How to Adjust White Balance on a Nikon DSLR Camera

In live-view photography and movie live view, white balance can be measured in a selected area of the frame, eliminating the need to prepare a reference object or change lenses during telephoto photography. The spot white balance function is vital for photographers to capture the exact colors in the photo. The instructions apply to all Nikon DSLRs.

Follow these steps to set your Nikon DSLR to white balance.

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1. Display the live view

Press the (Lv = Live View) button to turn camera monitor to display the view through the lens.

2. Set white balance to PRE (Preset Manual)

Press the ?/key symbol button to white balance (WB), as seen in the diagram. Rotate the main command dial until PRE is displayed in the monitor, as seen in the diagram.

3. Select a preset

Press the ?/key symbol (WB) button and rotate the sub-command dial until the desired white balance preset (d-1 to d-6) is displayed in the monitor, as seen in the diagram.

4. Select direct measurement mode

Release the ?/key symbol (WB) button briefly and press the button until the PRE icon starts to flash in the monitor, as seen in the diagram. A spot white balance target symbol will be displayed at the selected focus point, as seen in the diagram. 

5. Position the target over a white or grey area

While PRE is flashing in the display, use the multi-selector to position the spot white balance target (❏) over a white or grey area of the subject, as seen in the diagram. For more precise positioning, zoom into the area around the target, press the (QUAL) button. 

6. Measure the white balance

Press the OK button or the shutter-release button all the way down to measure white balance. Custom Setting c4 (Monitor off delay)>Live view is the time available to measure white balance.

If the camera is unable to measure white balance, the message "Unable to measure white balance. Please try again" will be displayed, as seen in the diagram. Choose a new white balance target and repeat the process from Step 5. 

7. Exit direct measurement mode

Press the button with a ?/key symbol (WB) button to exit direct measurement mode.

When preset manual is selected for white balance, the position of the target used to measure the preset manual white balance will be displayed on presets recorded during live view photography and movie live view.

These directions can also be found in the Nikon D750 Manual, pages 159 - 161.