Horrible greens with D200 - advice please !

[Roadrunner]

I'm just getting used to my D200, but initial experiences suggest my trusty S2 Pro is the better camera for the technophobe simply because there are way fewer setting permutations.

Classic example below. Same car shown in the same light, with hugely different results (the D200 is the first image). Time after time my D200 has got it horribly wrong with the greens. Is this because I had it set to 'Vivid' with matrix metering, or is it more complicated than that ? For what it's worth, I think the S2 shot is virtually spot-on.

By the way, I'd accidentally set the ISO on the D200 to 1000 instead of 100, but I can't imagine that would account for this.

Looking forward to hearing your views ....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v411/ROADRUNNER3/ASC_0005.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v411/ROADRUNNER3/DSCF0030.jpg

[GaryB]

Can't help with the greens, but love the car! Jaguar D Type?

[sandman]

Has the D200 got the same colour options in the menu as the D2X ?
can you change colour space , hue settings and contrast ?
If so have you experimented ?
I use Adobe rgb at 2 setting , or Srgb at 3 setting .

Brian

[Steve P]

Roadrunner,

The first picture is what I would call the classic Nikon Colour. My D200 does exactly the same. One thing I ensure before taking the shot. Make sure white balance is correct, if it's not it will leave a horrible cast as you have here. If all else fails though you can easily adjust this in Photoshop. Go to image>match colour and have a play around with the adjustments. You will have it looking like the second pic in no time!

Cheers


Steve

[Roadrunner]

Roadrunner,

The first picture is what I would call the classic Nikon Colour. My D200 does exactly the same. One thing I ensure before taking the shot. Make sure white balance is correct, if it's not it will leave a horrible cast as you have here. If all else fails though you can easily adjust this in Photoshop. Go to image>match colour and have a play around with the adjustments. You will have it looking like the second pic in no time!

Cheers

Steve

I always leave the WB on Auto - apparently, the D200 is supposed to get it right most of the time. I can't believe that a camera of this stature can consistently produce such unnatural results - I shouldn't have to spend time in PS getting it right !

BTW - Yes, original D Type. 50 years old & still more dependable than my six month Nikon!

[mrbeal]

Where are the pictures? I can't see them!!

[Steve P]

Roadrunner,

I now what you mean but the fact remains all digital camera's get it wrong most of the time. I guess we must all remember that the technology is still in it's infancy and still has a long way to go. Having it set to Vivid is fine but be careful, it doesn't always work!

Hows this?

[Wilm]

As Steve mentioned,

use Match-Color and you can get rid of that color-cast. I've done that at my laptop ( no calibrated TFT ) in less than one minute. Here the result...


:cheers:
Wilm

[MikePL]

Digital cameras get White Balance wrong all the time

This is your rule of thumb. Whether it's the D200 or D2x, you MUST use custom white balance. Try using a white sheet of paper and I guarantee good results. When 'hotrodjefe' visited me we did some short tests and they showed that only custom WB works. Give it a try with custom and report your findings. I, personally, never use auto. The D200 has 5 custom presets and I have the following:

d-0 - for unusual custom balancing situations
d-1 - for studio strobes
d-2 - for daylight without clouds
d-3 - for mornings/afternoons (when the sun is quite low)
d-4 - for clouds
d-5 - empty

[Roadrunner]

Thanks for all the advice - looks like tweaking with Match - Colour is the answer, the results appear excellent.

[Roadrunner]

As Steve mentioned,

use Match-Color and you can get rid of that color-cast. I've done that at my laptop ( no calibrated TFT ) in less than one minute. Here the result...


:cheers:
Wilm

I've just spent ten minutes experimenting with it, and can't get near your result ! Do you neutralize it first, and what do you suggest I focus on amending - Luminance, Colour Intensity or Fade ?

[Steve P]

Go to >image>adjustments>match colour. Click on neutralise and you will see a difference, then move the fade slider along till you get the desired result. You may want to give the luminunce a small adjust but that's all.

See how you get on.


Steve

[Face]

I tryed to correct with match colour this photo, no good result, i generaly use Colour Balance on PScs2.
here the result

But i tryed a D200 in a set on nature with some models, around 2 mounth ago, the factory defoults from nikon gives horrible colour and the auto white balance on the D200 gives allways tremendous colours, i tryed diferent things on the menu from RGB to SRGB , the best way was doing the right white balance on the light condition you have or playing a little with the options on the menu adjusting the amount of colours, i don't remember where i find some RGB levels to change on the menu and the images one after one becames more similiar to the S2.

I know that i have these test images on my PC at my studio, if i can find them i will post to see the diference from the first to the last.

Petrit