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Looking for a good accurate neutral gray card that has true 18 % reflectance.
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Oct 11, 2017 15:54:49   #
jamesl Loc: Pennsylvania
 
I am for an accurate neutral gray card that has true 18 % reflectance. I want to use it to accurately set correct exposure. I may vary the exposure one way or the other for creativity but I want the truely accurate initial exposure. Does anyone here use a gray card to set or check for accurate exposure and if so, could you suggest one or more good reliable ones? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

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Oct 11, 2017 16:11:59   #
J.R.Newton Loc: Saint Bernice, Indiana
 
Kodak makes one that is usually available in any photo store that sells supplies, ie paper, developer.

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Oct 11, 2017 16:13:50   #
rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona
 
18% gray
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/760178-REG/Dot_Line_DL_0510_Digital_Color_Balance_Cards.html


I use these, https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/788272-REG/Vello_WB_CS_White_Balance_Card_Set.html , for testing, but not for doing actual exposures. If actually needed for exposure, I'll use the white card in this set.
--Bob
jamesl wrote:
I am for an accurate neutral gray card that has true 18 % reflectance. I want to use it to accurately set correct exposure. I may vary the exposure one way or the other for creativity but I want the truely accurate initial exposure. Does anyone here use a gray card to set or check for accurate exposure and if so, could you suggest one or more good reliable ones? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

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Oct 11, 2017 16:14:48   #
RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA
 
jamesl wrote:
I am for an accurate neutral gray card that has true 18 % reflectance. I want to use it to accurately set correct exposure. I may vary the exposure one way or the other for creativity but I want the truely accurate initial exposure. Does anyone here use a gray card to set or check for accurate exposure and if so, could you suggest one or more good reliable ones? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/27715-REG/Kodak_1903061_Gray_Cards.html
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/813250-REG/Kodak_1277144_Gray_Card_Plus_9x12.html

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Oct 11, 2017 16:29:57   #
BebuLamar
 
I have the Kodak cards that are accurate. Other brands I have bought are not.

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Oct 11, 2017 16:30:11   #
lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA
 
jamesl wrote:
I am for an accurate neutral gray card that has true 18 % reflectance. I want to use it to accurately set correct exposure. I may vary the exposure one way or the other for creativity but I want the truely accurate initial exposure. Does anyone here use a gray card to set or check for accurate exposure and if so, could you suggest one or more good reliable ones? Any help will be greatly appreciated.


Yes, sometimes I'll go old school and use a 18% Grey Card. I've found my cameras anyway are pretty damn accurate for exposures, even going back to my film Pentax K2 DMD to say nothing of my Pentax DSLRs (Hell, even my CellPhone makes accurate exposures). Most often I find I'll use a grey card is if I am using a totally manual lens and find I don't like my initial starting point exposure with a digital camera. I use grey cards only for exposure setting with either the camera's meter or a hand held light meter.

For setting White Balance (if done manually) I may use a White Card. I find the various Kodak Grey cards I have adequate. I have not settled on a white standard; printed card or white piece of paper.

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Oct 11, 2017 16:43:54   #
CO
 
The WhiBal brand of gray cards are very accurate. Each one is tested by an industrial spectrophotometer before they leave the factory. I have been satisfied with mine.



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Oct 11, 2017 17:06:42   #
jamesl Loc: Pennsylvania
 
J.R.Newton wrote:
Kodak makes one that is usually available in any photo store that sells supplies, ie paper, developer.


Thank you, I'll look into one made by Kodak.

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Oct 11, 2017 17:08:06   #
jamesl Loc: Pennsylvania
 
CO wrote:
The WhiBal brand of gray cards are very accurate. Each one is tested by an industrial spectrophotometer before they leave the factory. I have been satisfied with mine.


Is this actually a gray card or just a white balance card?

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Oct 11, 2017 17:17:02   #
jamesl Loc: Pennsylvania
 
lamiaceae wrote:
Yes, sometimes I'll go old school and use a 18% Grey Card. I've found my cameras anyway are pretty damn accurate for exposures, even going back to my film Pentax K2 DMD to say nothing of my Pentax DSLRs (Hell, even my CellPhone makes accurate exposures). Most often I find I'll use a grey card is if I am using a totally manual lens and find I don't like my initial starting point exposure with a digital camera. I use grey cards only for exposure setting with either the camera's meter or a hand held light meter.

For setting White Balance (if done manually) I may use a White Card. I find the various Kodak Grey cards I have adequate. I have not settled on a white standard; printed card or white piece of paper.
Yes, sometimes I'll go old school and use a 18% Gr... (show quote)


I use a neutral gray card to set white balance and it does well. I want an accurate 18% gray card to set an accurate initial exposure point. If I take a shot of it close up and the exposure is correct, I should get a spike centered in the histogram. If my exposure is off some I can adjust it until the spike is centered but you need one that has a true 18% reflectance to be sure the exposure is correct.

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Oct 11, 2017 17:18:21   #
jamesl Loc: Pennsylvania
 
BebuLamar wrote:
I have the Kodak cards that are accurate. Other brands I have bought are not.


I will check and see what Kodak gray cards I can find available. Thanks.

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Oct 11, 2017 17:28:17   #
jamesl Loc: Pennsylvania
 
RWR wrote:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/27715-REG/Kodak_1903061_Gray_Cards.html
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/813250-REG/Kodak_1277144_Gray_Card_Plus_9x12.html


Thank you for the links.

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Oct 11, 2017 17:31:22   #
jamesl Loc: Pennsylvania
 
rmalarz wrote:
18% gray
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/760178-REG/Dot_Line_DL_0510_Digital_Color_Balance_Cards.html


I use these, https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/788272-REG/Vello_WB_CS_White_Balance_Card_Set.html , for testing, but not for doing actual exposures. If actually needed for exposure, I'll use the white card in this set.
--Bob


Thank you.

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Oct 11, 2017 20:27:01   #
rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA
 
Get a Passport Color Checker. Or a Gary Fong Greyscale Dome

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Oct 11, 2017 21:37:40   #
CO
 
jamesl wrote:
Is this actually a gray card or just a white balance card?


It's a gray card.

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