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Using DSLR auto white balance control will not deliver the correct white balance under tricky lighting condition (or even a simple lighting condition).
A simple test below under Philips warm light tube (yellowish light at the corridor of my house). This is how the corridor ceiling looks like (yes, yellowish. I love warm colour as compared to bluish white at home.)
As a test subject, I use a Photo Clam ballhead packaging box, which has black, gold, blue and red on it. There is also a white sticker on the box with the word “Sample” written. To check if a white balance is correct or not, the first thing to look out for is that WHITE SHOULD BE WHITE. 😀
Test Results
Nikon D200 Auto White Balance:
(Yellow cast. Will be of some headache to correct it in photoshop later.)
Nikon D200 Pre-Set White Balance calibrated using Phottix White Balance Cap (77mm):
(Perfect white balance as if shot at daylight condition. White balance correction is not needed.)
How to Pre-Set in Camera?
The difference is obvious. WB Pre-set is easy, can be done within a few seconds. Below is the steps on WB pre-set on Nikon D200.
- Set the camera to Manual Focus mode.
- Press the WB button on Nikon D200.
- Turn the back back wheel on the right to select WB to PRE (means Preset).
- Press the WB button again for 3 seconds, word PrE is blinking now.
- Put Phottix WB Cap to the front lens of your camera. Point the camera / lens to the subject you want to shoot.
- Take a shot. D200 will show if the WB preset shot is Good or no Gd. If Good, then it will be used as the new Pre-set WB setting. If no Gd, repeat step 4 and 5 again.
- Done and enjoy the perfect WB shots under the same lighting condition!
Phottix White Balance Cap
At only RM25.00 (US$7.94), you get the perfect white balance! Don’t judge the product by its price…it does the job, it is just a plastic cap. 😛
http://shashinki.com/shop/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=phottix+white+balance
Thanks for sharing! Will keep this in mind.
you can do it with disposable McD’s Coca Cola cap ^^
or u may simply drop by to 7-11 and grab one Big Slurp cap ^^
same effect~
Hi KK,
How’s the white balance cap compare to the Prodisc2?
Hi Mark,
I have not tried the Prodisc2, so can’t comment on that.
The Phottix WB cap perform well, I don’t think we need to spend $$$ for something better (or worse).
thx for the advise KK!
KK, before I place my order on the Phottix WB cap, i just wanna know if I need to purchase 2 nos coz I have a 52mm lens and a 72mm lens. Please advise! Thx!
Dear Mark,
Get one will do, the 72mm size.