Is White Balance Broken?

White balance is something most photographers know affects how colors appear, but a recent video argues that almost every camera, even high-end cinema models, is designed in a way that makes precise control harder than it needs to be.

In the video, the creator walks through how Kelvin-based white balance steps do not match how our eyes perceive changes in color. Using side-by-side image sequences, he shows that equal Kelvin increments can bunch up toward the warm end of the spectrum while giving far fewer adjustments to cooler tones. The result is a control system that feels inconsistent, with small changes at low Kelvin values creating big color shifts and large changes at high Kelvin values barely moving the needle.

There is real science behind it, tied to how light from hot objects follows Wien’s Law, which is not a straight-line relationship. The video also points out that exposure controls already account for non-linear perception, so there is no reason white balance could not be treated the same way. Canon’s cinema line is one of the few examples that comes close, offering an option to step in equal color increments, but most systems still stick with fixed Kelvin jumps.

The video linked above includes practical examples, visual tests, and a proposed fix that would make life easier for photographers and filmmakers alike. It is a fascinating look at a setting most of us take for granted.