Synchronize White Balance

[Exact]

Other than the standard 3.2K and 5.6K, is there any way to synchronize the white balance between multiple cameras? It seems that even a white/grey/black card never gets them quite the same - close - but not the same.

Yes, I can do this in post, but if something is too blue it's much harder and often introduces unwanted noise (is there any other kind of noise? )

 

[MadHMC150]

I know you can sync cam scene files and switch settings... wonder if WB would be in that.

 

[WpgCameraMan]

Assuming everything between the cameras is the same (the scene files) , it shouldn't be that hard to place them both side by side and pull a white off a common surface, maybe add a chip chart in there too.

The lens needs to be set the same as well.

I think the camera shows the 'K' setting.. doesn't it? If those numbers match, all the better.

They should be so close in WB, they would only need the most minimal tweaking.

 

[Exact]

I think the camera shows the 'K' setting.. doesn't it? If those numbers match, all the better.
.

It's entirely possible I've over looked that somewhere.... can you tell me where that is?

Setting the cameras side by side, lens at the same focal length, iris the same, gain the same etc should get pretty close, but that's not always the case It makes you wonder how well the WB system really works.

 

[Everts]

I think the camera shows the 'K' setting.. doesn't it? If those numbers match, all the better.

.

Wouldn't that be cool but it does not show the "K" setting as the 7d does

 

[KevinP]

Yes, I can do this in post, but if something is too blue it's much harder and often introduces unwanted noise (is there any other kind of noise? )

Just film a white balance card and use auto white balance in your NLE. This is moving the colour balance and should not produce any noise of any sort.

 

[DNathan]

I'm wondering if a side-by-side card white balance might be the problem, actually, because when you separate the cameras you can come under different lighting. Then one of the cams will have the white balance of the other location, though only a short distance away. The important thing is true white. If both of the cams have true white from where they are shooting and the scene files are the same, you should be pretty close. Unfortunately, every camera is slightly different from the next.

That's my theory anyway.

 

[KevinP]

No - both cameras shoot the same white balance under the same lighting. That's the point.

You then do auto white balance on those clips and cut/paste the setting to your other footage from the same camera.

It's not a magic fix but you have removed the different camera's "versions" of white out of the equation and used one version of what "white " is.