Anyone Shooting a Nikon D3200??

[GSCOLD]

If anyone out there shooting this camera could lend some advice it would be greatly appreciated!!!! :sad:oh::squigglemouth::neutral::tongue:

 

[GSCOLD]

ttt

 

[3dees]

what do you need to know? I shoot a Nikon D300, but all dslr's basically operate the same.

 

[howaboutme]

all dslr's basically operate the same.

+1

I've shot w/ a D80 and currently am using a D5200. I'm sure your question can be answered by most DSLR users unless it's very Nikon specific.

 

[GSCOLD]

It will not allow me to measure the white balance shooting in manual under all actinic lighting. Every other setting produces terribly saturated pics...

 

[TJ's Reef]

It will not allow me to measure the white balance shooting in manual under all actinic lighting. Every other setting produces terribly saturated pics...

+1 on my Nikon D3100 and would love for someone to teach me how to properly setup White Balance for taking pics of my Reeftank.

Cheers, Todd

 

[howaboutme]

In my experience, shooting pictures under actinics only is a lost cause. I usually don't shoot w/ only blues (I have LEDs) on unless I am going for a specific effect.

I usually shoot w/ auto white balance and then adjust as necessary in post processing. If you shoot in RAW, you can use Nikon ViewNX (or something, not sure if they've changed the name of the free software) or Adobe Lightroom to do a lot of amazing things w/o degrading your file. Shooting in JPEG prevents you from doing a lot of post processing (fixing, if you will).

I believe the D3100 and the D3200 is similar to the 5200. You can go under the white balance menu and fine tune the setting by moving the cursor to the color that matches your light source (blue). I find that this may help a bit. Otherwise, you can do a custom (pre-set) white balance by using something you know is white in your tank and setting your white balance that way. As I said, I shoot in "auto" and then use my white balance slider to adjust the color in post processing.

GSC, what do you mean the camera won't allow you to measure white balance shooting in manual under blues? Do you mean manual shooting mode (as opposed to aperture priority, which is what I would recommend)? Or do you mean pre-set/manual white balance? If it doesn't set then it's not finding the source. Again, our tanks, especially under blues, is an extreme case of photography so I'm not surprised it won't set it.

 

[Coraloliseffect]

Most dslr Let you take a picture of something white in the light your using. Then go into custom white balance and select the white image you took previously. Now coustom Wb will be that lighting.

 

[howaboutme]

Most dslr Let you take a picture of something white in the light your using. Then go into custom white balance and select the white image you took previously. Now coustom Wb will be that lighting.

Yes, that's 1 of the 2 options in the custom or pre-set white balance option, at least in the Nikon's I'm familiar with. Your option is basically the same as the other option except you took a picture of your setting, so to speak.

Since most people don't have anything truly white in our tanks, you can use a white balance card in a zip lock bag or a white pvc pipe, which most of us probably have, to set the custom wb.

But again, shoot in RAW so you can post process. By the way, RAW images are usually flat since they are meant for post processing (like a darkroom) so you should make adjustments to make things pop.

 

[GSCOLD]

I dont think it "sees" any white when I try to measure it using a white card. The camera gives a simple error message saying "Unable to measure preset white balance. Please try again." lol :frusty:

 

[TJ's Reef]

Thanks Guys, I will try above options and thank you GSC for a good thread that hopefully helped you as much as me.

Cheers, Todd

 

[dieselkeeper]

I just purchased a D3200 and had the exact same issue. I thought something was wrong with the camera. The guy from the camera store that sold me the camera came over to my house with another D3200. It did the exact same thing. He showed me how to post process in the camera to make the pic look like what you see. Or you can shoot in RAW and post process in photoshop.

 

[howaboutme]

My guess is that the camera has a hard time picking up the white subject through the glass and the water.

Just a thought..or an experiment. If you have any kind of light spillage, maybe try to put your white card next to the tank and outside of it. See what happens?? But yes, post process is the easiest.

 

[GSCOLD]

Shooting top down...already tried that...it only accepts a truly white representation..Really disapointed in this camera

 

[GSCOLD]

I just purchased a D3200 and had the exact same issue. I thought something was wrong with the camera. The guy from the camera store that sold me the camera came over to my house with another D3200. It did the exact same thing. He showed me how to post process in the camera to make the pic look like what you see. Or you can shoot in RAW and post process in photoshop.

Do tell Dieselkeeper, how you were able to post process in the camera...

 

[howaboutme]

Shooting top down...already tried that...it only accepts a truly white representation..Really disapointed in this camera

It's not the camera. (and it's not you either) It's just hard to shoot all blues.

 

[dieselkeeper]

I also tried manual white balance using a white card directly under the lights. It would not do it that way either.

When I get home with the camera in front of me, I can help you with in camera processing.

 

[GSCOLD]

Thanks guys Im just going to exchange it for a T3i. The white balance controls seem to differ a bit between the two manufacturers and that seems to be the caveat.

 

[howaboutme]

Thanks guys Im just going to exchange it for a T3i. The white balance controls seem to differ a bit between the two manufacturers and that seems to be the caveat.

You're going to switch manufacturer's? Can you explain what you mean what the difference is between the two?