irregular whitebalance

[<videohead>]

At my new station we use betasx and the kelvin readings are much less predictable than when I was shooting on dvcpro. I haven't gotten screwed yet, but its a little disconcerting with the amount of different readings I can get even in broad daylight on different days. On dvcpro I would almost always get a 5.6 and now I get 6.4, 7.5, 4.0. etc. Also I know shade warms things up a bit but the difference on my new camera is always extremeley drastic and makes me scared to shoot out of the shade on what was balanced in the shade. This used to be a safe way for me to warm my video, but now i don't risk it for fear of orange people. Is this my camera, new town with crazy skies or just something i'm missing altogether?

[addixicon]

I shoot on SX and yes, its very sensitive. My advice would be:
When you White balance before shooting in shady and sunny conditions, white in the sun on setting B, AND white in the shade on setting A. (I only do it this way because the word "shade" has an A in it), this way if you move or a cloud comes over, just toggle the switch appropriatly. Ive made this a habit when shooting in these conditions, and have had good results, you just have to be aware when you change lighting.

[Salty Dog]

I suffered the same frustration for a while until I got used to the camera.

One thing I do is use preset outdoors most of the time. I prefer it, but I know there are other's that don't. I recommend trying it to see if it works for you, at least while you get used to the white balance sensitivity.

[<senior citizen cameraman>]

i have an old SX DNW-7 - one of the first to come out.

And yep - it gives me funny readings sometimes. Has from the start. Don't know why, and doesn't happen all the time.

BUT - the colour balance has always been OK. Exactly what I expected.

So, over the years, I've learned to trust it. But it's my personal camera. If I got a rental that gave me funny readings I would be worried.

I've heard (yep - more rumours again) that the funny WB readings were/are common in the early SX releases.

I've heard (more rumours) that some of the ABC News (Australia) cameraman used to white balance on blue jeans (yes - blue) when they first learned of this problem - not to warm up the picture - but to get an accurate reading.

[Lost in Alaska]

Your WB temp will also depend on the latitude you are at. Here in Anchorage I never use the preset unless it is dark and I am on filter 1. Preset 'outdoor' filters will give blue video.

Here is an example. I shot part of a story yesterday outside. My WB came out to a 7.8K. Preset is 5.6K. BTW I am shooting with a DNW-7 SX.

[PMartel]

Wow! I've had the just the opposite problem. When I started on SX the white balance always seemed to make sense, I could get a 5600 on filters 2,3, and 4 when balancing in the same light, on the same white...when I started shooting DVCPro that changed.
I can balance on all three "outdoor" filters and get a range from 4600-9000, sometimes getting a 4700 on the first try and a 6200 on the second, same filter, white source and lighting. It drives me crazy!!! What filter makes 4100-5000 look best? It doesn't even have to be mixed light for this to happen.
During football season, as the stadium lights come up and the sun sets, I'll "push" a 5600 balance rather than use the 9000 or 4700 the camera is giving me and it looks fine. The most disturbing is when I get a 4800 on filter 3 and a 3600 on filter 1. What? I go with 1 and it turns out okay.
I'll take SX over DVCPro any day!
Peace,
PMartel

[Special K]

my suggestion if you're having issues like this is to roll on your white balances, then zoom back out to a wide shot. Then you've covered your back in the event of a problem

[Salty Dog]

Originally posted by Lost in Alaska:
Your WB temp will also depend on the latitude you are at. Here in Anchorage I never use the preset unless it is dark and I am on filter 1. Preset 'outdoor' filters will give blue video.

Here is an example. I shot part of a story yesterday outside. My WB came out to a 7.8K. Preset is 5.6K. BTW I am shooting with a DNW-7 SX. I've shot in Anchorage, Talkeetna and the base camp at Mt. Denali...all on preset without blue video. Are you getting 7.8 in the sun or on overcast days? I understand if it's overcast, but from my experience the latitude didn't affect my colors during average daylight.

[PMartel]

I was just thinking about what Chris said and I don't think I ever got a 7800 in the five years I spent shooting in Alaska. Personally I only use preset at night when the available light is, well, mostly not available...most street lights in Anchorage give between a 1800 and 2800 so pushing a 3200 preset won't hurt anything.

How goes the debate on changing your white balance when shooting in the shade? Personally it looks blue in real life so leave it that way. I hate having pumpkin colored people. Ugh!
Peace,
PMartel

[addixicon]

I dont trust preset at all, except under video lights. Its so rare that I get an exact 56k reading, essentially, only on these rare occasions, would a preset work. My DNW-7 always gives me good color when I WB properly. Everyday, I use the A and B settings to toggle when changing from sun to shade. I just dont see how somebody can rely on preset, thats ball-z.

