DVX100B White Balance vs LCD Display

T

TheDingo

Veteran
Hi All,

When using the DVX100B's white balance feature with a proper white target, sometimes the image in the LCD display looks really blue ( like a half CT blue gel ), so I automatically think that the color is way off, and end up using one of the preset tungsten or daylight color balance settings. When I look at the footage in my editor, the color looks completely off, which makes me think that I should have just stuck with the white balance the DVX100B was selecting, despite looking really blue in the LCD display.

So the bottom line for me is: Should I trust the DVX100B's white balance feature, and just ignore the funny color I am seeing on the LCD display?

Thanks.
 
Ideally you should check your LCDs settings to make sure that it's accurately representing colors. Use the color bars and try to make sure your settings are relatively midpoint and somewhat accurately representing the color.
 
For most of my shots the LCD is quite accurate, but occasionally it looks just wonky, and I am beginning to think that I should always trust the DVX100's white balance feature even if the new color balance makes the LCD colors look way off.
 
I wouldn't ever "trust" the onboard LCD to be presenting the most accurate color; I mean, if you rotate it 10 degrees off axis it changes *everything*. When in doubt try the viewfinder, it's usually more on-axis and less likely to fib to you.
 
I always check the viewfinder when determining if I have the right look or look that I want..........I have been burned by just using the LCD too many times.
 
TheDingo said:
Hi All,
When using the DVX100B's white balance feature with a proper white target, sometimes the image in the LCD display looks really blue ( like a half CT blue gel ), so I automatically think that the color is way off, and end up using one of the preset tungsten or daylight color balance settings. When I look at the footage in my editor, the color looks completely off, which makes me think that I should have just stuck with the white balance the DVX100B was selecting, despite looking really blue in the LCD display.
So the bottom line for me is: Should I trust the DVX100B's white balance feature, and just ignore the funny color I am seeing on the LCD display?
Thanks.
Click to expand...

When you say "white balance feature" or "the white balance the DVX100B was selecting", what does that mean?
Are you using auto tracking white (ATW)? or are you in manual white balance mode?
When you set a white card in front of your camera and see blue, are you actually programming the white balance with the white balance switch set to channel A or channel B or just going to a preset?
 
When you set a white card in front of your camera and see blue, are you actually programming the white balance with the white balance switch set to channel A or channel B or just going to a preset?
Click to expand...

I am programming the white balance with the white balance switch set to channel A or B. Most of the time the resulting color displayed by the LCD looks great, but occasionally it looks way off, usually it's quite blue looking, which makes me think that the white balance programming is messing up, so I go with one of the 3200 or 5600 presets instead, which looks much more accurate on the LCD display.

...But now I'm wondering if I should not trust the LCD display for color balance. When I look at the footage where the white balance programming went wonky and I used a preset instead, the preset looks way off in my editor, despite looking quite good on the LCD display when I shot the footage.

Next time I see this wonky looking white balance, I am going to make sure that I shoot some footage to try and confirm that the white balance programming was probably correct despite looking very blue on the LCD display.

It's annoying as heck to not be able to trust the color I am seeing on the LCD display...
 
TheDingo said:
......
Next time I see this wonky looking white balance, I am going to make sure that I shoot some footage to try and confirm that the white balance programming was probably correct despite looking very blue on the LCD display. .......
Click to expand...

Good idea. That sounds like it's worth a test shot or two. That should tell the story whether or not the problem is wb programming or the lcd. Just for the heck of it, might want to confirm your ATW is set to OFF in the menu and cam is not is AUTO mode when you do your test shots. Let us know what you find out.
 
TheDingo said:
Hi All,

When using the DVX100B's white balance feature with a proper white target, sometimes the image in the LCD display looks really blue ( like a half CT blue gel ), so I automatically think that the color is way off, and end up using one of the preset tungsten or daylight color balance settings. When I look at the footage in my editor, the color looks completely off, which makes me think that I should have just stuck with the white balance the DVX100B was selecting, despite looking really blue in the LCD display.

So the bottom line for me is: Should I trust the DVX100B's white balance feature, and just ignore the funny color I am seeing on the LCD display?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
Hello all...

A quick question regarding white balance that Panasonic can't answer... I have 3 - DVX100Bp cameras that we use for in house training video production. The three cameras will not match - regardless of set up - which makes for a heck of a time in post.... However, the process for using white balance is supposed to be, turn off auto mode, set shutter speed, set white balance switch to A or B, press AWB and wait for the "AWB Ach ( or Bch ) OK message. Problem is it doesn't hold - on any camera! I am assuming that we have to stay on manual for the manual White Balance to hold. If we turn the cameras back to 'auto mode', ( to use auto focus etc ) the manual white balance gets overridden with the presets. Am I completely out to lunch on the process?
 
Last edited:
Luigi said:
Hello all...

A quick question regarding white balance that Panasonic can't answer... I have 3 - DVX100Bp cameras that we use for in house training video production. The three cameras will not match - regardless of set up - which makes for a heck of a time in post.... However, the process for using white balance is supposed to be, turn off auto mode, set shutter speed, set white balance switch to A or B, press AWB and wait for the "AWB Ach ( or Bch ) OK message. Problem is it doesn't hold - on any camera! I am assuming that we have to stay on manual for the manual White Balance to hold. If we turn the cameras back to 'auto mode', ( to use auto focus etc ) the manual white balance gets overridden with the presets. Am I completely out to lunch on the process?
Click to expand...


It pains me when I hear that people put the camera in auto, however, you can disable the ATW while in auto mode in the AUTO SW menu function. Also, make sure all the cameras have the SCENE FILE settings the same.
 
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