HELP. What's wrong with White Balance in my RD-1?

[Expatinprogress]

I really need help guys,

I have been testing my RD-1s and after a few shoots, I have a problem with the colours (or pixels, I don't know).

I don't really know what's happening with the whites balance or whatever it is, but the fact is all white becomes blue (or even seems to be dead pixels). There is a lot of noise and this is BLUE!!

I'm using a CV 35mm Color skopar.

Any clue? I've been trying all the apertures, conditions and exposures and the results are really dissapointing.

I'm desesperate guys. I'm new in the RangFinder world and this first experience is being frustrating. Maybe I bought the camera with a problem in the sensor? Or may I need a filter?

Please, I need some help. I attach some pictures:

 

[Ezzie]

Have you checked the film settings? Enter Menu and under main menu you´ll find film settings to the left of Color settings. Check that it is set to Standard. If set to one of the Film 1 to 3 settings that very well may have an impact. All three are user adaptable, including saturation, but more importantly tint. Tint offset to one side can do this. Play around with Film settings when you are more familiar with the camera.

If that doesn´t work, try setting WB manually. I´ve several digital cameras, none are perfect, but the R-D1 auto WB is better than most.

 

[Expatinprogress]

If that doesn´t work, try setting WB manually. I´ve several digital cameras, none are perfect, but the R-D1 auto WB is better than most.

Thanks Ezzie, I'm trying, we'll see if it can improve that "blue noise".

The RD-1 hasn't WB manual setting? Has it? I mean, you can't set the auto WB because it comes already set. If no, how I can set the auto WB?.

Thanks

 

[Ezzie]

I didn't mean setting manual kelvin, just selecting one of the options manually, rather than relying on full auto.

 

[popch]

The white balance is set to "manual". I'd suggest turning it to "automatic" first in order to see if things become better.

As an alternative, you might want to store the pictures in the "raw" format instead of the "jpeg" format. If you do that, you have much more control over the rendering of your images. However, this works only if you use the program PhotoRaw which is supposed to come with your Epson R-D1.

BTW, you did read the manual for the Epson R-D1, did you not?

 

[jlw]

I can see why you're dissatisfied with these. They almost look like the thumbnails rather than the actual image files. You should be able to do MUCH better.

I'd suggest testing under some really good conditions to rule out the possibility that there's something wrong with your camera. For example: Set the ISO (inside shutter speed dial) to 200. Set white balance to daylight (move lever on right to "WB" and turn "rewind knob" until pointer points to sun symbol.) Set the JPEG quality to the highest setting. Now take some pictures under good sunlight and examine files to see how they look.

You should be able to get very high quality images under these conditions, so if the results aren't good, you know that either your settings are incorrect or there is something wrong with the camera.

If you find your camera has dead pixels, you can map these out using a menu setting. (I don't have my R-D 1 with me so can't give specific directions.)

 

[kermaier]

Don't be offended, but is it possible you've misunderstood how to use the analog controls on the camera's top plate to set white balance, file quality, ISO, exposure comp?
Ari

 

[LCT]

Shooting raw will solve almost all your wb problems.

 

[jlw]

Don't be offended, but is it possible you've misunderstood how to use the analog controls on the camera's top plate...

Particularly don't be offended about the white balance readout. I've owned my R-D 1 since they first became available, and sometimes I STILL stare at those little symbols on the dial and say, "What the heck does that one mean again?"

 

[Expatinprogress]

Don't worry, I'm not offended because after spending a week or so (I recognise) to understand those controls I succeed!!!

No way, it doesn't care which mode I try and which conditions (sunny or dark, WB sun, shade or light) ALL the JPG files are rejectable. That blue noise appears whatever I do. Only in Black and White are fine and very acceptable.

Then, the only way all the files are fine are RAW files and whether I open them through epson Raw software. When I open through it all the files appear good even in the camera have that blue noise. I don't know what happens with the JPG files.

On the other hand, I'm playing with the film settings (the tint and other options) in order to see if I can improve the results.

I attach you two photos: one in BW and another in colour so you can see the differences and the problem.

 

[Expatinprogress]

Here are the JPG pictures directly downloaded from the camera:

BW are good, but colour are really disappointing.

Cheers.

 

[ampguy]

That's odd. I sometimes got a slight yellow look when shooting in mixed incandescent, natural, and flourescent lighting on Auto WB, but never all blue cast.

What happens if you add ~ +2/3 EV? Do all manual WB settings give the blue?

 

[mwooten]

Could you shoot a few images in RAW and maybe email one to me? I'd like to see a non-jpeg file.

--michael

 

[Ezzie]

What's the EXIF data on the colour picture?

 

[Expatinprogress]

Ezzie, here is the EXIF info of the colour image. It's in Spanish, I wish you can understand.

On the other hand, today I've gone to take pictures outdoors and same result but now in both formats JPG and RAW.

As I'm not using any filter with my CV 2.5/35mm, this may be the reason but, the most dissapointing is all the shoots were overexposed (always using ISO 200, aperture priority at -2EV and aperture to the minimum 22f) in spite of being a cloudy day. Any picture of these can be considered. Is it really so important a filter? I mean, with or without it the camera should be able to take acceptable pictures. Shouldn't be?

I don't really know what to do. I can e-mail you a RAW picture if you want to see one of the pictures.

 

[back alley]

just in case...you know that the rd1 has 3 'filters' built in for operator use?

 

[sevres_babylone]

popch:As an alternative, you might want to store the pictures in the "raw" format instead of the "jpeg" format. If you do that, you have much more control over the rendering of your images. However, this works only if you use the program PhotoRaw which is supposed to come with your Epson R-D1.

The raw files can be converted using other programs as well. Raw Developer is one. I also open the with ACR in my Photoshop CS3, and find that I have better luck with the colour in concert and club shots than I do with Epson Raw.

 

[sevres_babylone]

Expatinprogress,
Feel free to email me a raw and jpeg of the same image. My email address is:
sevres.babylone (at) gmail.com.

 

[Expatinprogress]

just in case...you know that the rd1 has 3 'filters' built in for operator use?

Nope, I didn't know about those 3 filters. Don't you mean the 4 preset filters for monochrome. Don't you?

Anyway, do you think taking pictures outdoor without the filters should be so bad?

By the way, which kind of filters are better in this case?

I will be e-mailing some pictures tomorrow (as soon as I get a fast internte connection) in order you can see the problem.

 

[back alley]

i have never used them, no interest really.
i thought that perhaps you had one of them accidentally set in your camera.

is there 4?