White balance

I own an Olympus E330 in an Ikelite housing and Ikelite DS125 strobe. I usually use auto white balance but as I think the Ikelite light source is 4800 kelvin or there abouts is it better to set the balance to that in the camera?

If you're shooting macro where the photos are exclusively lit by the strobes then the answer is yet. You'll also want to set about 10 unit of positive tint in the RAW converter to compensate for the water between the strobe, subject, and lens.

Cheers

James

Thanks James,

I have been waiting for a long time for one of the 'gurus' to step in and make a definative statement as to the use of WB settings with regards to macro shooting...

Next question is, how reliable are the manufacturer's claimed settings as per their strobes stated performances? From memory, Sea and Sea claim that their strobes are at about 5400Kelvin. Is it safe to set up the camera for this recommended setting?

Thanks for taking the time,

Bruce

I dunno?!?!?

Just take a white card underwater and photograph it Bruce. Then see what the WB setting is by using the white eye-dropper.

James

Won't I get electrocuted if I take the white eye dropper with me under the water?

Sorry to be a pain in the #$&* James, but are you suggesting that I take the white balance pic with the white/grey slate as well as tuning the setting to the strobes, or am I having a dumb moment?

Bruce

Hi Bruce,

If you photograph a white source underwater with your strobes, then go HOME and open it in photoshop, you can use the white eyedropper tool in ACR to tell you the exact white balance setting.

We are assuming it will be close to 5400 but who knows until you actually try it. Just make sure the target is REALLY white, and not whitish yellow.

Cheers

James

Every extra foot of light path, through the water, changes the white balance. So there is no absolutely correct rule here.

As James says, shooting raw, and doing it all after the fact, is the way to go.