White Balance

White balance (WB) is for making the white areas look white. Normally, the Auto [Auto white balance] (Ambience priority) or [Auto: White priority] (White priority) setting will obtain the correct white balance. If natural-looking colors cannot be obtained with Auto, you can select a white balance corresponding to the light source.

[Auto white balance] (Ambience priority) is set automatically for [Smooth skin movie], [Movie IS mode], or [Auto photo] modes.

Note

  • The human eye adapts to changes in lighting so that white objects look white under all kinds of lighting. Cameras determine white from the color temperature of lighting and, based on this, apply image processing to make color tones look natural in your shots.
  • For [Auto white balance] and [Auto: White priority] setting instructions, see [Auto white balance] Auto White Balance.
  • To set your preferred color temperature, select [Color temperature] in [Shooting: White balance], press Communication/Multi-access, then press the Left key Right key keys.
(Approx.)
Display Mode Color Temperature (K: Kelvin)
Auto white balance Auto (Ambience priority) 3000–7000
Auto: White priority Auto (White priority)
Daylight Daylight 5200
Shade Shade 7000
Cloudy Cloudy, twilight, sunset 6000
Tungsten light Tungsten light 3200
White fluorescent light White fluorescent light 4000
Color temperature Color temperature 2500–10000

[Auto white balance] Auto White Balance

With [Auto white balance] (Ambience priority), you can slightly increase the intensity of the image's warm color cast when shooting a tungsten-light scene.

If you select [Auto: White priority] (White priority), you can reduce the intensity of the image's warm color cast.

  1. Select [Shooting: White balance].

  2. Select [Auto white balance].

    • With [Auto white balance] selected, press the Communication/Multi-access button.

  3. Select an option.

Caution

  • Precautions when set to [Auto: White priority] (White priority)

  • The warm color cast of subjects may fade.
  • When multiple light sources are included in the scene, the warm color cast of the picture may not be reduced.

[Color temperature] Color Temperature

A value can be set representing the white balance color temperature.

  1. Select [Shooting: White balance].

  2. Set the color temperature.

    • Select [Color temperature], then press Communication/Multi-access.
    • Press the Left key Right key keys to set your preferred color temperature, then press the Quick Control/Set button.
    • The color temperature can be set from approx. 2500K to 10000K in 100K increments.

Note

  • When setting the color temperature for an artificial light source, correct the white balance (toward magenta or green) in [] on the Quick Control screen as needed.
  • When setting [Color temperature] to a value measured with a commercially available color temperature meter, take some test shots in advance and adjust the setting as needed to compensate for any difference between the color temperature meter and the camera.