350D Rebel XT White Balance Issues- Too much blue

[JakeC]

Since I first purchased my 350D I've been having a pretty ordinary time with it's auto white balance. At first I thought ok, it doesn't handle a certain type of light well...now 3000 shutter actutations later it seems that it doesn't handle any type of light well :confused:

Usually I just shoot RAW, or back off the blue channel in wb shift/brkt if shooting jpeg. If the scene I'm shooting is static I'll pull out a white card and get it right thay way....... BUT

I'd still really like it if the AWB was better, even my old P&S came closer. For example, if I shoot 1000 jpegs of sport one weekend, I'd like to come home, knowing that once the good and bad are sorted they can be sent off to the papers etc without having to jump into curves and correct colour casts on each and every one.

Am I being too pedantic, or is this an issue? First is adjusted white balance, second is AWB.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/JakeC/dropletswbadjusted.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/JakeC/dropletswbashot.jpg

[Pamela107]

I have had the same problem. I usually set the custom white balance. And I didnt realize the problem until after quite a few photos myself.

Pamela

[booggerg]

I think your first one has too much yellow. THe AWB looks to be more correct than your adjusted one...

[JakeC]

Looking at it again, (on a non calibrated screen) the first may have a touch more yellow than the natural scene but if you consider the AWB to be closer one.........then I guess I'm being pedantic about AWB and the blue cast is really goood;)

[Michaelmjc]

Sorry I have to ask, what lens did you use for that shot?

[JakeC]

The 50mm f/1.8 II Micheal

[drisley]

Only the photographer can know for sure which picture is more accurate.

[JakeC]

All I really want to know is how other XT/350D users find the AWB. Disregard the sample image/s, the type of lens used etc etc. This isn't to say I don't appreciate the comments, but so far only Pamela has touched on the camera and awb.

I agree with you though Drisley, to some extent it's the photographers 'interpretation of the scene' and white balance is a matter of how you want the image to feel. But in cases like product or sports photography, whites should be neutral white without a colour cast.

My sample images probably aren't the most effective shots to have chosen and I apologise. :o

[drisley]

That's right Jake.
In an image like above, where there is no neutral white, only you know what the actual scene looked like when you were there.

[JakeC]

I'll try and set-up a simple test outdoors and compare different settings againest AWB. Then shoot a frame using a mid tone exposed white card for reference in 'Custom WB'