How to Set a Custom White Balance on an Astro Modified Nikon Z6

[@framed-tales]

Very important topic Matt! Thanks

[@MattDieterich]

Thanks for watching Abu!

[@johnstassek7020]

Hi Matt. Thanks for explaining how custom white balances work with a modified camera. Recently, I've been thinking of getting my Nikon D750 H-alpha modified. But I've learned that model has a problem with an internal IR source that may screw up long exposures. So I've been searching for another Nikon model. I like the looks of the Z6, but the modification sites I've visited also list the Z6 as having the same problem as the D750. Since you have the Z6, would you be kind enough to tell me if long exposures really are a problem, and how you handle them? If the Z6 handles the modification with no major problems, do you suppose my D750 would be okay with it too? Appreciate any advice. And thanks!

[@MattDieterich]

@@johnstassek7020 hey John the Spencer's Camera modified Z6 I had was great and didn't have any issues that I noticed. A workshop client had a modified D750 this weekend that worked well too.

[@Kyle_Hubbard]

Don't know if you're able to answer this. I got my D5300 modified for milky way and general widefield astrophotography, like you had I have a purple tint in my images. The only lens I own for it is a 14mm lens. How would I go about taking an image of the grey card with such a widefield lens?

[@MattDieterich]

Great question, all you need to do is get the lens close to the gray card. No need for the lens to be able to reach focus. The other option is swap to a 24mm or similar lens to get the custom white balance. Save that data in your camera and you're good to go once swapping to the 14mm lens at night.

[@davidletz9123]

Hi, I just got my Z6ii back from Lifepixel with same modification, and I am not 100% clear about white balance settings. Do I need to set this custom white balance for my astro shots? I thought it was only necessary for daylight "regular" photography. Thanks! FWIW, I have yet to try it at night.

[@MattDieterich]

Hey David, setting the custom white balance is very helpful for astrophotography as it will require less time fine tuning during editing.

[@stanburman9978]

Thank you Matt!

[@MattDieterich]

Absolutely Stan! Thanks for watching!

[@vinikrish]

Thanks for this wonderful video... Is your z6 a visible + HA or a Full spectrum modified?

[@MattDieterich]

Thank you Vineeth! This Z6 has the standard HA modification from Spencer's Camera.

[@markferguson7126]

Matt - do you recommend using the same custom white balance, shot during the day, for your astro imaging runs at night? If so, does that also mean that any type of filter you might use for your astro imaging runs should be used when creating your custom white balance setting? I can see that it would easily balance the red shift in daylight photography but I wasn't sure if there were other considerations for astro shooting.

[@MattDieterich]

Hey Mark, yes sorry I forgot to mention that I use the same daytime custom white balance to provide accurate colors when shooting astrophotos.

[@markferguson7126]

@@MattDieterich Great. Thanks for the quick reply and putting this together. Very helpful!

[@MattDieterich]

@@markferguson7126 happy to help! Let me know if you need anything else =)

[@kowalskik.1333]

so each time I put a new filter (no matter if ND filter or CPL etc.) I have to do a white balance with the filter?

[@calebwhite681]

Lifepixel just modded my Canon 6D. from what I understand, the 6D is very easy to mod so i'm hoping everything went well. Initial testing was scary because I shot my astrophotos in Live View, which apparently creates a light leak on the sensor. Not just lifepixel, someone on cloudy nights had it, Adrian Mauduit from NightLightsFilms reported that in LV. Can't wait for more testing but I'll definitely be setting a custom WB today at noon!

[@MattDieterich]

Definitely hope the mod works well! The 6D is still such a great astrophotography camera!

[@CryptoStevie69]

Do you need to use a custom WB from the 18% Gray Card when you are shooting MW at night or is this specifically only for day time shooting?

[@MattDieterich]

If you're shooting with a modified camera the custom white balance will help keep the colors accurate for both day and night time shooting.

[@akkarparkiamopas3401]

@@MattDieterich That means when we check the pic of the night we just took on the back lcd screen of camera, we still see more h alpha colour on the night sky but the rest will look natural. Is this correct?

[@Kobacolbz]

What settings are you using? Since autofocus is rendered useless after the mod. Thanks

[@MattDieterich]

Autofocus still works, but for astrophotography as always I use manual focus.

[@arjundhannyify]

do you recommend changing the reds greens blues gamma values also while customizing?

[@MattDieterich]

Not necessarily, as if you create a white balance on a 18 % gray card then the camera should adjust automatically values for you. I'm not sure if gamma is changed during that automatic process.

[@allaneastcoast]

Is the custom white balance saved or do you have to do this each time

[@MattDieterich]

The CWB is saved as a preference, so you won't have to do this each time.

[@sianoshea]

Thank you for this. My Astro modded Z6ii arrives this week, so this is very helpful. Do you have some nighttime images that you have taken with this white balance correction to see how the HA looks? Many thanks!

[@MattDieterich]

I have some on my Instagram page with the Z6 you can checkout. Usually I put the tech details in my posts :)

[@sianoshea]

@@MattDieterich fab, thank you! I’ll have a look :)

[@MattDieterich]

@@sianoshea you're welcome! Let me know if you have any questions.

[@sianoshea]

@@MattDieterich thank you - will see once it arrives. So excited to add that HA to my images!

[@MattDieterich]

@@sianoshea makes such a difference for those beautiful emission nebulae 😀

[@shadowace03]

Do you need a custom white balance if you are shooting entirely in RAW?

[@MattDieterich]

I do not believe so, but shooting the custom white balance will ensure you can accurately see the colors when reviewing your image in the field. Plus the custom white balance will give you a much closer starting point for "accurate" color balance when editing the RAW.

[@akkarparkiamopas3401]

@@MattDieterichDoes that mean when we are reviewing the image on the field, ie Orion Nebula with landscape, We will see more of the h alpha colour in Orion Nebula but the landscape colour will look natural colour. Is this correct ?

[@MattDieterich]

@@akkarparkiamopas3401 you will see more natural colors of the nebula and also the landscape itself will have accurate colors.