White balance

About white balance

White balance ensures that white objects appear white, regardless of the color of the light source. The default setting (auto white balance, or 4) is recommended with most light sources; if the desired results cannot be achieved with auto white balance, choose another option as described below.

Adjusting white balance

White balance can be adjusted using the [White balance] items in the i menu, photo shooting menu, or video recording menu.
When [White balance] is highlighted in the i menu, white balance can be adjusted by rotating the main command dial. The selected option is shown by an icon in the shooting display.

When [White balance] is highlighted in the i menu, options for the selected setting, if any, can be selected by rotating the sub-command dial.

Option		Color temperature*	Description
4 [Auto]			White balance is adjusted automatically for optimal results with most light sources. If an optional flash unit is used, white balance will be adjusted in accord with the conditions in effect when the flash fires.
	i [Keep white (reduce warm colors)]	Approx. 3500–8000 K	Eliminate the warm color cast produced by incandescent lighting.
	j [Keep overall atmosphere]	Approx. 3500–8000 K	Partially preserve the warm color cast produced by incandescent lighting.
	k [Keep warm lighting colors]	Approx. 3500–8000 K	Preserve the warm color cast produced by incandescent lighting.
D [Natural light auto]		Approx. 4500–8000 K	When used under natural light in place of 4 [Auto], this option produces colors closer to those seen by the naked eye.
H [Direct sunlight]		Approx. 5200 K	Use with subjects lit by direct sunlight.
G [Cloudy]		Approx. 6000 K	Use in daylight under overcast skies.
M [Shade]		Approx. 8000 K	Use in daylight with subjects in shade.
J [Incandescent]		Approx. 3000 K	Use under incandescent lighting.
I [Fluorescent]			Use under fluorescent lighting; choose the bulb type according to the light source.
	m [Cool-white fluorescent]	Approx. 4200 K
	n [Day white fluorescent]	Approx. 5000 K
	o [Daylight fluorescent]	Approx. 6500 K
5 [Flash]		Approx. 5400 K	Use for flash photography.
K [Choose color temperature]		Approx. 2500–10000 K	Direct color-temperature selection. When [Choose color temperature] is set and [White balance] is highlighted in the i menu, rotate the sub-command dial to set the color temperature.
L [Preset manual]			Measure white balance for the subject or light source or copy white balance from an existing photograph. When [Preset manual] is set and [White balance] is highlighted in the i menu, rotate the sub-command dial to select the preset manual data. When [Preset manual] is set and [White balance] is highlighted in the i menu, press and hold the center of the multi selector to enter direct measurement mode (Preset manual).

Values when fine-tuning is set to 0.

D [Natural light auto]

D [Natural light auto] may not produce the desired results under artificial light. Choose 4 [Auto] or an option that matches the light source.

Studio flash lighting

4 [Auto] may not produce the desired results with large studio flash units. Use preset manual white balance or set white balance to 5 [Flash] and use fine-tuning to adjust white balance.

Auto

The photo info [Basic shooting data] page for pictures shot with 4 [Auto], D [Natural light auto], or L [Preset manual] selected for white balance lists the color temperature in effect at the time the picture was taken (Basic shooting data). You can use this as reference when choosing a value for K [Choose color temperature].
To view the [Basic shooting data] page during playback, go to [Playback display options] in the playback menu and place checks (M) next to [Shooting data] and [Basic shooting data].
Color temperature is not shown for pictures taken using high- speed frame capture +.

The [White balance] options

White balance can also be adjusted from the photo shooting and video recording menus.

Color temperature

The perceived color of a light source varies with the viewer; some may have a red cast while others appear blue. Color temperature is an objective measure of the color of a light source, expressed in Kelvins (K). The lower the color temperature, the redder the cast (q); the higher the temperature, the bluer the cast (w).

Choosing a color temperature

In general, choose lower values if your pictures have a red cast or to intentionally make pictures bluer, higher values if your pictures are tinged blue or to intentionally make pictures redder.

Fine-tuning white balance

Each white balance option can be fine-tuned by up to six steps in either direction from the center along both the A (amber)–B (blue) and G (green)–M (magenta) axes.

