White balance and exposure variance comparison


According to the tests conducted, here’s what I’ve found: White balance There is a 100K difference between white balance readings. Is this significant? Not really. 100 K is an acceptable error, and nobody will ever see the difference. Exposure There is a 1/3rd (0.3) stop difference in exposures between the two cameras. The a7S II ... Read more

According to the tests conducted, here’s what I’ve found:

White balance

There is a 100K difference between white balance readings. Is this significant? Not really. 100 K is an acceptable error, and nobody will ever see the difference.

Exposure

There is a 1/3rd (0.3) stop difference in exposures between the two cameras. The a7S II overexposes by a third of a stop. This again could be due to many reasons, including operator error. It is an acceptable error.

Very important: Just because my cameras have these variances doesn’t mean you’ll get similar results. Your cameras are different, and you need to test them side by side to know exactly how they differ in terms of white balance and exposure.

As a general guide:

If you get a white balance difference of 100-200K, it’s okay. Any more and it will be noticeable to the naked eye.

If you see a difference of exposure by 0.3 stops, it’s perfectly fine, just compensate either camera. The error can be as high as half a stop (0.5). Any more and there might be a problem.

Author Bio
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Sareesh Sudhakaran is a film director and award-winning cinematographer with over 24 years of experience. His second film, "Gin Ke Dus", was released in theaters in India in March 2024. As an educator, Sareesh walks the talk. His online courses help aspiring filmmakers realize their filmmaking dreams. Sareesh is also available for hire on your film!