103
7
Preset white balance settings and color temperature
The spectral balance of different white light sources is rated numerically by color temperature—a
concept of physics that, with incandescent lighting, corresponds roughly to the absolute filament
temperature of an incandescent lamp, expressed on the Kelvin (K) temperature scale. The higher
the color temperature, the richer the light in bluish and the poorer in reddish; the lower the color
temperature, the richer the light in reddish and the poorer in bluish. It follows then that the color
temperatures of fluorescent lights are unsuitable artificial light sources. There are gaps in the hues
from the color temperatures of fluorescent light. If these differences in hue are small, they can be
calculated with color temperature and this is called correlative color temperature. The 4000K and
4500K preset settings in this camera are correlative color temperature, and should not be
considered strictly as color temperature values. Use for shooting sessions under fluorescent lights.
White balance with a flash
We recommend using the auto white balancing with the flash. If you intend to use preset white
balancing, select 6500K for the color temperature.
When shooting with the flash, always play back your pictures and check the results. Various
conditions can affect color temperature and how color is reproduced in your pictures.
Monitor display
The specified white balance setting is applied to the image displayed in the monitor.
Note
• The scale indicates the approximate color temperature for each light source. (One can only say
that actual sunlight is about 5500K, and fluorescent lights about 4000K.)
Candle flame
Hot white light bulb
White fluorescent
Intense white fluorescent
Clear day
Overcast
Shade on clear day
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
8000
[K]
More Red
More Blue
