How to Change the White Balance on Your Canon 200D

Adjusting the white balance on your Canon EOS 200D (also known as the Rebel SL2) is a fundamental step to ensure accurate and natural-looking colors in your photos. It's a straightforward process that can significantly improve your image quality by compensating for different light sources.

There are several ways to change your white balance settings, from automatic presets to highly accurate custom options.

Quick Access via the Q Button

The quickest way to adjust white balance on your Canon 200D is often through the Quick Control screen.

Power On your camera.
Press the <Q> button (Quick Control button), typically located near the LCD screen. This will bring up the Quick Control screen on your display.
Navigate to the White Balance icon: Use the directional keys (cross keys) on the back of your camera or the touch screen to select the white balance icon. It often looks like a square with a triangle or "WB."
Select Your Setting: Once the white balance option is highlighted, you can use the main dial or directional keys to scroll through the available presets.
Confirm: Press the <SET> button or tap on your desired setting on the touchscreen to apply it.

Using the Main Menu

For a more traditional approach, you can access white balance settings via the camera's main menu system.

Power On your camera.
Press the <MENU> button.
Navigate to the Shooting Settings: Use the directional keys to go to the shooting menu tab (usually represented by a camera icon).
Find White Balance: Scroll through the menu options until you find "White balance".
Choose Your Setting: Select "White balance" and then use the directional keys or main dial to choose your desired preset or custom option.
Confirm: Press the <SET> button.

Precision with Custom White Balance

For the most accurate color reproduction, especially in mixed or challenging lighting conditions, utilizing the custom white balance feature is essential. This method requires a neutral reference like a gray card or a dedicated white balance tool.

Here's how to set a custom white balance on your Canon 200D:

Prepare Your Scene: Place a neutral gray card or a pure white object (that isn't reflective) in the same lighting conditions as your subject. Ensure it fills a significant portion of the frame.
Take a Reference Photo:
- Set your camera to a manual exposure mode (like Av, Tv, or M).
- Take a photo of the gray card or white object, making sure it is properly exposed. You don't need to focus precisely, but ensure the card is clear.
Access Custom White Balance Setting:
- Press the <MENU> button.
- Navigate to the shooting menu tab and find "Custom WB".
- Select it and press <SET>.
Select Your Reference Image: The camera will prompt you to select an image. Use the directional keys to choose the photo you just took of your gray card.
Register Custom WB: Press <SET> again. The camera will process the image and ask if you want to register this white balance data. Select "OK" and press <SET>.
Apply Custom WB:
- Now, go back to the main "White balance" setting (either via the Q button or the main menu).
- Select the "Custom white balance" icon, which typically looks like a square with a triangle and two overlapping rectangles, or sometimes represented by a Kelvin temperature.
- This will apply the custom setting you just created.

Using a gray card or a dedicated white balance setting tool is crucial for customizing your white balance to perfectly match the ambient light.

Understanding White Balance Presets

Your Canon 200D offers several preset white balance options to quickly adapt to common lighting scenarios.

White Balance Preset	Description	Ideal Use
Auto (AWB)	The camera automatically detects and sets the optimal white balance. Good for general shooting.	Everyday shooting, varied indoor/outdoor conditions.
Daylight	Designed for clear, sunny outdoor conditions, making colors appear natural.	Bright sunny days, outdoor scenes.
Shade	Corrects for the bluish cast often found in shaded outdoor areas, adding warmth.	Open shade, early morning/late afternoon.
Cloudy	Similar to Shade but with slightly less warming, for overcast or cloudy days.	Overcast skies, cloudy weather.
Tungsten	Compensates for the yellowish-orange cast of incandescent or tungsten light, making whites appear whiter.	Indoor shooting under old-fashioned light bulbs.
White Fluorescent	Corrects for the greenish tint of fluorescent lighting.	Indoor shooting under fluorescent lights.
Flash	Optimized for shots taken with flash, aiming for balanced colors.	When using your camera's built-in or external flash.
Custom WB	Uses data from a reference photo (e.g., a gray card) for highly precise white balance.	Mixed lighting, studio, challenging light sources.
Color Temperature	Allows manual setting of color temperature in Kelvin (K), giving ultimate control.	Advanced users, specific creative control, studio work.

Note: The icons provided in the table are illustrative and may vary slightly in appearance on your camera's LCD.

Tips for Effective White Balance

When in Doubt, Shoot RAW: If you're unsure about the correct white balance, shooting in RAW format provides the most flexibility to adjust white balance accurately in post-processing without losing image quality.
Observe the Light: Before choosing a preset, take a moment to observe the dominant light source in your scene. This will help you select the most appropriate setting.
Creative White Balance: Sometimes, you might intentionally choose an incorrect white balance to create a specific mood or artistic effect (e.g., using a "Tungsten" setting outdoors for a cool, blue look).
Monitor Your Screen: Always check your camera's LCD screen after taking a shot to ensure the colors look natural and pleasing.

Mastering white balance on your Canon 200D will empower you to capture images with accurate and vibrant colors, regardless of the lighting conditions. Experiment with the different settings to see their effects and find what works best for your photography style.