White Balance questions for a newbie

[meili.ware]

I'm sort of a newbie to digital photography. I just bought a Canon 50D. I read my camera's manual on how to set the custom white balance. I get it for the most part. But I have a few questions which may seem like no-brainers. But any input would be great!

When I am taking a pic of the white or gray card to use to set white balance, do I set my camera's white balance to AWB? I generally shoot in manual..... Should I shoot my gray card in auto instead?
Also what is better to use to set the custom white Balance? white card or gray card?

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by meili.ware

I'm sort of a newbie to digital photography. I just bought a Canon 50D. I read my camera's manual on how to set the custom white balance. I get it for the most part. But I have a few questions which may seem like no-brainers. But any input would be great!

When I am taking a pic of the white or gray card to use to set white balance, do I set my camera's white balance to AWB? I generally shoot in manual..... Should I shoot my gray card in auto instead?
Also what is better to use to set the custom white Balance? white card or gray card?

It actually doesn't matter what WB setting you use to take the digital grey card image. The CWB that you set will override any previous settings, if that makes sense.

I use Digital Image Flow's "Digital Grey Kard" and love it. Another good one is Robin Myers' Digital Grey Card. Others swear by using a white card or simply a white piece of paper, but I love my DGK.

Are you also using an 18% reflectance grey card (not a digital grey card, this is separate) for setting exposure?

I learned about the uses of both cards from a fantastic photographer, Matthew Kees. He'd posted an extensive tutorial thread on another forum.

Hope this helps you out.

[meili.ware]

Thank you! I figured I was making it way more complicated that it was. hehe
I am using an 18% reflective grey card. Honestly, I've never heard of a digital grey card...
Should I be using that to set my white balance and exposure?

[SusanH1970]

The 18% grey card is for exposure - it's designed to correlate with the standard of the in-camera meter. The digital grey cards are a different, neutral grey, designed for correct color. They're both inexpensive enough - and they make a huge difference in SOOC photos, which will save you loads of time in post processing.

[kencaleno]

Originally Posted by SusanH1970

The 18% grey card is for exposure - it's designed to correlate with the standard of the in-camera meter. The digital grey cards are a different, neutral grey, designed for correct color. They're both inexpensive enough - and they make a huge difference in SOOC photos, which will save you loads of time in post processing.

Neutral,(Mid)grey, is mid grey,whether you call it 18/13% or digital grey-it remains the same neutral tone-every camera's metering system is calibrated at 13%-and your camera's meter can only read shades of grey-it cannot see color-so actually calling a grey card a "Digital grey card", is just a sales gimmick-just like selling bottled tap water as "Instant water- for instant coffee"-Yes, that's been done, too.

[kencaleno]

To original poster-A grey card is recommended for setting custom white balance because mid grey is a constant tone- It is difficult to get absolute white-if you get two or more different brands of white copy paper,each will be a different shade of white.So grey is the way to go.Ken

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by kencaleno

and your camera's meter can only read shades of grey-it cannot see color

While this does apply to the OP's 50D, it doesn't apply to any Nikon dSLR or the newer Canon 7D. Those all factor colour into metering.

[Doug Pardee]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

it doesn't apply to any Nikon dSLR or the newer Canon 7D. Those all factor colour into metering.

Also the new Canon Rebel T2i/550D.

[meili.ware]

Okay... thank you all so much! that is very helpful. I did wonder about the white. I have tried different whites and wasn't sure which to use. they were all different as you said. I think I'll stick with the grey card. And I already have one of those. Can I use the same grey card that I used when I was shooting film?

Thanks!