How do I keep exposure and white balance consistent across a series of shots?
Asked 9/28/2018
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I want to photograph the same still subject from different positions and keep the results consistent from shot to shot. I’d like the aperture, shutter speed, and white balance to stay the same throughout the series, while focus can change as needed. One idea is to take a first shot in an automatic mode, note the exposure from the EXIF data, then switch to Manual mode and use those settings for the rest. Is there a better approach on a Sony NEX-5R or in general?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
7y ago
2 Answers
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Seems like you're just asking about how to generally meter a scene, with no special lighting conditions. There are many metering questions you may find helpful.
Using the camera's built-in meter as you describe would be fine. You don't need to use auto mode though. Just switch to spot metering in manual mode and look at the meter indicator as you adjust settings. The relevant settings are aperture, shutter speed, ISO. People usually know 2/3 of the settings they want, and use the meter to figure out the last one. You can also use an external incident-light meter for the basic scenario you describe.
I suggest using spot metering because you mention being particularly interested in exposing for a specific object across multiple photos. Other metering modes measure exposure for entire scenes.
I would recommend against relying on the visual appearance of the scene in the LCD because the LCD is deceptive. Blown-out highlights are often not visible on the LCD, unless you have "zebras" enabled.
Histograms also contain information about exposure, along with some additional information. As with non-spot metering modes, histograms reflect the exposure of the entire scene.
Originally by user75526. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user75526
7y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—use Manual exposure and set white balance manually. You don’t need to start in an auto mode.
A simple approach is:
- Choose the aperture and shutter speed you want (and ISO as needed).
- Use the camera’s meter in Manual mode to set exposure for the subject.
- Keep those settings fixed for the whole sequence.
- Set white balance to a fixed preset or custom WB so color doesn’t shift between frames.
If the subject is what matters most, spot metering is a good choice because it meters a small area rather than the whole scene. You can point the spot meter at the subject, adjust your exposure until the meter indicates a proper reading, then leave the settings unchanged for the rest of the shots.
Your EXIF/write-it-down method also works, but it’s not necessary if you meter directly in Manual mode. An external incident light meter is another option, but the built-in meter is usually fine for this kind of setup.
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