Error when setting White balance

itcave · 10-27-2009, 11:39 AM

Disclaimer, I am a newbe to DSLRs.

When I set the white balance manually on my k20d (using sheet of white paper). I frequently get a black screen that says NG in the middle of it, and my white balance is not set. Does anyone know what this NG means and what I'm doing wrong?

thanks!

mer · 10-27-2009, 11:47 AM

I am pretty sure NG means not good , this means that with the photo you took the camera couldn't understand which is the optimal white balance. If you get a black screen then the exposure was wrong. Set it to Av or Auto so the exposure is more or less correct.

photomad_2007 · 10-27-2009, 12:32 PM

Please use manual focus and fill the screen thru the view finder, set the camera to program mode, as I feel the mode must have been set to Tv, and the shutter speed must have been high. Further for precise results, I have always set the ISO to 100. These must solve your problems.

itcave · 10-27-2009, 09:05 PM

Previously, I did have the camera set to P mode, exposer metering set to auto, and ISO set to auto.

The only thing that seems to decrease the NG is setting the camera to 100 iso. But i do still receive the NG even then sometimes.

does anyone know what the camera is looking for that would qualify the picture as usable or NG(not good) for white balance?

FHPhotographer · 10-31-2009, 12:00 AM

My experience with my new K20 is that is you're using a bright white card/paper you may be pushing it too hard; try an 18% gray card. Also, I set mine in the lowest ISO I'm going to be able to use, set to Manual Mode and MF and make sure the card fills the viewfinder, then go through the steps. I'm getting consistently useable WB readings and got the "no good" reading only once when I used a sheet of bright white paper in at mid-day. Good luck,
Brian

Mike Cash · 10-31-2009, 03:32 AM

The easiest solution to WB woes is to shoot in RAW and then adjust your WB in post-processing.

Or do what I have been doing for sh*ts and giggles this week....shoot everything in black and white mode.

10-27-2009, 11:39 AM	#1
itcave New Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: CT Posts: 2	Error when setting White balance Disclaimer, I am a newbe to DSLRs. When I set the white balance manually on my k20d (using sheet of white paper). I frequently get a black screen that says NG in the middle of it, and my white balance is not set. Does anyone know what this NG means and what I'm doing wrong? thanks!

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10-27-2009, 11:47 AM	#2
mer Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Greece Posts: 237	I am pretty sure NG means not good , this means that with the photo you took the camera couldn't understand which is the optimal white balance. If you get a black screen then the exposure was wrong. Set it to Av or Auto so the exposure is more or less correct.

10-27-2009, 12:32 PM	#3
photomad_2007 Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: united arab emirates Photos: Gallery Posts: 60	Please use manual focus and fill the screen thru the view finder, set the camera to program mode, as I feel the mode must have been set to Tv, and the shutter speed must have been high. Further for precise results, I have always set the ISO to 100. These must solve your problems.

10-27-2009, 09:05 PM	#4
itcave New Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: CT Posts: 2 Original Poster	Previously, I did have the camera set to P mode, exposer metering set to auto, and ISO set to auto. The only thing that seems to decrease the NG is setting the camera to 100 iso. But i do still receive the NG even then sometimes. does anyone know what the camera is looking for that would qualify the picture as usable or NG(not good) for white balance?

10-31-2009, 12:00 AM	#5
FHPhotographer Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Fountain Hills, AZ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,297	My experience with my new K20 is that is you're using a bright white card/paper you may be pushing it too hard; try an 18% gray card. Also, I set mine in the lowest ISO I'm going to be able to use, set to Manual Mode and MF and make sure the card fills the viewfinder, then go through the steps. I'm getting consistently useable WB readings and got the "no good" reading only once when I used a sheet of bright white paper in at mid-day. Good luck, Brian

10-31-2009, 03:32 AM	#6
Mike Cash Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Japan Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,950	The easiest solution to WB woes is to shoot in RAW and then adjust your WB in post-processing. Or do what I have been doing for sh*ts and giggles this week....shoot everything in black and white mode.