white balance help

When adjusting “white balance†at depth, do you..

1. hold the slate close to the lens so the slate fills the entire frame

2. hold the slate in the center of the frame but at the distance you will be shooting

3. hold the slate at the distance you will be shooting, zoom in close so it frame and then zoom back out

I have read all three methods at different sites on the internet…I don’t know what’s correct. I just had my housing fixed so I can set the balance at depth. I’d rather start out correctly and not spend my whole trip experimenting. Any help would be appreciated! One more thing do I adjust the balance with the red filter in place…or adjust the balance the put the filter on?

Thanks.

HI Hunter,

Always leave the red filter on, that is what helps to bring the colour back into the frame. You can actually WB on land with the filter on and it won't come out red.

Personally i fill about 2/3s of the frame with the card, basically holding at arms length.

You need the slate to fill at least 1/2 if not more of frame so camera doesn't get tricked from other source, at least that is what i found.

FIlling whole frame shouldn't be a problem, i often end up doing that if i am zoomed in for macro and too lazy to zoom out again....

I once white balanced before a dive against the side of my van (without filter) that was fine. But haven't washed it since so it's more dirty brown than white.

Dive safe

DeanB

Dean...that will only work in the first 5 feet of water then yer screwed...

Oh, hold it!!! Your water IS brown isn't it!?!?!

HA Ha ha

B) (B) sorry buddy, you left yourself open on that one...

Hi Mike,

Usually I'd agree with you

But it's so cold here (-0.5) even the brown's to cold to play..

BBrrrr !! Back into the water.

Dive safe

DeanB

P.s Unless you ment my personal water in which I've stayed off the beer for a while so its more of a beige tint

When I started filming underwater I white balanced to a white slate...made perfect sense to me. However, I was not able to produce the results that I was after. Then I purchased Amphibico's Backfocus and White Balance Chart and there was a measurable improvement in the resulting colours. Generally I try to fill as much of the frame as possible with the chart and have established the habit of setting white balance prior to every shot unless I am absolutely certain that depth has not changed.

Cheers David,

Always wondered about the Amphibico chart..??

Anything that helps...Well ..Helps !!!

Dive safe

DeanB