K3 white balance

kieffer · 01-12-2014, 03:38 AM

Hello all
The white balance of my new K3 (700 pictures taken) switch sometime on foolish setting: flash or fluorescent light on pictures taken in outdoor situation even if the white bal. is set on 5000K. or auto.
I never had this problem previously with my K20. Does somebody experiment this problem?
Have a good day

Adam · 01-12-2014, 02:08 PM

Originally posted by kieffer

Hello all
The white balance of my new K3 (700 pictures taken) switch sometime on foolish setting: flash or fluorescent light on pictures taken in outdoor situation even if the white bal. is set on 5000K. or auto.
I never had this problem previously with my K20. Does somebody experiment this problem?
Have a good day

Do you have some sample photos? I've found the K-3's WB to generally be very accurate, especially at night.

EMF · 03-07-2014, 04:55 PM

I do three things to achieve a somewhat reliable and consistent true white balance and colour saturation with my K-3. I use this setting indoors for mixed artificial lighting, fluorescent, warm and cold low-energy bulbs and halogen:
1. I have set up a user WB with the lowest colour temperature and a bottom left position in the colour space.
2. I set the image finishing to Natural. Seems to dampen colour saturation to an acceptable level.
3. I verify that the photo software reads the colour in the jpeg correctly. I get different saturation and colour temperature in Picasa vs. paint vs other. It might have to do with the multi WB function in the K-3.

White balance in the K-3 is so far a "black box" to me. The auto WB is unreliable, colours can be rich and beautiful but rarely true. The automatic and preset WB modes are nice but a hit or miss. Colour representation in my other cameras are less variable and more reliable. Colour and lack of auto-focus in video recording are two major drawbacks for an otherwise nice camera.

derekkite · 03-07-2014, 08:49 PM

Originally posted by EMF

Colour and lack of auto-focus in video recording are two major drawbacks for an otherwise nice camera.

Hold down the AF button during video recording. Doesn't work if you have AF button set to cancel AF.

EMF · 03-08-2014, 12:28 AM

Originally posted by derekkite

Hold down the AF button during video recording. Doesn't work if you have AF button set to cancel AF.

You're right derrekite about the AF button in video recording, it works. I find manual focus faster and quieter shooting video with the K-3. This is not a video camera.

lister6520 · 03-08-2014, 03:13 AM

@kieffer, could it be simply that you are accidentally changing the WB setting? Just pressing the left controller button twice will change the WB setting.

If you often use the controller buttons to change the focus point it is very easy to accidentally change the WB by mistake, simply because the controller wouldn't be in focus point selection mode.

If the WB is set to a fixed colour temperature there is no way it will change by itself, unless you actually change it from the controls. What may be happening is that you are setting the WB to 5000K on one of the presets (K1,K2,K3) but you are not actually selecting/activating that preset and instead leaving it on another setting, or accidentally changing it.

**jbinpg** · 03-08-2014, 06:12 PM

@kieffer - Check setting C2-10. WB Adjustable Range. Default is set for 2. Change it to 1. and you should be good to go.

Jack

PALADIN85020 · 03-08-2014, 07:22 PM

Originally posted by EMF

I do three things to achieve a somewhat reliable and consistent true white balance and colour saturation with my K-3. I use this setting indoors for mixed artificial lighting, fluorescent, warm and cold low-energy bulbs and halogen:
1. I have set up a user WB with the lowest colour temperature and a bottom left position in the colour space.
2. I set the image finishing to Natural. Seems to dampen colour saturation to an acceptable level.
3. I verify that the photo software reads the colour in the jpeg correctly. I get different saturation and colour temperature in Picasa vs. paint vs other. It might have to do with the multi WB function in the K-3.

White balance in the K-3 is so far a "black box" to me. The auto WB is unreliable, colours can be rich and beautiful but rarely true. The automatic and preset WB modes are nice but a hit or miss. Colour representation in my other cameras are less variable and more reliable. Colour and lack of auto-focus in video recording are two major drawbacks for an otherwise nice camera.

I find the auto white balance on the K-3 to be generally reliable. However, for "keeper" shots, I also generate a RAW file so I can change the white balance in post if it seems warranted. I set the camera's white balance to "auto" and forget about it. Remember that if you are shooting JPEG only, you can press the AE-Lock button while in playback mode, and make a RAW file from the current picture that's in the camera's memory until you shoot another picture or turn the camera off. It's one of my favorite K-3 / K-5 features, and saves card space if your shot isn't critical.

John

ALiEN|PoV · 03-12-2014, 03:50 AM

In my experience the K3 is a lot better than the K30 when it comes to WB. However, Auto WB seems to REALLY dislike specific fluorescent lights.
EMF's approach is a good solution. It seems Auto WB on the K3 is better, because it's NOT meant to handle specific lightning scenarios (handles natural light great).
The K30 was the opposite, it handled everything ok on auto WB, but not good. Making presets didn't help much, it had issues in certain scenarios.

Unnatural light with a different color tint? Then you need a preset imo.

Stagnant · 03-12-2014, 01:03 PM

According to my observations, the M AWB function is still not properly understood in RAW editors. The raw converters I used, typically render it in the same fashion as normal AWB. Also camera seems to choose different white balance depending on the raw format you choose (dng or pef). I shot the same scene from a tripod 4 times. DNG - AWB, M AWB ; PEF - AWB, M AWB. Both DNG files and both PEF files had exactly the same white balance. But DNG files differed from PEF files.

