Sony PMW-200 – White Balancing

[Michael Slowe]

Do a manual white balance in the usual way, with a white card in the given light at the time of shooting. If you are new to the camera you should view a video which explains all the features on the camera. I don’t know if there has been one made yet for the 200 but Doug Jensen of Vortex Media did a fabulous one for the EX cameras and doubtless also for the 200. Exact colour grading is best left to post production in my opinion but I often set my chosen Kelvin figure as a Picture Profile, rather than doing a White Balance. Everybody has their own way of obtaining the picture that they want but you are safer setting a manual white balance.

I always fit a top quality UV filter on any camera I own but that is for protection of the front element more than any optical advantage.

Michael Slowe

[Oliver De morassé]

Many thanks Michael for your tips.

Doug Jensen of Vortex Media has done a video of “Mastering Sony’s PMW-200, 160, 150, 100 XDCAM Cameras” – looks just the thing I need!

Regards, Oliver

[Oliver De morassé]

I like you idea to fit a “top quality UV filter” on my camera. Having done a little research, what’s the difference between a UV-filter and a polarised filter? Should I use a different one for indoor green screen and outdoor filming? Any makes (i.e. Hoya) & models you might recommend. Thanks again.

[Michael Slowe]

The two filters are very different in applications. A UV filter has very little effect optically in my experience, maybe helps somewhat with the treatment of sky areas but, as I said, I just use it for protection. Tiffen filters are generally regarded as the best available brand.

Michael Slowe

[John Cooke]

I’ve just recently bought the sony PMW-200 and i can’t seem to change my white balance presets. Everytime I move the button from preset to either A or B the message “Cannot Proceed” appears. I know this will be a silly setting somewhere but I just can’t seem to find it. Manual hasn’t been much help either, Can you help? Thanx

[Tom Greenwood]

Hi John – sure you’ve got this sorted by now, but in case anyone else has the same problem in future: it sounds like you have the “direct menu” selected. It allows you to dial in white-balance / shutter speed etc with the menu wheel. You can set direct menu “all” “part” or “off” in the “others” menu

[Sasa Svara]

Hi Tom,
I have just rented PMW-200 and I to have problem with WB and Gain switches and your reply was very helpful. My question is: Can you choose which “part” you can use, in “Direct Menu”?

Sasa S
Senior Editor/Cameraman

[Tom Greenwood]

Hi Sasa,
Sorry, I don’t know.
I have found the folks at sonysos@eu.sony.com helpful with these type of questions.
Best of luck,
Tom