good grey card under $20'ish?

[Photoform]

So, I've never used a grey card before, but id like to order one so that maybe I can get some good color when I'm in my house or in weird lighting. (It will help that right? lol).

But I look on amazon and there are lots! I have a Canon t1i so I'm just using a beginner's cam. What to look for? Can a small credit card size one work jsut as well as a large one? Do you need both?

Thanks so much. Recommendations more than welcome!!! :mrgreen:

 

[dbvirago]

I'm sure you will get several good recommendations here, but here is a suggestion. Many of the Kelby books have a nice cardboard tear out card in the back. The entire thing is about 8x11 and divided into 4 sections, with two shades of gray, black and white. I have a couple of whole ones I use all the time and one I cut into fourths that fit in my pocket.

 

[Helen B]

Plain white expanded polystyrene ("Styrofoam") makes a very good true neutral reference. You can use plates or parts of plates and cups.

 

[joshua_]

Plain white expanded polystyrene ("Styrofoam") makes a very good true neutral reference. You can use plates or parts of plates and cups.

Helen B,

would you (or someone else) explain this? After reading my first book (I'm very new) I felt like I should use the grey card as well (as opposed to the white styrofoam). I thought using white would mess me up, along with using black. When I ordered my grey card it did come with a black and a white, so I do realize there is something here I don't understand yet.

I'd appreciate it if someone had a moment to break it down better for me.

Thanks

 

[Photoform]

Plain white expanded polystyrene ("Styrofoam") makes a very good true neutral reference. You can use plates or parts of plates and cups.

is a grey card better or are these the same quality? I'm ok spending a few dollars for a grey card that I imagine will last longer than I'm alive.

 

[480sparky43 43]

Which gray card you get depends on the software you're using. Some software only corrects for color imbalance when choosing a 'neutral' color. So you can use any shade of gray to go by. Other programs are aimed at 14% or 18% graycards and not only set WB, but can correct for exposure as well.

Myself, I use a Robin Myers digital gray card. It's not ink on paper or cardboard, so it can't wash away when you work in the rain or sweat on it. It's plastic, and the color is through the entire card. Scuff it up? Use sandpaper to smooth it back down.

 

[brunerww]

FWIW, I wear a $9 set of 3 black/white/gray balance cards around my neck when I'm shooting. They're small enough that I can hold them in front of the camera with one hand and hit the WB button with the other.

Hope this is useful,

Bill

 

[Photoform]

thanks I wasnt sure if those little credit card size ones were good but I guess they are if you guys recommend it too. :hug::

 

[Pallycow]

I use a 18% grey I picked up fro 8 bucks. it was about the size of a sheet of paper, but I cut it in half and then cut one of the halves into cc size pieces for pocket/bag/car etc. If I mess 'em up..I will get another for 8 bucks. no loss. Works great.

I do like the idea of the one sparky mentions...might look into one of those. But as to your initial question in title...you can get a cheap one and will work fine, you don't have to spend a lot of money on them.

 

[bratkinson]

In the too-often times I forget to take a grey card with me, or Expo Disk, or Color Checker, I resort to finding something white in the picture...white shirt, table cloth, whatever, then set WB to that in Lightroom. Then only a minor tweek is necessary, if that, to fix the WB. Shooting in RAW allows a LOT of flexibility.