Searching for the right AWB settings

gqtuazon

Gear Head
I haven't mastered the features of the D7000 and one of my biggest frustrations is getting the correct picture control and auto white balance settings which would mimic the settings of my D700. Initially I did not like the yellowish or warmer AWB using Auto1. Recently I discovered that if you set it to + 2 or + 3 will give you a richer darker green tones on leaves. I should have used a more vivid picture contol to make the colours pop a bit. I use Nikon NX2 to process my NEF files. Here are some sample pictures that I would like to share with the group. These were previously taken using the default standard picture control and auto white balance using the Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 VRII during my walk around late in the afternoon. Sorry I don't have any models to shoot at :( but It's a fun combo to use if I may add. I would like to hear about how you set your WB when taking pictures on various situations. I am hesitant to try other WB since I tend to forget to change my settings if I go from outdoor to indoor. Any tips or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

1. f4, 1/160, ISO 1000

D7K_70-200mm_51.jpg


2. f7.1, 1/125, ISO 450


D7K_70-200mm_13.jpg

3. f5, 1/200, ISO 2,500

D7K_70-200mm_55.jpg

4. f4, 1/160, ISO 1000
 
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Eduard

Super Mod
Staff member
Super Mod
Are you shooting RAW or JPEG? AWB is much more important with JPEG. When I shoot JPEG - and even sometimes when I shoot RAW in difficult lighting conditions, I use an ExpoDisc.
 

gqtuazon

Gear Head
Hi Eduard. I shoot RAW+jpg. These were all RAW files, converted to jpg and resized for online viewing. I guess It does take a while before you can fine tune and adjust all the presets to your personal preference. The standard picture control is still a little bit of a disappointment for me. I get richer colour using my D80. Here are two images as a comparison.

D7000 standard picture control

D7K_70-200mm_92.jpg

D80 standard picture control

D80_Sigma_85mm_14a.jpg
 

Eduard

Super Mod
Staff member
Super Mod
Hi Eduard. I shoot RAW+jpg. These were all RAW files, converted to jpg and resized for online viewing. I guess It does take a while before you can fine tune and adjust all the presets to your personal preference. The standard picture control is still a little bit of a disappointment for me. I get richer colour using my D80.

It does take a while. I have a friend struggling with color from his (new to him) D80 after using a D50! The difference is noticeable from the examples that you posted. Can you post the EXIF info - maybe something will jump out.
 

gqtuazon

Gear Head
EXIF for the D80 using Sigma 85mm f1.4 lensEXIF Information
File name: D80_Sigma_85mm_14a.jpg
File size: 134145 bytes File date: 2011:05:19 06:43:32
Camera make: NIKON CORPORATION Camera model: NIKON D80 Date/Time: 2011:05:18 14:21:38
Resolution: 900 x 642 Flash used: No
Focal length: 85.0mm (35mm equivalent: 127mm)
Exposure time: 0.0031 s (1/320)
Aperture: f/2.0 Focus dist.: 0.94m
ISO equiv.: 100
Whitebalance: Auto
Metering Mode: pattern
Exposure: aperture priority (semi-auto)


EXIF for the D7000
EXIF Information File name: D7K_70-200mm_92.jpg
File size: 177296 bytes
File date: 2011:05:30 13:10:30
Camera make: NIKON CORPORATION Camera model: NIKON D7000
Date/Time: 2011:05:30 18:10:20 Resolution: 900 x 596
Flash used: No
Focal length: 130.0mm (35mm equivalent: 195mm)Exposure time: 0.0080 s (1/125) Aperture: f/5.6 ISO equiv.: 3,600 Whitebalance: Auto Metering Mode: spot Exposure: Manual Exposure Mode: Manual
 
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Eduard

Super Mod
Staff member
Super Mod
The one thing that JUMPS out is the ISO settings - 100 for the D80 and 3600 for the D7000!
 

gqtuazon

Gear Head
Re: Searching for the right picture control (edited)

I know DR suffers a bit at higher ISO but the picture control or getting the right contrast and tone is what I am still trying to learn with the D7000. Even at ISO 1000 on the image below doesn't really make a difference. I know they are completely different pictures as a comparison but they are the closest that I have available as a comparison at this ISO. If you look at the first 3 pictures above, the leaves are still yellowish in color.

D7000
D7K_70-200mm_87.jpg
EXIF Information
File name:D7K_70-200mm_87.jpgFile
size:133897 bytesFile date:2011:05:30 13:10:28
Camera make:NIKON CORPORATION
Camera model:NIKON D7000
Date/Time:2011:05:30 18:02:04Resolution:900 x 596
Flash used:No
Focal length:200.0mm (35mm equivalent: 300mm)
Exposure time:0.0063 s (1/160)Aperture:f/4.0
ISO equiv.:1,000
Whitebalance:AutoMetering
Mode:spot
Exposure:Manual mode



Sample comparison from a D700 using standard picture control


Garden_rose.jpg

EXIF Information
File name:Garden_rose.jpg
File size:179481 bytesFile date:2011:05:28 11:41:01
Camera make:NIKON CORPORATION
Camera model:NIKON D700
Date/Time:2011:05:28 17:41:36
Resolution:900 x 642
Flash used:No
Focal length:34.0mm (35mm equivalent: 34mm)
Exposure time:0.017 s (1/60)
Aperture:f/3.5
Focus dist.:0.40m
ISO equiv.:1,100
Whitebalance:Auto
Metering Mode:spot
Exposure:Manual
 

KWJams

Senior Member
I am just learning this stuff and a thing I found out recently was that by playing with the WB you can make Sky's bluer and greens greener by selecting fluorescent in certain conditions.

Here is an pretty extreme example of using WB florescent
WB Florescent.JPG.
I probably could have dialed it down a little but the sky sure is bluer that it was with the WB Sunny below
WB Sunny.JPG
 
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