01-12-2014, 03:38 AM	#1
kieffer Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 4	K3 white balance Hello all The white balance of my new K3 (700 pictures taken) switch sometime on foolish setting: flash or fluorescent light on pictures taken in outdoor situation even if the white bal. is set on 5000K. or auto. I never had this problem previously with my K20. Does somebody experiment this problem? Have a good day

01-12-2014, 02:08 PM	#2
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,595	Originally posted by kieffer Hello all The white balance of my new K3 (700 pictures taken) switch sometime on foolish setting: flash or fluorescent light on pictures taken in outdoor situation even if the white bal. is set on 5000K. or auto. I never had this problem previously with my K20. Does somebody experiment this problem? Have a good day Do you have some sample photos? I've found the K-3's WB to generally be very accurate, especially at night. Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

03-07-2014, 04:55 PM	#3
EMF New Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 6	I do three things to achieve a somewhat reliable and consistent true white balance and colour saturation with my K-3. I use this setting indoors for mixed artificial lighting, fluorescent, warm and cold low-energy bulbs and halogen: 1. I have set up a user WB with the lowest colour temperature and a bottom left position in the colour space. 2. I set the image finishing to Natural. Seems to dampen colour saturation to an acceptable level. 3. I verify that the photo software reads the colour in the jpeg correctly. I get different saturation and colour temperature in Picasa vs. paint vs other. It might have to do with the multi WB function in the K-3. White balance in the K-3 is so far a "black box" to me. The auto WB is unreliable, colours can be rich and beautiful but rarely true. The automatic and preset WB modes are nice but a hit or miss. Colour representation in my other cameras are less variable and more reliable. Colour and lack of auto-focus in video recording are two major drawbacks for an otherwise nice camera. Last edited by EMF; 03-08-2014 at 12:11 AM. Reason: Missed out an important fact.

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03-07-2014, 08:49 PM	#4
derekkite Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Nelson B.C. Posts: 3,782	Originally posted by EMF Colour and lack of auto-focus in video recording are two major drawbacks for an otherwise nice camera. Hold down the AF button during video recording. Doesn't work if you have AF button set to cancel AF.

03-08-2014, 12:28 AM	#5
EMF New Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 6	Originally posted by derekkite Hold down the AF button during video recording. Doesn't work if you have AF button set to cancel AF. You're right derrekite about the AF button in video recording, it works. I find manual focus faster and quieter shooting video with the K-3. This is not a video camera.

03-08-2014, 03:13 AM	#6
lister6520 Veteran Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 733	@kieffer, could it be simply that you are accidentally changing the WB setting? Just pressing the left controller button twice will change the WB setting. If you often use the controller buttons to change the focus point it is very easy to accidentally change the WB by mistake, simply because the controller wouldn't be in focus point selection mode. If the WB is set to a fixed colour temperature there is no way it will change by itself, unless you actually change it from the controls. What may be happening is that you are setting the WB to 5000K on one of the presets (K1,K2,K3) but you are not actually selecting/activating that preset and instead leaving it on another setting, or accidentally changing it.

03-08-2014, 06:12 PM	#7
jbinpg Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Prince George, BC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,546	@kieffer - Check setting C2-10. WB Adjustable Range. Default is set for 2. Change it to 1. and you should be good to go. Jack

03-08-2014, 07:22 PM	#8
PALADIN85020 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 442	Originally posted by EMF I do three things to achieve a somewhat reliable and consistent true white balance and colour saturation with my K-3. I use this setting indoors for mixed artificial lighting, fluorescent, warm and cold low-energy bulbs and halogen: 1. I have set up a user WB with the lowest colour temperature and a bottom left position in the colour space. 2. I set the image finishing to Natural. Seems to dampen colour saturation to an acceptable level. 3. I verify that the photo software reads the colour in the jpeg correctly. I get different saturation and colour temperature in Picasa vs. paint vs other. It might have to do with the multi WB function in the K-3. White balance in the K-3 is so far a "black box" to me. The auto WB is unreliable, colours can be rich and beautiful but rarely true. The automatic and preset WB modes are nice but a hit or miss. Colour representation in my other cameras are less variable and more reliable. Colour and lack of auto-focus in video recording are two major drawbacks for an otherwise nice camera. I find the auto white balance on the K-3 to be generally reliable. However, for "keeper" shots, I also generate a RAW file so I can change the white balance in post if it seems warranted. I set the camera's white balance to "auto" and forget about it. Remember that if you are shooting JPEG only, you can press the AE-Lock button while in playback mode, and make a RAW file from the current picture that's in the camera's memory until you shoot another picture or turn the camera off. It's one of my favorite K-3 / K-5 features, and saves card space if your shot isn't critical. John

03-12-2014, 03:50 AM	#9
ALiEN\|PoV Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Hey! Click. Photos: Albums Posts: 38	In my experience the K3 is a lot better than the K30 when it comes to WB. However, Auto WB seems to REALLY dislike specific fluorescent lights. EMF's approach is a good solution. It seems Auto WB on the K3 is better, because it's NOT meant to handle specific lightning scenarios (handles natural light great). The K30 was the opposite, it handled everything ok on auto WB, but not good. Making presets didn't help much, it had issues in certain scenarios. Unnatural light with a different color tint? Then you need a preset imo.

03-12-2014, 01:03 PM	#10
Stagnant Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 603	According to my observations, the M AWB function is still not properly understood in RAW editors. The raw converters I used, typically render it in the same fashion as normal AWB. Also camera seems to choose different white balance depending on the raw format you choose (dng or pef). I shot the same scene from a tripod 4 times. DNG - AWB, M AWB ; PEF - AWB, M AWB. Both DNG files and both PEF files had exactly the same white balance. But DNG files differed from PEF files.