Setting a custom white balance

- Not all light is the same. - Not all light is the same. - Not all light is the same. Different light sources shine with different colors. Different light sources shine with different colors. Different light sources shine with different colors. For example, fluorescent lights run cool, For example, fluorescent lights run cool, For example, fluorescent lights run cool, while candle flames tend to be warm. while candle flames tend to be warm. while candle flames tend to be warm. The human eye can automatically compensate for these changes The human eye can automatically compensate for these changes The human eye can automatically compensate for these changes but your camera needs some help. but your camera needs some help. but your camera needs some help. The camera needs to calibrate itself The camera needs to calibrate itself The camera needs to calibrate itself based upon the lighting conditions. based upon the lighting conditions. based upon the lighting conditions. Now, to change the white balance on your Sony camera Now, to change the white balance on your Sony camera Now, to change the white balance on your Sony camera is pretty straightforward. is pretty straightforward. is pretty straightforward. First make sure you're using First make sure you're using First make sure you're using one of the advanced shooting modes, one of the advanced shooting modes, one of the advanced shooting modes, and you'll find these up at the top here. and you'll find these up at the top here. and you'll find these up at the top here. So let's just switch that into programmed auto mode. So let's just switch that into programmed auto mode. So let's just switch that into programmed auto mode. It'll also work with aperture priority, It'll also work with aperture priority, It'll also work with aperture priority, shutter priority or manual. shutter priority or manual. shutter priority or manual. Now you can bring up the settings. Now you can bring up the settings. Now you can bring up the settings. You can do this through the menu You can do this through the menu You can do this through the menu or it might already be mapped to a quick key. or it might already be mapped to a quick key. or it might already be mapped to a quick key. For example, I can press the command button one here, For example, I can press the command button one here, For example, I can press the command button one here, and it will bring up my custom white balance. and it will bring up my custom white balance. and it will bring up my custom white balance. You see right now by default You see right now by default You see right now by default it's in an auto-white balance mode, it's in an auto-white balance mode, it's in an auto-white balance mode, but I may want to be more specific, but I may want to be more specific, but I may want to be more specific, so I can adjust and you'll find different presets. so I can adjust and you'll find different presets. so I can adjust and you'll find different presets. Daylight, shade, cloudy, incandescent Daylight, shade, cloudy, incandescent Daylight, shade, cloudy, incandescent and different types of fluorescent light. and different types of fluorescent light. and different types of fluorescent light. Now, the exact number of presets will vary, Now, the exact number of presets will vary, Now, the exact number of presets will vary, but there's even an automatic white balance but there's even an automatic white balance but there's even an automatic white balance for shooting underwater, for shooting underwater, for shooting underwater, or the ability to dial in a custom temperature. or the ability to dial in a custom temperature. or the ability to dial in a custom temperature. So you'll notice here that I can affect the shot, So you'll notice here that I can affect the shot, So you'll notice here that I can affect the shot, making it much warmer, making it much warmer, making it much warmer, or cooler, or cooler, or cooler, and you see how that changes the apparent color, and you see how that changes the apparent color, and you see how that changes the apparent color, but what we want to do here is take advantage of presets. but what we want to do here is take advantage of presets. but what we want to do here is take advantage of presets. And so your camera will allow you And so your camera will allow you And so your camera will allow you to have some different presets, usually three. to have some different presets, usually three. to have some different presets, usually three. Towards the bottom here is the option to set the preset. Towards the bottom here is the option to set the preset. Towards the bottom here is the option to set the preset. So what I need to do is select this So what I need to do is select this So what I need to do is select this and I'll just press the set button. and I'll just press the set button. and I'll just press the set button. Now the circle needs to go on an area Now the circle needs to go on an area Now the circle needs to go on an area that's pretty much white. that's pretty much white. that's pretty much white. Fortunately it's pretty well placed here. Fortunately it's pretty well placed here. Fortunately it's pretty well placed here. So, I'll press the center button here on the back, So, I'll press the center button here on the back, So, I'll press the center button here on the back, and you see that it has set it into slot number one. and you see that it has set it into slot number one. and you see that it has set it into slot number one. Now if I want, I can change that Now if I want, I can change that Now if I want, I can change that by turning the command dial here, by turning the command dial here, by turning the command dial here, but when ready I'll hit enter. but when ready I'll hit enter. but when ready I'll hit enter. And you see it's automatically here adjusted to the scene. And you see it's automatically here adjusted to the scene. And you see it's automatically here adjusted to the scene. Now if I remove my color calibration card, Now if I remove my color calibration card, Now if I remove my color calibration card, and we take a photo of our scene, and we take a photo of our scene, and we take a photo of our scene, the white balance has been properly calibrated. the white balance has been properly calibrated. the white balance has been properly calibrated. Now the ability to set a custom white balance Now the ability to set a custom white balance Now the ability to set a custom white balance is a very good idea. is a very good idea. is a very good idea. You don't have to use a professional calibration card You don't have to use a professional calibration card You don't have to use a professional calibration card like I have here, any piece of paper or surface like I have here, any piece of paper or surface like I have here, any piece of paper or surface that's pure white should work, that's pure white should work, that's pure white should work, but the camera is looking for something that is white, but the camera is looking for something that is white, but the camera is looking for something that is white, hence white balance. hence white balance. hence white balance. White is the even present in all light of equal values. White is the even present in all light of equal values. White is the even present in all light of equal values. If you don't have this available to you, If you don't have this available to you, If you don't have this available to you, you can always dial it in manually, you can always dial it in manually, you can always dial it in manually, taking advantage of a light meter taking advantage of a light meter taking advantage of a light meter and then setting the camera, and then setting the camera, or rely upon one of the presets or rely upon one of the presets that's most close to your shooting scene. that's most close to your shooting scene. Now most folks will take advantage of things like daylight Now most folks will take advantage of things like daylight for general shooting under sunlight situations. for general shooting under sunlight situations. They'll use shade if they're shooting in daylight They'll use shade if they're shooting in daylight but shooting in the shade, for example, under a tree branch. but shooting in the shade, for example, under a tree branch. This is going to cool things down a little bit. This is going to cool things down a little bit. The cloudy preset is quite useful The cloudy preset is quite useful if things are overcast and the light is more diffused. if things are overcast and the light is more diffused. You can rely upon incandescent You can rely upon incandescent for shooting under traditional light bulbs, for shooting under traditional light bulbs, these are about 3000 degrees kelvin. these are about 3000 degrees kelvin. And Sony of course offer several different And Sony of course offer several different presets for fluorescent lights, presets for fluorescent lights, more so than most other manufacturers. more so than most other manufacturers. As you look at these, it's pretty easy As you look at these, it's pretty easy to figure out what each does, to figure out what each does, so just find something that works pretty well and remember, so just find something that works pretty well and remember, if you're shooting raw, you also have the easy flexibility if you're shooting raw, you also have the easy flexibility of fixing this later on during post production. of fixing this later on during post production.