BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: New Answers

White Balance

Do I set it to Program/auto mode with manual focusing to get a reading? Or is there another way of doing it? Also, once an exposure reading has been determined, what's next?

I have a Canon 20D camera.

Thanks.

Kent

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January 08, 2005

In the Creative Zone (P, Av, Tv, M, A-DEP) you can (a) select AWB, (b) select one of the preset white balances, (c) set a custom white balance, or (d) directly set the color temperture. Use either the 18% gray card or the white card when setting a custom white balance, though the 20D instructions state that the most accurate reading will be with the gray card.

The instructions also specify to use manual focus when taking the exposure to set the custom white balance. This is to ensure that the white balance reading is taken from the gray/white card. In AF, the normal metering pattern is Evaluative, which gives extra-weighting to the active focus sensor, which may or may not be on the gray/white card. In manual focus, the Evaluative metering defaults to the center focus sensor, so the reading will be taken only from the centered gray/white card (make sure it covers at least the partial metering circle in the viewfinder).

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January 10, 2005

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January 18, 2005