Latest or all posts or last 15, 30, 90 or 180 days.
2024-03-19 01:04:32
Designed for the most demanding needs of photographers and videographers.
877-865-7002
Today’s Deal Zone Items... Handpicked deals...
$3399 $2999
SAVE $400

$2997 $2997
SAVE $click

$348 $248
SAVE $100

$999 $699
SAVE $300

$5999 $4399
SAVE $1600

$1049 $879
SAVE $170

$4499 $3499
SAVE $1000

$999 $849
SAVE $150

$999 $799
SAVE $200

$5999 $4399
SAVE $1600

$799 $699
SAVE $100

$1199 $899
SAVE $300

$1099 $899
SAVE $200

$348 $248
SAVE $100

$1602 $998
SAVE $604

$3399 $2999
SAVE $400

$3997 $3697
SAVE $300

$5999 $4399
SAVE $1600

$1397 $997
SAVE $400

Sony A7R II: White Balance and Tint in Adobe Camera Raw

Sony A7R II

Get Sony A7R II and Datacolor SpyderChecker at B&H Photo.

Ahhh, this is the way I like it: instead of the gear showing up hours before I leave for field shooting, I instead have a week or so to put stuff through its paces, so I don’t ruin a lot of work with a bad lens sample and so that I can understand various operational and raw conversion areas.

One such area is pretty simple: what is the best white balance (color temperature and tint) to use for the camera in sunlight and other conditions? At least for sunlight, here is the answer using Adobe Camera Raw:

Sony A7R II: Raw Conversion: White Balance, Tint, Sharpening (ACR in Photoshop CC)

This may save Sony A7R II shooters a little time; I explain the care I took in assessing the proper white balance. It establishes a good baseline to refer to for any kind of outdoor lighting. When in the mountains (soon), I’ll probably shoot some mountain sunlight and mountain shade to cross check.

Note that every brand and model of camera varies in its response, sometimes substantially (especially with magenta/green Tint) and that the lens and/or a filter and/or polarizer can also change the color temperature or tint. Finally, ACR has a nasty crossover problem in that changing either tint or color temperature affects the other. I explain how I nail down the proper color temp and tint.

The Datacolor SpyderChecker target was angled to avoid reflections and placed well away from foliage in an open area (greenery can often throw green into the lighting and it can be tricky getting good “clean” sunlight in some areas). The SypderChecker is a nice target because it folds up into its own clamshell—not great for carrying around on a day hike in a pack, but plenty portable and light for anything else.

The target was photographed in the center at relatively small size in the frame to avoid any off-center color tint. Four lenses were shot to confirm similar color rendition (Sony FE 55/1.8, Sony FE 35/1.4, Sony FE 16-35, Sony FE 90/2.8). There was a very close level of agreement, within 1 point Lab.

13:28 PM, clear blue sky, latitude near San Francisco, mid-August. Shot using Sony/Zeiss FE 55mm f/1.8 Sonnar at f/8.

Assessing white balance and tint using Datacolor SpyderChecker
f8 @ 1/160 sec, ISO 50; 2015-08-09 13:28:21
Sony A7R II + Sony FE 55mm f/1.8

[low-res image for bot]

 


View all handpicked deals...

Nikon Z7 II Mirrorless Camera
$2997 $2997
SAVE $click

diglloyd Inc. | FTC Disclosure | PRIVACY POLICY | Trademarks | Terms of Use
Contact | About Lloyd Chambers | Consulting | Photo Tours
RSS Feeds | X.com/diglloyd
Copyright © 2022 diglloyd Inc, all rights reserved.