NIKON D2X - Using the White Balance Controls

NIKON D2X/D2Xs TIPS & TRICKS - USING THE WHITE BALANCE CONTROLS

Back in the good old days, we’d buy a roll of tungsten balanced film to shoot under the orange-colored light of indoor bulbs. Or, we’d buy a fluorescent filter to correct for the greenish light of a florescent bulb. If it was an overcast day, or we were shooting in the shade, we might add an A2 Nikon filter to warm things up a bit.

Instead of needing to carry a big pack of filters around with you, your D2X has a method for balancing the camera to the available light. It is your White Balance controls. Normally, the White Balance is used to adjust the camera so that whites are truly white, and other colors are accurate, under whatever light source you are shooting. But, you can also use the White Balance controls to deliberately introduce color casts into your image for interesting special effects.

First, let’s look at the normal use of the White balance controls, that of balancing the camera’s sensor to the light in which you are shooting.

The D2X gives us two distinct methods to adjust white balance. One is more sensitive than the other, and will work in much lower light levels.

Notice the WB button, rear command-dial (thumb wheel), FUNC button and small lower LCD in the images below. These buttons are used to adjust the white balance.

WHITE BALANCE METHOD ONE

This method is best used in areas where there is relatively bright light. It uses the small white “third-eye” sensor on the top of the D2X.

1. Press and hold the WB button.
2. Rotate the rear command-dial until PRE shows in the lower right of the rear LCD.
3. Release the WB Button.
4. Press and hold the WB button until the PRE starts flashing.
5. Hold the camera in the light source in which you will be taking pictures.
6. Press the FUNC button.
7. Check the small rear LCD and see that GOOD is flashing.

Please note that the flashing GOOD means that a successful white balance reading was taken and your camera is now color balanced for that light source. If you do NOT see a flashing “GOOD,” but instead see a flashing “noGd” then the operation was unsuccessful and the light source may not be bright enough. Use method two -in the next page- instead.