Color temperature and white balance
Color temperature is one of the properties of light. The unit is Kelvin(K), with 0 K
equivalent to -273°C.
The color temperature of a light source is related to the type of illumination and sky
conditions. It is not directly related to brightness. A high color temperature is bluish, while
a low color temperature is reddish.
Since the response of the human eye is adaptive, changes in color are not sensed even
with changes in ambient illumination. However, a camera reproduces color temperature
differences to result in different color appearance compared to direct viewing by eye.
White balance adjustment serves to compensate for these differences in color temperature.
This camera is provided with automatic tracking (ATW), preset (AWC) and MANUAL white
balance modes. The ATW mode is set at the factory.
Color temperature, illumination and sky
Color
temperature
(K) Sky conditions Illumination
10,000
8,000
7,000
5,000
4,000
3,500
3,000
2,500
2,000
Clear blue sky
Tine overcast
Cloudy, bright
rain
Midday
Noon sunlight
2 hour after
sunrise
1 hour after
sunrise
Around sunrise
Xenon arc
Fluorescent lamp
Halogen lamp
100W and 500W gas
filled bulb
100W tungsten lamp
60W tungsten lamp
Candle
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