Setting a custom white balance on your Nikon D800 is a precise way to ensure accurate color reproduction, especially under mixed or challenging lighting conditions. This process allows your camera to "see" true white, providing a neutral baseline for all other colors in your image.
How to Set Custom White Balance (PRE) on Nikon D800
To achieve accurate colors, particularly when dealing with warm lighting from sources like a table lamp, you'll want to teach your D800 what true white (or neutral gray) looks like in that specific light. Here's a step-by-step guide to setting a custom preset manual white balance (PRE):
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Prepare Your Scene and Reference:
- Place a white or neutral gray reference card (like an 18% gray card or even a piece of plain white paper, ensuring it's not reflective or tinted) in the exact lighting conditions you intend to photograph.
- Ensure the reference card fills a significant portion of your frame and is evenly lit.
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Access White Balance Settings:
- Turn on your Nikon D800.
- Press the WB button located on the top of the camera, usually near the release mode dial.
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Select Preset Manual (PRE):
- While holding the WB button, rotate the main command dial (the larger dial on the top-right, near the shutter button) until
PREappears in the control panel display or viewfinder.
- While holding the WB button, rotate the main command dial (the larger dial on the top-right, near the shutter button) until
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Initiate Measurement Mode:
- Release the WB button.
- Now, press and hold the WB button again for a few seconds until the
PREindicator starts to blink andrEU(record user white balance) appears in the control panel or viewfinder. This indicates the camera is ready to record a new custom white balance.
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Take the Measurement Shot:
- While
PREis blinking, frame your white or gray reference card so it fills the viewfinder or live view screen. - Press the shutter release button to take a picture of the reference. You don't need to save this image.
- Success Confirmation: If the measurement is successful,
Goodwill blink in the display for a moment, and the camera will set the custom white balance. - Failure Indication: If the measurement fails (e.g., the card wasn't evenly lit, or exposure was incorrect),
No Gd(No Good) will blink. You'll need to repeat steps 4 and 5, ensuring proper framing and lighting of your reference.
- While
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Confirm and Shoot:
- Once
Goodis confirmed, your camera is now using the newly recorded custom white balance. You can start shooting with accurate colors for that specific lighting condition.
- Once
Why Use Custom White Balance?
While your D800's automatic white balance (AWB) is often effective, custom white balance offers superior accuracy in several scenarios:
- Mixed Lighting: When different light sources (e.g., window light and artificial light) are present.
- Challenging Artificial Light: Fluorescent lights, older incandescent bulbs, or LED panels can have specific color casts that AWB struggles with.
- Consistent Color Across Shots: Essential for product photography, studio work, or when stitching panoramas.
- Specific Artistic Intent: Sometimes you might want a precise warmth or coolness that presets don't quite deliver.
Tips for Best Results
- Use a Dedicated Gray Card: While white paper can work in a pinch, a neutral 18% gray card or a dedicated white balance tool provides the most accurate results because it reflects light neutrally across the spectrum.
- Fill the Frame: Ensure your reference card fills as much of the frame as possible for the measurement shot, without going out of focus.
- Even Lighting: Make sure the reference card is lit by the same light that will illuminate your subject, and that the lighting on the card is even.
- Re-measure When Light Changes: If the lighting conditions change significantly (e.g., clouds cover the sun, you move to a different room, or turn on/off a lamp), re-measure your custom white balance.
Auto White Balance vs. Custom White Balance
| Feature | Auto White Balance (AWB) | Custom White Balance (PRE) |
|---|---|---|
| Accuracy | Good for general shooting, can be inconsistent | Excellent, highly accurate for specific lighting |
| Setup Time | Instant, no setup required | Requires a few steps and a reference card |
| Consistency | Can vary from shot to shot, especially in complex light | Highly consistent for all shots under the same measured light |
| Best Use Cases | General outdoor, casual photography, quick shooting | Studio, product, event photography, challenging artificial light |
| User Control | Minimal (camera decides) | Full control over color temperature baseline |
By mastering custom white balance, you gain greater control over the color integrity of your images, ensuring they faithfully represent the scene as you intend. For more detailed information, always refer to the official Nikon D800 user manual or Nikon's support resources.
