. So long as you are using it solely for white balance, it might work depending on how white is your white sheet of paper. 18% gray cards are calibrated, a randomly selected sheet of white paper, not. If you visit your local office shop, you will note that paper is sold not only by weight, but degree of whiteness, called brightness. Further, I have no idea how the paper industry's values equate to what your camera calls "white". Finally, most office paper yellows rather quickly due to acid content. Still, it would be better than nothing. An 18% gray card can also be used to set exposure. A white sheet of paper is so variable, I'd hate to use it for anything critical.

06-22-2013, 07:08 PM	#6
Driline Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: IOWA Where the Tall Corn Grows Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,695	Originally posted by JimJohnson An 18% gray card can also be used to set exposure. A white sheet of paper is so variable, I'd hate to use it for anything critical I ask because in television we always used a professional "white card" in the studio to set up white balance. Of course out in the field our "video" photographers would use anything white. Usually just a piece of paper lying around.

06-22-2013, 07:24 PM	#7
bdparker Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 307	Originally posted by tabl10s Thanks. Will I always be in that mode our do I have to choose it? When would AWB or other custom settings be sufficient? The setting for WB is set until you change it. Don't forget that WB is situational, meaning: the WB you set for that shot under that lighting (in broad terms) may not be correct for the next location. even if you change rooms in your house, the reflective ambient lighting from furniture/walls and the amount of natural light (coming at the particular time of the day) changes. I general I shoot in AWB because I shoot RAW and can correct it in Lightroom and DXO, the consistence of the lighting changes (inside/outside) throughout a single shoot. If I am shooting in the same lighting for the whole day or shoot, then I will us one of the pre-sets or grey card it.

06-22-2013, 07:27 PM	#8
JimJohnson Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Summer:Lake Superior - Michigan Winter:Texas Hill Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,772	Originally posted by Driline I ask because in television we always used a professional "white card" in the studio to set up white balance. Of course out in the field our "video" photographers would use anything white. Usually just a piece of paper lying around. And did the audience notice a difference in color balance and exposure when bouncing between the anchors and the filed reports? Probably, but the audience is a lot more forgiving of a live one-time newscast than they are of variations in a pre-recorded event. The same goes for something like a wedding album. That white dress needs to be equally white in every shot.

06-22-2013, 10:23 PM	#9
tabl10s Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Sacramento(formerly from B'Ham, England). Posts: 1,424 Original Poster	Originally posted by bdparker select WB and scroll down to the icon that looks like two wedges under a box. Arrow right twice, the screen should display Manual WB - Shutter Adjust.... take a photo now of your Grey Card... the screen will then display your image with a green selection box to more accurately choose the grey area... press ok until you are back to your setting screen and your set to go. Images are of my K-7 but its the same process even on my K-5ii I think I'm going to get one of those exposure discs instead. It'll be $100, but I won't have to deal with the damn card which didn't seem to work.

06-22-2013, 11:21 PM	#10
bdparker Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 307	Originally posted by tabl10s I think I'm going to get one of those exposure discs instead. It'll be $100, but I won't have to deal with the damn card which didn't seem to work. ???? Exposure and WB are not the same thing. Getting your exposure correct will not fix the WB and visa-versa. what exactly is not working.

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