Is selecting a proper white balance still important when shooting in RAW?

[contributor_M]

If I'm shooting in RAW, would it be safe to say that the white balance setting in the camera doesn't matter that much, especially when you can adjust the white balance setting later within a RAW editor?

[ldelacruz]

True and false. Try to get it right and you will have less work later.

[arich]

Laziness is never better

[contributor_M]

Originally Posted by arich

Laziness is never better

Not about laziness man. Lots of in camera processes are ignored when shooting RAW that are applied when shooting JPEG. I'm simply wondering if this is one of those things as well.

[Tom]

Not getting it right in camera because you can fix it in post is either laziness or inability.

[contributor_M]

Originally Posted by Thomas Campbell

Not getting it right in camera because you can fix it in post is either laziness or inability.

So by that, everyone who has to make an adjustments to an image Lightroom/Photoshop or any other application is either lazy or possess an inability to get the picture perfect in the camera first?

With your pictures, do you just post them directly to your website after you have converted the format from Raw to JPEG/TIFF?

[Tom]

Originally Posted by contributor_M

So by that, everyone who has to make an adjustments to an image Lightroom/Photoshop or any other application is either lazy or possess an inability to get the picture perfect in the camera first?

With your pictures, do you just post them directly to your website after you have converted the format from Raw to JPEG/TIFF?

Not everything can be done in camera that makes an image. I can't soften skin in camera. I may want to dodge or burn a single area in an image. There are often distracting elements that I cannot shoot around in camera. But I can set the correct white balance and the correct exposure in camera. Not doing so would be lazy or inability.

My photojournalism work is all sent as shot, so yes.

[ClintDMc]

I think the question is not so much should he, but could he. I do know that my Nikons, when shooting in RAW the white balance option is turned off.

[contributor_M]

Originally Posted by Thomas Campbell

Not everything can be done in camera that makes an image. I can't soften skin in camera. I may want to dodge or burn a single area in an image. There are often distracting elements that I cannot shoot around in camera. But I can set the correct white balance and the correct exposure in camera. Not doing so would be lazy or inability.

Just stirring debate. :)

Originally Posted by ClintDMc

I think the question is not so much should he, but could he. I do know that my Nikons, when shooting in RAW the white balance option is turned off.

^^^ This!

[Tom]

Originally Posted by ClintDMc

I think the question is not so much should he, but could he. I do know that my Nikons, when shooting in RAW the white balance option is turned off.

Really? I've had a number of Nikon second shooters and they are all shooting RAW and all have the WB set manually (requirement of all my second shooters.)

[ldelacruz]

Originally Posted by ClintDMc

I think the question is not so much should he, but could he. I do know that my Nikons, when shooting in RAW the white balance option is turned off.

Is that by choice? If so, you are creating a ton of work for yourself in the back end. Maybe it is only available on entry level cameras because I don't ever remember hearing about this.

[revjvegas]

Originally Posted by ClintDMc

I think the question is not so much should he, but could he. I do know that my Nikons, when shooting in RAW the white balance option is turned off.

Originally Posted by Thomas Campbell

Really? I've had a number of Nikon second shooters and they are all shooting RAW and all have the WB set manually (requirement of all my second shooters.)

Um, yeah.
I'll have to side with Thomas on this one.
When you shoot in RAW on a Nikon, you can still select a white bal.
I do it ALL the time.

And could you ignore it and fix it later in post, sure.
But why not do it proper within camera so as to reduce the time in front of the PC by removing that needed extra step and increase the time behind the camera.

Just say'n.

[boxofrocks]

Originally Posted by Thomas Campbell

Not getting it right in camera because you can fix it in post is either laziness or inability.

Not so fast my friend. Sometimes it's just smart.

If you're shooting a hectic event with changing light conditions (some flash, some flourescent, some daylight), it's very time consuming to adjust your white balance before each shot. Also, unless you're shooting a gray card before each different shot, sometimes it's damn near impossible to set WB correctly.

That's not laziness, that's efficiency. :)

[ldelacruz]

Originally Posted by boxofrocks

Not so fast my friend. Sometimes it's just smart.

If you're shooting a hectic event with changing light conditions (some flash, some flourescent, some daylight), it's very time consuming to adjust your white balance before each shot. Also, unless you're shooting a gray card before each different shot, sometimes it's damn near impossible to set WB correctly.

That's not laziness, that's efficiency. :)

I could be wrong and I am only guessing but I bet that Thomas has most of the lighting sources temperatures memorized. I bet he knows what temp he should be at by seeing the light. What I want to know is how does he solve the temp for multiple light sources?

[Tom]

Originally Posted by boxofrocks

Not so fast my friend. Sometimes it's just smart.

If you're shooting a hectic event with changing light conditions (some flash, some flourescent, some daylight), it's very time consuming to adjust your white balance before each shot. Also, unless you're shooting a gray card before each different shot, sometimes it's damn near impossible to set WB correctly.

That's not laziness, that's efficiency. :)

Wouldn't that be pretty much every wedding? I'm constantly balancing flash with sunlight, tungsen, flourescent, etc. Nearly every shot I take will be properly exposed and white balanced in camera.

Of course, I take hundreds to thousands to tens of thousands of pictures a week, so I have tons of experience. But that is also part of what makes me a professional. I can take a look in a room and know pretty close to 100% accurate what my WB/exposure is going to be before I even pick up a camera.

It is efficiency to recognize the changes and change it in your camera, not to go fix it in post.