Lightdow 12 x 12 Inch (30 x 30 cm) White Balance 18% Gray Reference Reflector Grey Card with Carry Bag [Folded Version]

This a clever little product that meets my need perfectly. I used mine to perform custom white balancing in the field on my Nikon D600. It came in a small zip bag and pops open when you take it out. I mean Pop! It weighs like a feather and it's cloth over wire frame construction means it's very easy to set up against a tree or whatever in the field, set white balance, then pack it away. So it's both compact and under 4 oz., great for your gear bag in the field. The wire frame makes it less likely than a piece of gray card to blow away. The cloth means it's possibly cleanable as well. Just what I wanted for the field! Light, cheap, reliable, practical. My D600 read the grey face but not the white face. Here's how to fold it back up so it'll fit back into the pouch: Note that it is roughly rectangular with 4 corners. With both hands pinch two catty corners or opposite corners on the diagonal, doesn't matter which two as long as they're catty corner. Bring the 2 corners together so it's pinched together in the middle. You now have 2 corners together and it looks like a sort of butterfly shape. Holding the pinched corners with one hand, turn that hand inward towards you so the back of that hand faces away and the 2 "butterfly wings" face at you. Using your other hand bring the bottom wing up and into the middle so you can now pinch that lobe as well with the hand that has the middles pinched. Now holding all that with one hand, bring the other lobe over and down on top and, keeping it pinched bring it all together in the smallest size and slip it back into the pouch whilst keeping it all pinched together. A lot to write down for you, but do this once and it's a cinch forever!

This works great and comes with small case to hold it. It folds up small and fits in the case so it doesn’t take up a lot of room in my bag. The quality is excellent and the color is the right gray.

PROS & CONS I would give 4 stars, but for this price it has to be 5! PROS * white balance & exposure are great. I tested it with a bigger name brand that cost 5x more, and the color/white balance was BETTER with this. It was a smidge darker on the exposure than the expensive one, but I generally shoot a tiny bit dark to save those highlights so it was PERFECT. * Easy to fold (this is also the con, you'll see why) * Good non reflective surface. * Price CONS * It's pretty dang wrinkled when unfolded. This causes issue because you have light reflecting slightly bright & slightly dark all over the surface... To solve this I just left it out unfolded for a few days... I probably won't fold it again, because I like the white balance better than my expensive one... If this wasn't so cheap I'd remove a star for the wrinkles (but if your don't need to fold it, it's not a problem).

It's not perfect but it's not bad either. At such an inexpensive price point, it's hard to beat this. I accidentally bought two but kept both because the price and small size are perfect. I have one in my camera bag and one in a loose ends/backup bag for when I'm traveling on-set. On my GH5, this works just fine for setting white balance. I've tried with both the white side and the gray side and both seem to produce the same results. Plus, it's pretty fun to snap it open when pulling it out of its 4" x 4" bag. The quick and easy fold-up means it's perfectly compact and will fit in a camera bag, back pocket, or whatever other small space you have available (the side pockets on a camera bag work great). Clients also love it. It's something they can quickly hold and it seems like giving them something to hold while getting the frame set helps reduce their anxiety about filming. Get one. Given its low price, you can't go wrong. It might not be 100% perfect but it's almost perfect and especially so for the price it's at.

short version: quality, ease of use, portability. Just buy it—it is what you want. Okay, so I am taking (several ) courses on Photography at Harvard (extension). I never planned on this, but shooting photos and video is so much fun that I recommend everyone try it as a hobby for at least a year or two. Unfortunately it is also stressful. You find out you need equipment like this. Photography equipment is always overpriced, as if there is a premium on it because it has to do with images. This is really well priced, considering how much you might pay elsewhere (famous photography supply websites or brick and mortar stores). It is not made to stand up to physical abuse, but for normal wear and tear (like you would with any of your other camera equipment) it will last several years. The gray is standard, but that is obvious. There really is only one color the manufacturer needs to match (neutral gray). The nylon is durable and not reflective (of course), and the whole thing folds up like any quality-made giant reflector (used on set or in studio). The carrying bag is of cheap quality, but that is okay, as long as you take even remotely decent care of it — or if you just toss it and store your gray card in any of your camera equipment bags. I know this works as I have to use it to get a passing grade, and given how much I am paying for tuition, I want tools that make it EASIER for me to pass. This is a great tool. It just also happens to be reasonably priced (considering alternatives). Good luck with all of the items you will have to buy for your photography habit. This is one place you can save a little money and not have to sacrifice quality. You can't do that on lenses (obviously). Anyway, I hope this helps :)