[Salty Dog]

Originally posted by addixicon:
I just dont see how somebody can rely on preset, thats ball-z. I've used my preset 90% of the time outdoors since '99. Works great for me. I like the variation of light that nature gives while set at 5600 preset. A hint of blue is fine when I'm in shade or it's a bit cloudy. I think white balancing for small variations of outdoor light is a bit overboard, but I will white balance if the color temp gets around 7+ or 4.5-, but I find that most daylight just doesn't vary that much during a normal day.

To each his own.

[2000lux]

I've always thought SX was pretty forgiving (not toally, but somewhat).

I've had WBs in direct sun any where from 4.5 to 6.8. In the shade they can range from 7.0 to "Over 10." I know people who shoot on preset in daylight, but I'm too chicken. If I can warm up the shot by a Kelvin or so by WB'ing in shade, or darker shade I will. However, I won't use a an "Over 10" in 6.0 light. If I'm a runnin' and a gunnin', I'll try to get a white that's in between sun and shade and just go with that. The direct sun stuff will be a little warm, and the shady stuff will be a little cool, but that's ok.
I do use preset in doors after testing the light. If I know all the lights are tungsten, but I get a white between 2.8 and 3.2, I'll use Preset to warm up the shot a little.

[Joda]

I have a warming filter on my camera, and always shoot daylight on preset, until the sun starts going down. Then its every five minutes!
The warming filter helps keep the shade from going cool, and I can go from sun to shade without trouble. It's really hard to keep changing wb on a story where you have people in sun, in shade and back and forth.
I also may wb tho if I'm in the deep forest and it's all shady. then I may wb thru a lite green filter to get the green out, as the sx seems to pick up green reflections on faces alot in a green green area.

[Widescreen]

Okay, now wait a minute.....stop press! I am ABC Australia and I aint heard this one before....you have got to be kidding me.

By Senior Citizen Cameraman......
"I've heard (more rumours) that some of the ABC News (Australia) cameraman used to white balance on blue jeans (yes - blue) when they first learned of this problem - not to warm up the picture - but to get an accurate reading. "

Where on earth do you hear this rubbish. I have never seen or heard of shooters doing this. As for the SX, we use it here at ABC and never have any problems, and so do 2 other networks here, nor do they have any issues......

I do use pre set when appropriate, but then I am the only one to use my gear so I know it very well. Otherwise I will balance accordingly to suit the look I want.

But do tell where you hear such crap......

[<senior citizen cameraman>]

Heard from Louie (he didn't have the probleom though) and from one of the AsiaWorks boys.

Happened in the early days when first models introduced. One of the ABC Oz guys did it in Pakistan - may have been with Johnathan Harley right after 9/11.

Again, it was a rare problem apparently.

[<CTV Canada>]

Originally posted by Widescreen:
Okay, now wait a minute.....stop press! I am ABC Australia and I aint heard this one before....you have got to be kidding me.

By Senior Citizen Cameraman......
"I've heard (more rumours) that some of the ABC News (Australia) cameraman used to white balance on blue jeans (yes - blue) when they first learned of this problem - not to warm up the picture - but to get an accurate reading. "

Where on earth do you hear this rubbish. I have never seen or heard of shooters doing this. As for the SX, we use it here at ABC and never have any problems, and so do 2 other networks here, nor do they have any issues......

I do use pre set when appropriate, but then I am the only one to use my gear so I know it very well. Otherwise I will balance accordingly to suit the look I want.

But do tell where you hear such crap...... What?
SX RUMOURS?

I've been shooting SX going on 8 years now. I still shoot with my original camera and i never heard of this problem. Every broadcaster except one uses SX in my area and I never heard anyone having to shoot on bluejeans to get an acurate WB.

My advise is for you to ignore all the idiots starting SX rumours

[<senior citizen cameraman>]

boys boys boys,

i'm not knocking SX. I own a DNW-7 personally, and love it. Have used it since '99.

I'm just saying that once in a while I get a funny reading, but I trust the camera, and have never been let down.

Some people might read that as a compliment. I think it is.

I also mentioned that a couple of people have also had this issue (NOT problem - NOT a knock against SX).

Relax - OK ?

Isn't it obvious that camera technology isn't 100% perfect all of the time - especially in the extremes to which we take the cameras (such as 52 celsius in Tikrit or through middle east dust storms).

Bloody hell - half of this site just seems to people slamming each other..........

[<senior citizen cameraman>]

also, please scroll up and notice I prefaced everthing as a RUMOUR not GOSPEL and just added that I had some of the same issues as the first poster.

There is enough nitpicking here to send an old man to an early grave.