5D: What WB setting for studio shoot?

[Leongfm]

Hi

For those 5D users, what WB setting do you normally use for studio shoot? I used "Daylight" WB for a recent studio shoot and find it a tad too warm so I am wondering what is a good WB setting to use. I shoot RAW + JPEG so no big problem here but would be nice to get it right upfront so that I need not spend unnecessary time to adjust later. Thanks.

Leong

[catchlights]

custom WB.

as all brands of studio flash may not have the same WB, especially with or without softbox.

[Deadpoet]

Actually the worst setting to use is AWB. That setting, the reading is off the modeling and whatever ambient lights available. Far cry from what the strobe out put might be.

Of course, the best is to use the rated color tempreture of the strobes, but you still have the effect of all the light modifiers to deal with.

Since I do not have a color temp meter, something I love to get but really cannot justify the price, I set the color tempreture on my 5D to either 5200K, 5600K or 6000K, depending on what I want.

I found it easier to do color temp adjustments later if the camera WB is constant.

[catchlights]

don't forget aging flash tube will have different color temperature too.

[Deadpoet]

Originally Posted by catchlights don't forget aging flash tube will have different color temperature too.

don't forget well used softboxes and umbrellas, all have different color tempreture also ...

what a pain

[Leongfm]

Thanks to everyone who replied.

Wah...I am glad I asked the question...did not expect so many considerations to come into play. Looks like the surest way is to use custom WB.

BTW, how do you guys set custom WB? Take a shot of a white piece of paper under the same lighting condition and use as reference? Thanks.

[Yatlapball]

White card.. grey card... by eye.. by feel... Up to you

[XC Pictorial]

I usually start off with 5200K then slowly adjust depending on whether a warmer or cooler tone would be suitable.

In any case, shoot in raw and there is still room for adjustment.

[vector1]

In RAW, the WB is not yet set in stone, so you can very easily rescue any photo marred by a wrong setting.

[Deadpoet]

Originally Posted by vector1 In RAW, the WB is not yet set in stone, so you can very easily rescue any photo marred by a wrong setting.

blasphemy. we should not look to DI to rescue a photo. DI is to enhance. To depend on DI to rescue a photo means you messed up big time!

[jeremyftk]

Originally Posted by Deadpoet blasphemy. we should not look to DI to rescue a photo. DI is to enhance. To depend on DI to rescue a photo means you messed up big time!

Er... S**t happens?

Well for me, I use a pretty 'long' method. Take a test shot in RAW and play around with the WB settings on my laptop and then set the camera accordingly... Though I must warn this is very time consuming...

[xunjas]

Originally Posted by jeremyftk Er... S**t happens? Well for me, I use a pretty 'long' method. Take a test shot in RAW and play around with the WB settings on my laptop and then set the camera accordingly... Though I must warn this is very time consuming...

hey, i shoot raw photos, play with color temperature to get the correct temperature, tedious but can get accurate colors. =)