Nikon Coolpix 5400 Colour Balance

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

X_Eyed_Bear - 29 Apr 2005 13:42 GMT

I seem to have a problem with the colours that my Coolpix is generating.
For example if I am photographing a deeply red (crimson) flower and compare
what is shown on the coolpix LCD monitor with the actual flower, the two
reds are drmatically different. The difference between a raw image file
(displayed with Photoshop on a calibrated monitor, with consistent colour
mapping throughout) and the original flower, is similarly obvious and
extreme. The colours from the camera have far too much blue in them.

Obvious settings, like white balance, appear to be OK. The problem remains
even after I reset all camera settings to factory default. What other
settings on the camera should I check?

Reply to this Message

Ed Ruf - 30 Apr 2005 01:05 GMT

>I seem to have a problem with the colours that my Coolpix is generating.
>For example if I am photographing a deeply red (crimson) flower and compare
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>even after I reset all camera settings to factory default. What other
>settings on the camera should I check?

If the photo is dominated by a color, how is the camera supposed to
determine the WB? Have you tried setting a custom off a grey card or even
your hand?

----------
Ed Ruf Lifetime AMA# 344007 (Usenet@EdwardG.Ruf.com)
See images taken with my CP-990/5700 & D70 at
http://edwardgruf.com/Digital_Photography/General/index.html

Reply to this Message

X_Eyed_Bear - 30 Apr 2005 08:59 GMT

> >I seem to have a problem with the colours that my Coolpix is generating.
> >For example if I am photographing a deeply red (crimson) flower and compare
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> ----------
> Ed Ruf Lifetime AMA# 344007

Yes, you make a good point, and no, I have not set a custom WB setting
(thanks for the tip), but there are still some unexplained characteristics:

The problem I have described went beyond my personal "Ah, forget about it"
threshold on a visit to the botanic gardens in Kew, London. I was
photographing inside the very large glass houses (full of daylight). I
couldn't get real close to some of the exhibits, so there was plenty of
other subject matter, including some sky, in some of the shots. The red
flowers occupied perhaps 15% to 20% of the shot. Would this dominant colour
have been enough to severely bias the white balance correction? I had
problems with WB set to 'auto', to 'daylight' and to 'cloudy'.

Reply to this Message

Ed Ruf - 30 Apr 2005 13:17 GMT

>>Yes, you make a good point, and no, I have not set a custom WB setting
>(thanks for the tip), but there are still some unexplained characteristics:
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>have been enough to severely bias the white balance correction? I had
>problems with WB set to 'auto', to 'daylight' and to 'cloudy'.

Unless the glass in the houses where filtering some component out of the
spectrum fooling the WB of the camera, I wouldn't expect this. It would be
helpful to post a pic somewhere to help diagnose. Also, what exposure and
metering modes where you using?
----------
Ed Ruf Lifetime AMA# 344007 (Usenet@EdwardG.Ruf.com)
See images taken with my CP-990/5700 & D70 at
http://edwardgruf.com/Digital_Photography/General/index.html

Reply to this Message

Rita Ä Berkowitz - 30 Apr 2005 15:46 GMT

> Unless the glass in the houses where filtering some component out of
> the spectrum fooling the WB of the camera, I wouldn't expect this.
> It would be helpful to post a pic somewhere to help diagnose. Also,
> what exposure and metering modes where you using?

I would venture a guess the glass, or lack of cleanliness of it, is a major
contributor to this problem. I noticed this to be the case when visiting
the Botanical Garden in D.C. A custom WB would have been advised.

Rita

Reply to this Message