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M
Myphototrail
Inspiring
January 15, 2023
Question

Lightroom shows incorrect white balance used by Sony A7 camera?

  • January 15, 2023
  • 2 replies
  • 414 views

Can someone please explain why this happens:

I'm using a Sony A7Riv in studio.  I set my in camera white balance to 5600k to match the strobes.  Yet when I import the files into LR, it indicates the images were shot at 5700k with Tint of +13.  Shouldn't LR report the white balance at 5600k and Tint at zero?  Thanks.

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2 replies

TheDigitalDog
TheDigitalDog
Inspiring
January 15, 2023

It's not the wrong WB per se, CCT (Kelvin) values define a very large range of possible colors. Plus, every raw processor will report different values from the same raw data and differently from actural measurements of the illuminant. Ignore the numbers, they really don't matter. Set WB to visually preferable. 

Author “Color Management for Photographers" & "Photoshop CC Color Management/pluralsight"
Sean McCormack
Community Expert
Sean McCormackCommunity Expert
Community Expert
January 15, 2023

Lightroom uses it's own interal WB scale that's diffferent to the camera maker. It hasn't changed what the camera shot, just mapped it to the interal scale. (Assuming it's showing 'As Shot' in the presets list).

Sean McCormack. Author of 'Essential Development 3'. Magazine Writer. Former Official Fuji X-Photographer.
M
MyphototrailAuthor
Inspiring
January 15, 2023

Thanks - yes...it hasn't changed it, so I normally just ignore those numbers.  But it's odd.

I do notice that the Sony camera profiles are unusable as is...all are far too warm and saturated.  Could those profiles be affected by the LR white balance numbers.  Probably not.  But I just don't get how anyone can find the Sony profiles usable as is.  Even if I use the Sony "Standard" profile, I need to reduce the saturation by about 10% and the temp too just to get it to a usable level for portraits.  Sorry...getting off the starting question

 

Sean McCormack
Community Expert
Sean McCormackCommunity Expert
Community Expert
January 15, 2023

I can't vouch for the Sony ones, but the Fuji ones are not quite the same as in camera. Still, to my eye, they're better than the Adobe ones. It may be worth getting settings you like and creating your own profile. 

Sean McCormack. Author of 'Essential Development 3'. Magazine Writer. Former Official Fuji X-Photographer.
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