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Reference—White Balance
35
White Balance
The color of light refl ected from an object varies with the color of the light source.
The human brain is able to adapt to changes in the color of the light source,
with the result that white objects appear white whether seen in the shade, direct
sunlight, or under incandescent lighting. Unlike the fi lm used in fi lm cameras,
dig i tal cam er as can mimic this adjustment by processing images according to the
color of the light source. This is known as “white balance.” For natural coloration,
choose a white bal ance set ting that match es the light source before shooting.
The following options are available:
Option
Approximate
color
temperature
*
Description
Auto
3,500–
8,000 K
White bal ance adjusted automatically using color tem-
perature measured by 1,005-pixel RGB sensor and image
sensor. For best results, use type G or D lens. With built-
in fl ash or optional SB-800 and SB-600 Speedlights, white
balance refl ects conditions in eff ect when fl ash fi res.
Incandescent 3,000 K Use under incandescent lighting.
Fluorescent 4,200 K Use under fl uorescent lighting.
Dir. Sunlight 5,200 K Use with subjects lit by direct sunlight.
Flash 5,400 K Use with built-in fl ash or optional Nikon fl ash units.
Cloudy 6,000 K Use in daylight under overcast skies.
Shade 8,000 K Use in daylight with subjects in the shade.
Choose Color
Temp.
2,500–
10,000 K
Choose color temperature from list of values ( 38).
White Balance
Preset
—
Use gray or white object or existing photograph as
reference for white balance ( 39).
* Fine-tuning set to 0. See the Appendix for other values.
Auto white balance is recommended with most light sources. If the desired re-
sults can not be achieved with auto white balance, choose an option from the list
above or use preset white balance.
Studio Strobe Lighting
Auto white balance may not produce the desired results with studio strobe lighting.
Choose a color temperature, use preset white balance, or set white balance to Flash and
use fi ne tuning to adjust white balance.