Global Support for Professionals
The default white balance setting (AUTO) works well with most light sources, but if it fails to produce consistent results with a single, unchanging light source, you can lock white balance using any of the methods below.
Although consistent results can be achieved using a white balance option specifically adapted to the current light source, such as [Incandescent] or [Direct sunlight], choosing the color temperature directly gives you a greater degree of control.
We recommend that you first take a test shot using [Auto] or [Natural light auto]. You can then view the color temperature selected by camera on the [Basic shooting data] page of the playback photo info display and use it as a reference when choosing a color temperature. If [Basic shooting data] is not displayed when you page through photo info using and , select [Playback display options] in the playback menu and place checks () next to [Shooting data] and [Basic shooting data].
Use preset manual to measure white balance directly from your subject or light source.
While earlier cameras could only measure white balance with a white or neutral gray reference object framed to fill the viewfinder, the D6 can measure white balance from a much smaller area of the frame.
To measure white balance during viewfinder photography, select [Preset manual] for white balance and then press and hold the WB button until the indicators in the top control panel and viewfinder and the PRE icon in the rear control panel start to flash, showing that the camera is in direct measurement mode.
The focus point will change to a white balance target positioned in the center of the frame as shown and cannot be moved. After adjusting lighting to your satisfaction, aim the camera to place the white balance target over the reference object and press the shutter-release button all the way down to measure white balance. You can then press the WB button to exit direct measurement mode.
During live view, white balance can be measured from any white or gray object in the frame (spot white balance).
To measure white balance during live view, select [Preset manual] for white balance and then press and hold the WB button until the PRE indicator starts to flash in the shooting display. While the icon is flashing, tap a white or gray object in the display to position the white balance target () over the selected object and measure white balance (to zoom in on the selected area, press the button). You can then press the WB button again to exit direct measurement mode.
To view white balance presets d1-d6, select [White balance] > [Preset manual] in the photo or movie shooting menu. The areas selected for spot white balance in live view are indicated by white balance targets ().
Use preset manual to measure white balance directly from your subject or light source.
Select [White balance] > [Preset manual] in the photo or movie shooting menu, then highlight the destination preset (d1-d6) and press the center of the multi selector.
Next, highlight [Select image] to view the pictures on the memory card. Highlight the source picture and press to copy white balance from the source picture to the selected preset.
You can temporarily lock auto white balance when shooting in [Auto] and [Natural light auto] modes, for example to compensate for changes in lighting when your subject passes in front of an LED billboard.
Assigning [AE/AWB lock (hold)] to a control using Custom Setting f3 [Custom controls] lets you lock exposure and white balance at the touch of a button. White balance is locked at the value for the last photo taken.
Auto white balance (AWB) lock applies only in [Auto] and [Natural light auto] modes, and both exposure and AWB lock end when the selected control is pressed a second time or the standby timer expires.
If [Auto] or [Natural light auto] is selected for white balance in release mode CH or CL or during burst photography in mode Q, white balance will lock at the value metered for the first shot in each burst independent of whether auto white balance has been locked via camera controls.
