White Balance two XH-A1 for Dance or Theatre? at DVinfo.net

Greg Clark · April 26th, 2009, 04:56 AM

In the past I have had bad luck matching the two XH-A1's.
I use manual white balance on both. One is 40+ feet from stage the other is 10 feet from stage.
Should I white balance both cameras from 10 feet with stage lights on?

Bill Pryor · April 26th, 2009, 09:52 AM

Yes. Take them both to the same position and white balance with lights on. Or you could probably use the 3200K preset, since most theaters use 3200K as their white light.

Mick Mearman · April 26th, 2009, 10:29 AM

I agree, use the preset, if you try to set a white balance you can get into all sorts of trouble especially if they are using colours in their set up which they usually are.
Mick

Jack Walker · April 26th, 2009, 04:09 PM

Yes, use the 3200K preset.

Greg Clark · April 28th, 2009, 06:38 AM

Thank goodness we have guys like Mick, Bill and Jack on DV Info to provide sound advice. Gentleman in my case your suggestions gave me the best white balance I have ever had with a stage performance. Cudos.

Paul R Johnson · April 28th, 2009, 08:01 AM

Possibly worth noting the kind of lighting equipment they have. Generic typical theatre equipment with tungsten lamps are 3200K, as mentioned - but watch for venues that have quantities of moving heads. The wash lights are very popular in venues because they can be coloured and focused from the ground, but they have colour temperatures much higher - 8500K is common and this is VERY blue. If I work in venues with plenty of this kit, I tend to use the 5600K preset. This way, tungsten white is a little red, and discharge white is a little blue - but the half-way balance is acceptable. As for the smaller venues that are using cheap LED colour mixing equipment? The white is horrible, and no colour temperature really matches.

Greg Clark · April 28th, 2009, 08:14 AM

I have a Stage Show and Graduation to video and they both use the cheap LED lights. Sadly they are so impressed that they can change the colour from the floor they don't care about video quality. Yet?
I will take your suggestion and try the 5600K when I am under these LED lighting conditions.
Life was so simple with Quartz Halogen lights.

April 26th, 2009, 04:56 AM	#1
Greg Clark Major Player Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Surprise Arizona Posts: 297	White Balance two XH-A1 for Dance or Theatre? In the past I have had bad luck matching the two XH-A1's. I use manual white balance on both. One is 40+ feet from stage the other is 10 feet from stage. Should I white balance both cameras from 10 feet with stage lights on?

April 28th, 2009, 06:38 AM	#5
Greg Clark Major Player Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Surprise Arizona Posts: 297	What would we do without DV Info? Thank goodness we have guys like Mick, Bill and Jack on DV Info to provide sound advice. Gentleman in my case your suggestions gave me the best white balance I have ever had with a stage performance. Cudos.

April 28th, 2009, 08:14 AM	#7
Greg Clark Major Player Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Surprise Arizona Posts: 297	Wow Paul this is helpful I have a Stage Show and Graduation to video and they both use the cheap LED lights. Sadly they are so impressed that they can change the colour from the floor they don't care about video quality. Yet? I will take your suggestion and try the 5600K when I am under these LED lighting conditions. Life was so simple with Quartz Halogen lights.

April 26th, 2009, 09:52 AM	#2
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	Yes. Take them both to the same position and white balance with lights on. Or you could probably use the 3200K preset, since most theaters use 3200K as their white light.

April 26th, 2009, 10:29 AM	#3
Mick Mearman Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kingswinford, England Posts: 25	I agree, use the preset, if you try to set a white balance you can get into all sorts of trouble especially if they are using colours in their set up which they usually are. Mick

April 26th, 2009, 04:09 PM	#4
Jack Walker Trustee Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Burbank Posts: 1,811	Yes, use the 3200K preset.

April 28th, 2009, 08:01 AM	#6
Paul R Johnson Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Lowestoft - UK Posts: 4,016	Possibly worth noting the kind of lighting equipment they have. Generic typical theatre equipment with tungsten lamps are 3200K, as mentioned - but watch for venues that have quantities of moving heads. The wash lights are very popular in venues because they can be coloured and focused from the ground, but they have colour temperatures much higher - 8500K is common and this is VERY blue. If I work in venues with plenty of this kit, I tend to use the 5600K preset. This way, tungsten white is a little red, and discharge white is a little blue - but the half-way balance is acceptable. As for the smaller venues that are using cheap LED colour mixing equipment? The white is horrible, and no colour temperature really matches.