2. D850 Online Manual
3. White Balance
4. Preset Manual

Preset manual is used to record and recall custom white balance settings for shooting under mixed lighting or to compensate for light sources with a strong color cast. The camera can store up to six values for preset white balance in presets d-1 through d-6. Two methods are available for setting preset white balance:

Direct measurement

Neutral gray or white object is placed under lighting that will be used in final photograph and white balance is measured by camera (0 Viewfinder Photography). During live view (0 Live View Photography, Recording Movies), white balance can be measured in a selected area of the frame (spot white balance, 0 Live View (Spot White Balance)).

Copy from existing photograph

White balance is copied from photo on memory card (0 Copying White Balance from a Photograph).

• Viewfinder Photography
• Live View (Spot White Balance)
• Managing Presets

Viewfinder Photography

1. Light a reference object.

   Place a neutral gray or white object under the lighting that will be used in the final photograph. In studio settings, a standard gray panel can be used as a reference object. Note that exposure is automatically increased by 1 EV when measuring white balance; in exposure mode M, adjust exposure so that the exposure indicator shows ±0 (0 Exposure Indicators).

2. Set white balance to L (Preset manual).

   Press the U button and rotate the main command dial until L is displayed in the control panel.

   

   U button

   

   Main command dial

   

3. Select a preset.

   Press the U button and rotate the sub-command dial until the desired white balance preset (d-1 to d-6) is displayed in the control panel.

   

   U button

   

   Sub-command dial

   

4. Select direct measurement mode.

   Release the U button briefly and then press the button until the L icon in the control panel starts to flash. A flashing D will also appear in the viewfinder.

   

   

5. Measure white balance.

   In the few seconds before the indicators stop flashing, frame the reference object so that it fills the viewfinder and press the shutter-release button all the way down. The camera will measure a value for white balance and store it in the preset selected in Step 3. No photograph will be recorded; white balance can be measured accurately even when the camera is not in focus.

   

6. Check the results.

   If the camera was able to measure a value for white balance, C will flash in the control panel, while the viewfinder will show a flashing a. Press the shutter-release button halfway to exit to shooting mode.

   

   

   If lighting is too dark or too bright, the camera may be unable to measure white balance. A flashing b a will appear in the control panel and viewfinder. Press the shutter-release button halfway to return to Step 5 and measure white balance again.

   

   

Live View (Spot White Balance)

During live view (0 Live View Photography, Recording Movies), white balance can be measured in a selected area of the frame, eliminating the need to prepare a reference object or change lenses during telephoto photography.

1. Press the a button.

   The mirror will be raised and the view through the lens will be displayed in the camera monitor.

2. Set white balance to L (Preset manual).

   Press the U button and rotate the main command dial until L is displayed in the monitor.

   

   U button

   

   Main command dial

   

3. Select a preset.

   Press the U button and rotate the sub-command dial until the desired white balance preset (d-1 to d-6) is displayed in the monitor.

   

   U button

   

   Sub-command dial

   

4. Select direct measurement mode.

   Release the U button briefly and then press the button until the L icon in the monitor starts to flash. A spot white balance target (r) will be displayed at the selected focus point.

   

5. Position the target over a white or grey area.

   While L flashes in the display, use the multi selector to position the r over a white or grey area of the subject. To zoom the area around the target in for more precise positioning, press the X button. You can also measure white balance anywhere in the frame by tapping your subject in the monitor, in which case there is no need to press the center of the multi selector or the shutter-release button as described in Step 6.

   

6. Measure white balance.

   Press the center of the multi selector or press the shutter-release button all the way down to measure white balance. The time available to measure white balance is that selected for Custom Setting c4 (Monitor off delay) > Live view (0 Monitor off Delay).

   

   If the camera is unable to measure white balance, a message will be displayed. Choose a new white balance target and repeat the process from Step 5.

   

7. Exit direct measurement mode.

   Press the U button to exit direct measurement mode.

   White balance presets can be viewed by selecting Preset manual for White balance in the photo or movie shooting menu. The position of the targets used to measure preset white balance is displayed on presets recorded during live view.

   

Managing Presets

Copying White Balance from a Photograph

Follow the steps below to copy a value for white balance from an existing photograph to a selected preset.

1. Select Preset manual.

   Select White balance in the photo shooting menu, then highlight Preset manual and press 2.

   

2. Select a destination.

   Highlight the destination preset (d-1 to d-6) and press the center of the multi selector.

   

3. Choose Select image.

   Highlight Select image and press 2.

   

4. Highlight a source image.

   Highlight the source image. To view the highlighted image full frame, press and hold the X button.

   

   To view images in other locations, press W (M) and select the desired card and folder (0 Playback Controls).

   

5. Copy white balance.

   Press J to copy the white balance value for the highlighted photograph to the selected preset. If the highlighted photograph has a comment (0 Image Comment), the comment will be copied to the comment for the selected preset.