Canon EOS Rebel T1i

	White Balance Summary
• Below average performance on both automatic and manual white balance • Especially inaccurate with automatic incandescent white balancing • Good preset adjustment controls
	Resolution	Page 6 of 21	Sample Photos

White Balance (8.64)

In white balance accuracy, the T1i performed below expectations, both in automatic and custom modes. The camera's automatic WB performance was hindered by significant trouble handling incandescent illumination, and with custom white balance, it didn't measure up to our high expectations for this feature.

We test white balance using the X-Rite Judge II, a device that produces light of the same color temperature as sunlight, compact white fluorescent bulbs and incandescent/tungsten bulbs. We photograph the X-Rite ColorChecker chart under these light sources using both automatic and custom white balance settings, and measure the deviance from pure white/gray. Click here for more on how we test white balance.

Automatic White Balance (10.12)
All cameras struggle with incandescent light sources, but the Rebel T1i seems to do have more trouble than most. It accurately adjusted for compact white fluorescent and dealt with daylight well enough, but the poor handling of incandescent illumination dragged down its score in this section.

Auto White Balance

Compared to other tested cameras, the T1i was  cooler than most with daylight illumination, leaving a slight blue shift in the image.

Auto Daylight White Balance Performance Comparison

Even though all white balance systems struggle with incandescent light sources, the T1i was especially bad, with a color error of over 2800K.

Auto Incandescent White Balance Performance Comparison

Dealing with a compact white fluorescent bulb, the Rebel T1i handled marginally better, but cooler than most.

Auto Fluorescent White Balance Performance Comparison

Custom White Balance (7.16)
Taking a reading off a gray card allows for much greater white balance accuracy,  so we score much more aggressively in this section, demanding a high degree of color accuracy.

Canon Rebel T1i Custom White Balance

The T1i was surprisingly inaccurate in its custom white balance performance. While only a demanding photographer is likely to notice the difference, other tested cameras, even those sold at lower prices, deliver significantly more accurate results.

White Balance Score Comparison

Overall, the T1i scored poorly in this test, as trouble with incandescent dragged down the automatic white balance results, and custom white balance was not as accurate as competing models.

NOTE: We updated our testing and scoring procedures in January 2009. For comparison purposes, we re-tested several cameras we'd reviewed in 2008, producing the scores shown in the chart above for the Canon Rebel XS and Nikon D90. However, the scores in the original reviews for these re-tested cameras remain unchanged, for consistency's sake.

White Balance Settings (7.25)

White Balance Types
Display	Mode	Color Temperature
	Daylight	5200K
	Shade	7000K
	Cloudy	6000K
	Tungsten	3200K
	White fluorescent	4000K
	Flash	Unknown
	Custom	n/a
	Auto	n/a

Canon uses a cumbersome custom white balance system that requires you to take a reading from a stored image, instead of directly from a white or gray card.

The white balance presets can be adjusted along both amber/blue and green/magenta axes, in ±9 steps in each direction. Each step is the equivalent of five mireds (a unit that measures shift in color temperature).

The camera can bracket white balance along either amber/blue or green/magenta axes, with ±1, ±2 or ±3 steps over three shots.