This gray card does exactly what it is supposed to do. I've been using it to improve white balance and color accuracy in my photos, and it has made a noticeable difference in the consistency and overall quality of my images. One thing I particularly like is how portable it is. It folds down easily into a compact size, making it simple to toss into a camera bag without taking up much space. When unfolded, it's large enough to be practical without being cumbersome. If you're looking for an affordable tool to help improve color accuracy and streamline your editing process, this gray card is a solid addition to your photography kit.

Great addition to my camera bag. I am moving away from Auto White Balance and this is the way to go.

It’s very compact and easily fits in my camera bag. It easily folds up and fits in its storage bag.

Useful for beginner photographers

The Lightdow 12x12” Grey Card is a fantastic tool for dialing in accurate white balance and exposure — especially when shooting in mixed lighting or outdoors. The 18% gray surface is true to spec, and the white and black sides are helpful for metering or setting up contrast and highlights. The build is lightweight but sturdy enough to hold its shape when propped up or held by hand. The carry pouch is a great bonus, and the card folds down compactly — but that’s the one catch: folding it back up takes some patience and practice. Still, for the price and what it does for your workflow, this is an easy recommendation. Great tool for filmmakers, photographers, or YouTubers looking for reliable white balance and exposure control on the go.

Good product

La Lightdow Carte Balance des Blancs Gris 18 % – format 30 x 30 cm s’impose comme un outil essentiel pour tout photographe souhaitant maîtriser précisément ses couleurs et son exposition, même – et surtout – en conditions extérieures. Les points forts ✔ Gris neutre 18 % calibré, indispensable pour obtenir une exposition fiable. En extérieur, où la lumière varie constamment (nuages, ombres, réflexions du sol ou de la végétation), cette référence devient cruciale pour éviter les expositions approximatives basées sur des scènes trompeuses. ✔ Excellente aide à l’exposition : exposer sur une charte de gris permet d’uniformiser les réglages d’une série d’images, garantissant une cohérence lumineuse, que l’on photographie un sujet clair ou sombre. ✔ Grand format (30 x 30 cm), parfaitement visible en lumière naturelle, facilitant la mesure même à plusieurs mètres du sujet. ✔ Surface mate, limitant les reflets parasites, un atout important lors des prises de vue en plein soleil. ✔ Rapport qualité/prix très compétitif, rendant accessible une méthode de travail habituellement réservée aux workflows professionnels. ✔ Housse de transport Les points faibles ✘ Moins polyvalente qu’une charte complète (noir, blanc, couleurs), ce qui limite son usage au strict réglage de l’exposition et de la balance des blancs mais c'est fondamentale en reportage. Importance en pratique Travailler avec une charte de gris en extérieur n’est pas un luxe, mais une assurance de constance et de justesse. Les systèmes de mesure des appareils peuvent être influencés par un ciel très lumineux, un décor sombre ou des couleurs dominantes. Une exposition calée sur une charte de gris 18 % permet de reprendre le contrôle, de réduire le temps de correction en post-production et d’obtenir des fichiers plus propres, mieux exploitables. Astuce pro: surexposer vos fichiers RAW à +1.33 IL suite à la mesure afin de bénéficier de toutes la richesse de niveaux des hautes lumière et développer en courbe linéaire (donc, ne pas se fier à l'aperçu JPEG de votre APN !) La Lightdow Carte Gris 18 % est donc un outil pédagogique et professionnel à la fois, particulièrement pertinent pour ceux qui souhaitent sécuriser leur exposition en lumière naturelle. Simple, efficace et abordable, elle rappelle qu’une bonne photo commence toujours par une référence fiable, quelles que soient les conditions de prise de vue. Pour le prix , sa compacité et les services qu'il apporte je mets 5 étoiles et je recommande fortement cet achat.

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