Using the i menu

Select [White balance] in the i menu, highlight the desired option, and press the multi selector down as often as necessary to display fine-tuning options.
Fine-tune white balance.
- Change the values by pressing the multi selector up, down, left, or right, or by tapping the arrows on the display.
- The A (amber)–B (blue) axis corresponds to color temperature and is ruled in increments of 0.5. A change of 1 is equivalent to approximately 5 mired.
- The G (green)–M (magenta) axis has effects similar to color compensation filters and is ruled in increments of 0.25. A change of 1 is equivalent to approximately 0.05 diffuse density units.
Save changes.
- Press the center of the multi selector to save changes and return to the i menu.
- If white balance has been fine-tuned, an asterisk (“U”) will be displayed in the white balance icon.

Using the menus

Select [White balance] in the photo shooting or video recording menu, highlight the desired option, and press the multi selector right as often as necessary to display fine-tuning options.

For information on fine-tuning [Preset manual] white balance, see “Fine-tuning preset manual white balance” (Fine-tuning preset manual white balance).
Fine-tune white balance.
- Use the multi selector to position the cursor on the grid. The selected value is displayed to the right of the grid.
- The A (amber)–B (blue) axis corresponds to color temperature and is ruled in increments of 0.5. A change of 1 is equivalent to approximately 5 mired.
- The G (green)–M (magenta) axis has effects similar to color compensation filters and is ruled in increments of 0.25. A change of 1 is equivalent to approximately 0.05 diffuse density units.
Save changes.
- Press the center of the multi selector to save changes and exit to the menus.
- If white balance has been fine-tuned, an asterisk (“U”) will be displayed in the icon.

White balance fine-tuning

The colors on the fine-tuning axes are relative, not absolute. Selecting more of a color on a given axis does not necessarily result in that color appearing in pictures. For example, moving the cursor to B (blue) when a “warm” setting such as J [Incandescent] is selected will make pictures slightly “colder” but will not actually make them blue.

“Mired”

Values in mired are calculated by multiplying the inverse of the color temperature by 10⁶. Any given change in color temperature produces a greater difference in color at low color temperatures than it would at higher color temperatures. For example, a change of 1000 K produces a much greater change in color at 3000 K than at 6000 K. Mired is a measure of color temperature that takes such variation into account, and as such is the unit used in color-temperature compensation filters.

E.g.: Change in color temperature (in Kelvin): Value in mired

4000 K – 3000 K = 1000 K: 83 mired
7000 K – 6000 K = 1000 K: 24 mired

Choosing a color temperature

Choose a color temperature by entering values for the A (amber)–B (blue) and G (green)–M (magenta) axes.

Using the i menu

Select [White balance] in the i menu, highlight K [Choose color temperature] and press the multi selector down.
Choose a color temperature.
- Press the multi selector left or right to highlight digits, and press the multi selector up or down to change the numerical values.
Move the zoom control toward − to fine-tune the values.
- Change the values by pressing the multi selector up, down, left, or right, or by tapping the arrows on the display.
- The A (amber)–B (blue) axis corresponds to color temperature and is ruled in increments of 0.5. A change of 1 is equivalent to approximately 5 mired.
- The G (green)–M (magenta) axis has effects similar to color compensation filters and is ruled in increments of 0.25. A change of 1 is equivalent to approximately 0.05 diffuse density units.
Save changes.
- Press the center of the multi selector to save changes and return to the i menu.
- If color temperature has been fine-tuned, an asterisk (“U”) will appear in the color temperature icon in the shooting display.

Using the menus

Select [White balance] in the photo shooting or video recording menu, then highlight K [Choose color temperature] and press the multi selector right.
Choose a color temperature.
Press the multi selector left or right to highlight digits, and press the multi selector up or down to change the numerical values.
Fine-tune color temperature.
After choosing a color temperature, move the zoom control toward − to display fine-tuning options. Use the multi selector to position the cursor on the grid.
- The cursor can be moved up to six steps from the center along either axis. The selected value is displayed to the right of the grid.
- The A (amber)–B (blue) axis corresponds to color temperature and is ruled in increments of 0.5. A change of 1 is equivalent to approximately 5 mired.
- The G (green)–M (magenta) axis has effects similar to color compensation filters and is ruled in increments of 0.25. A change of 1 is equivalent to approximately 0.05 diffuse density units.
Save changes.
- Press the center of the multi selector to save changes and exit to the menus.
- If color temperature has been fine-tuned, an asterisk (“U”) will appear in the white balance icon.

