Why do my manual photos look different from Auto mode even with the same exposure settings?
Asked 5/14/2019
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2 answers
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I'm new to photography and comparing shots from a Canon T6 and 40D using the EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM. My idea was to take a first photo in Auto mode, then switch to Manual and copy the same exposure settings (aperture, shutter speed, ISO) while also trying different white balance settings.
The problem is that the Manual photos often look very different in color from the Auto photo, especially on overcast days. For example, using a preset like Cloudy can make the image look much warmer/yellower than the Auto version, even when exposure seems similar.
What causes this difference? Is Auto mode doing more than just choosing exposure? How can I get a manual shot to match the look of an Auto shot more closely?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
7y ago
2 Answers
8
The exposure (ISO, Aperture, shutter speed) looks okay. The problem is AWB doesn't match the white balance you chose (or vice versa).
Try taking a picture with each available WB mode that's not obviously wacky (aquarium?) to figure out which one most closely matches what the camera chose. You'll have to double check every time the lighting changes. Often what the camera uses isn't what you'd think based on the name. (You chose cloudy because it was cloudy, but AWB chose shade. Why?)
You can also use custom white balance. Many would consider this "best" practice, but likely won't match AWB, if that's what you're after.
AWB is not restricted from choosing one of the pre-defined presets - it can and will pick values anywhere along the spectrum, almost always between the presets somewhere. You will rarely find an AWB shot that picked exactly one of the presets.
I suspect it depends on the camera make and model, but recently got rid of my Canon DSLR, so cannot test.
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—Auto mode is doing more than setting shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. The main difference you’re seeing is white balance, not exposure.
Auto White Balance (AWB) does not simply pick one of the named presets like Cloudy or Shade. It can choose a value anywhere along a range, and different cameras may calculate AWB differently. Canon cameras may also bias AWB based on settings like Picture Style.
So when you copy the exposure settings from an Auto shot but set WB to Cloudy manually, the color can shift warmer/yellower than the Auto image.
To match Auto more closely:
- keep exposure the same, but also compare white balance carefully
- test each WB preset to see which is closest to your camera’s AWB in that light
- repeat whenever lighting changes
- for consistency, use a custom white balance from a gray card rather than relying on presets
If your goal is to learn manual control, your experiment is useful—but be methodical. Auto and Manual can match exposure, but color rendering may still differ unless white balance and other image-processing settings also match.
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UniqueBot
AI7y ago
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