Canon HF-G40 Auto White Balance ?

[Inapickle]

Hi,

I recently upgraded my Canon HF-G10 camcorder to an HF-G30. I was considering the HF-G40 but a very good deal came up on a new HF-G30 that seemed too good to pass-up.

Automatic White Balance (AWB) on the HF-G10 was, in my opinion, very good - adapting quickly to changed lighting conditions and in mixed lighting usually arriving at a good compromise. I rarely had to manually white balance off a card to get acceptable result, which is what you want for run-and-gun and events work.

Unfortunately this has not been my experience with AWB on the HF-G30. For one thing it seems to take longer (typically around 10 secs or so) to fully adapt to changed lighting conditions, and sometimes it doesn't quite get there or requires powering the camcorder off and on and again to get it to do. So there is a tendency for blue casts to linger on white subjects when moving from sunlight to shade outdoors and likewise when shooting window lit interiors, especially on overcast days. Even in daylight conditions that should be optimal for accurate AWB (in the 5200 - 5500 K range) you'll find that different aspects of the same white object may take on blue casts - a white car, for example, the roof will be white but some aspects of the bonnet exhibit a blue tint. I can't recall having that issue with the HF-G10. I get the sense that AWB on the HF-G30, in general, arrives at a slightly lower color temperature than the HF-G10 did under similar conditions, and that is borne out by the adjustments required in post to correct for these these casts, as far as that is possible.   

Yes, the Color Temperature (K) setting option is a great feature if you have the time to fiddle with it, but that was really designed for fine adjustments in a controlled studio lighting environment, not 'winging-it' out in the field, and trying to make judgements based on what can be made out on the OLED screen or EVF can often make matters worse. 

What's frustrating is that in all other respects the HF-G30 is perfect for my needs, but this AWB issue is causing me such angst that I'm at the point of throwing the towel in.

So my question to any HF-G40 users out there (or XA30/35 users for that matter) is whether Canon addressed this issue and improved AWB on the HF-G40 or if it's still the same thing ?

Cheers

[Greggadventure]

Yes, I can do manual white balance, I just find I'm not super good at it, and may end up too cool, or too warm. Also, doing manual WB, means I have to do manual gain, exposure, etc, and I find I get those a bit wrong also, and may end up too dark, etc, where, in auto, it just looks right, simply by turning it on. Feels like so much work, doing all this manual, just to be sitting at a desk, showing a printer or a component. The only light in the entire room, is a UL60. (prior, I used a different studio light, but, about a month ago, I switched to a UL 60). It's locked at 5600k, and never changes. I am trying to change my setup, to cover the desk in black, rather than letting the wood show. I wear only black shirt, and a black hat. I have no decorative items, or artsy lights. I even repainted the room. From black, to Grey. Doing everything I can to help, but, still turns blue. I feel like it should be able to handle this, as I've been ok, with all my other cameras. Only the G50 and G70 doing this. 

You can see the stuff I shoot, here: youtube.com/@3RUNDOWN

It's a very simple setup. Me, Desk, Item, Light. I tried moving to a different room all together.... And it did it there as well. 

Is there a way to change WB, without having to be in full auto? 

I'm open to anything... even learning full manual if I must, but, I'm thinking it may be easier to sell it. My Sony ZV-E10 doesn't do it. But that camera overheats too much, to be a viable options. 

Thanks for any input. 🙂

[Greggadventure]

I use matching Godox ULC 60 lights. Manual can be done, but, I should be able to use auto, as I use auto with all my other camera. BOTH my Canon HF camera, do the blue thing... 

[IamintheUK]

I've never had a camera where you couldn't be selective in what was set to auto or manual. I would suggest you have a serious look at the manual .which would be the obvious place to start.

[IamintheUK]

In reply to Gregadventures' post on 11-22-2024, I always shot with everything in manual mode except focus which stayed in autofocus mode. White balance was never a problem. When setting a custom white balance make sure your white target occupies the full frame when setting. 

[Greggadventure]

I can set Custom white balance, but, in AUTO, it's always blue. I have never seen a camera, of any kind, even a cheap one, that can be so wrong, 100% of the time, and make everything blue. It doesn't make sense....  As for Focus, Autofocus, ruins about 30% of all my content, on any given day. I have to watch a large monitor, the entire time, and I spend allot of time, waiting for the focus to go OUT, then BACK IN, so I can resume talking. Again, I've never seen such a bad problem like this. Many times, I don't realize it happened, as I have to watch for the focus problem on a monitor, while also looking into the camera. SO MANY shots, on any given day, are ruined, as it randomly goes out of focus...  I wish somebody had a solution, other than not using the Camera....