Cautions: Color-temperature selection

Do not use color-temperature selection with fluorescent light sources; instead, use the I [Fluorescent] option.
When using color-temperature selection with other light sources, take a test shot to determine if the selected value is appropriate.

Preset manual

White balance settings such as 4 [Auto], J [Incandescent], and K [Choose color temperature] may fail to produce the desired results under mixed lighting or lighting with a strong color cast. Should this occur, white balance can be set to a value measured under the light source used in the final photograph. Two methods are available for setting preset white balance:

Method	Description
Direct measurement	Measure white balance in a selected area of the frame (Direct measurement).
Copying a value from existing photograph	Copy white balance from a photo on a memory card (Copying white balance from a photograph).

Direct measurement

The camera can store up to six values for preset manual white balance.

Select [White balance] in the i menu, then highlight L [Preset manual] and press the multi selector down.
Highlight a preset and press the center of the multi selector.
Select the desired white balance preset from d-1 to d-6.
Highlight [White balance] in the i menu and hold the center of the multi selector to initiate direct measurement mode.
- The camera enters direct measurement mode. L will flash in the shooting display.
- A white balance target (r) will appear in the center of the frame.
Position the white balance target (r) over a white or gray object and measure a value for preset manual white balance.
- Position the target (r) using the multi selector.
- To measure white balance, press the shutter-release/REC button all the way down or press the center of the multi selector. White balance can be measured multiple times while direct measurement mode is in effect.
- You can also position the target (r) and measure white balance by tapping the display.
- Target selection will not be available if an optional flash unit is attached. Frame the shot so that the white or gray reference object is in the center of the display.
- If the camera is unable to measure white balance, a message will be displayed and the camera will return to direct measurement mode. Try measuring white balance again, for example with the target (r) positioned over a different area of the subject.
Press the A button to exit direct measurement mode.

The preset manual white balance menu

The preset manual white balance menu can be accessed by selecting [White balance] > L [Preset manual] in the photo shooting menu. The preset manual white balance menu offers options for copying values for preset manual white balance from an existing photograph or adding comments to or protecting white balance presets.

Protected presets

White balance presets indicated by g icons are protected and cannot be changed.

Preset manual: Selecting a preset

White balance presets can be viewed by selecting [White balance] > L [Preset manual] in the photo shooting menu. To recall a stored value, highlight a preset using the multi selector and press the center of the multi selector.

Direct measurement mode

Direct measurement mode will end if no operations are performed in the time selected for Custom Setting c3 [Power off delay] > [Standby timer].

Measuring white balance

Preset manual white balance cannot be measured during multiple exposures.

Copying white balance from a photograph

Follow the steps below to copy a value for white balance from an existing photograph to a selected preset.

Select [White balance] in the photo shooting or video recording menu, then highlight L [Preset manual] and press the multi selector right.
Select a destination.
- Using the multi selector, highlight the destination preset (d-1 to d-6).
- Move the zoom control toward + to view the preset manual white balance menu.
Choose [Select picture].

Highlight [Select picture] and press the multi selector right to view the pictures on the current memory card.
Highlight the source image.
- Use the multi selector to highlight the desired picture.
- To view the highlighted picture zoomed in, move the zoom control toward +.
Copy white balance.
- Press the center of the multi selector to copy the white balance value for the highlighted photograph to the selected preset.
- If the highlighted photograph has a comment, the comment will be copied to the comment for the selected preset.

Fine-tuning preset manual white balance

The selected preset can be fine-tuned by selecting [Fine-tune] in the preset manual white balance menu.

[Edit comment]

To enter a descriptive comment of up to 36 characters for the current white-balance preset, select [Edit comment] in the preset manual white balance menu. Enter a comment as described in “Text entry” (Text entry).

[Protect]

To protect the current white balance preset, select [ON] for [Protect] in the preset manual white balance menu. The preset cannot be modified as long as [ON] is selected for [Protect].