Color Temperature - Nikon D3200 Reference Manual

The Shooting Menu
White balance can be selected using the White balance option in
the shooting menu (_ 127), which also can be used to fine-tune
white balance (_ 71) or measure a value for preset white balance
(_ 72).
The _ Fluorescent option in the White balance menu can be used
to select the light source from the bulb types shown at right.
Color Temperature
The perceived color of a light source varies with the viewer and other conditions. Color
temperature is an objective measure of the color of a light source, defined with reference to
the temperature to which an object would have to be heated to radiate light in the same
wavelengths. While light sources with a color temperature in the neighborhood of 5,000-
5,500 K appear white, light sources with a lower color temperature, such as incandescent
light bulbs, appear slightly yellow or red. Light sources with a higher color temperature
appear tinged with blue. The camera white balance options are adapted to the following
color temperatures:
• _ (sodium-vapor lamps): 2,700 K
• ;_ (incandescent)/
(warm-white fluorescent): 3,000 K
• _ (white fluorescent): 3,700 K
• _ (cool-white fluorescent): 4,200K
• _ (day white fluorescent): 5,000 K
The Fn Button
• ;,i( ' e (direct sunlight): 5,200 K
• _ (flash): 5,400 K
• =1, (cloudy): 6,000 K
• _ (daylight fluorescent): 6,500 K
• _ (high temp. mercury-vapor): 7,200K
• It,,-,(shade): 8,000 K
For information on using the Fn button and the command dial to select a white balance
option, see page 143.
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