JPEG Shooters: is AWB crappy?

Is true that AWB is crappy? And It's a lot better if you set the correct WB for each condition?

Well, "crappy" is relative. I can tell you that last weekend I took three outdoor fill-flashed shots of the same subject, within seconds of each other, and the color temp varied by over 1,000K. I was shooting RAW so I could see the color temp in Lightroom, but that should give you a clue of what I would have been stuck with if I had shot JPEG.

It always helps a JPEG shooter to do a custom white balance if time allows.

Are you shooting indoors? Then yes, auto white balance is crappy. Fortunately, I can adjust them after the fact by shooting RAW. You're probably fine shooting JPEG outdoors in available light with AWB though.

I shoot RAW exclusively, and being lazy, I have my 30D permanently set to AWB.

Fortunately, I have a good eye for colour, watch the sky carefully (I shoot mainly in the evening when colour temp is changing fast), and use a WhiBal target.

Thank God for RAW because under outdoor natural light, the temps can be all over the map.

So in answer to the OP's question (without intending to insult), it's also true that JPEG is crappy.

Yes and no. Outside it does job quite ok, even though I still prefer custom WB. Inside, under warm light, it's totally useless. But no matter what, I'm not really fan of preset WB (sunny, shade, tungsten,...). They might work, but somehow I rather use custom WB. It's not so much of a hassle, and it does work better.

John_998,
I personally don't use AWB and just manually set from the standard selection ex. sunny, cloudy, shade etc...
Yes I find its much better then AWB

Glenn NK wrote in post #5825607
So in answer to the OP's question (without intending to insult), it's also true that JPEG is crappy.

Glenn NK,
Only as crappy as the photographer is

I agree.
Notice that the very last exposure in the 2nd group of tests was of a gray card, & it's way off.
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=54281

John_B wrote in post #5826375
Glenn NK,
Only as crappy as the photographer is

Actually only crappy compared to RAW.

These would have been a struggle with JPEG.

http://www.naturescape​s.net …s/portfolio.php​?cat=24479