Nikon D7100 review – White balance and colour
Image: Auto white balance has a magenta colour cast, because it has compensated for the dominant green tones in this scene. Using the cloudy white balance preset produces a warm tone
As I have come to expect from a Nikon DSLR, the colour rendition using the standard colour mode is natural rather than punchy and dynamic. Of course, the vivid colour setting can be employed for anyone wanting these tones. Monochrome shooters will be pleased with the filter effects available, suited as they are for scenes such as dramatic landscapes (red filter) or portraits with great tonal depth (green filter). Colour filter effects, such as skylight, red intensifier or warm filter, can be applied to images post-capture.
As seen in the D7000, there are two AWB modes: the standard one that works to neutralise any colour cast; and one that preserves the colour of warm lighting. The latter is ideal for capturing warmth in a scene, and is particularly useful for sunsets or under tungsten light. The standard AWB mode can, like any other, record unwanted colour casts when a dominant colour tricks its metering to compensate for the tone – a green landscape can, for example, take on a magenta cast.
Taking a custom white balance reading has unfortunately always been a little tricky with a Nikon DSLR. For the most part the same can be said for the D7100, apart from the new spot white balance feature in live view. This is much more intuitive and speedy than the usual Nikon method.
