Calibrite ColorChecker GreyScale

The white, gray, and black patches sit perfectly flush on a rigid card, so it's easy to hold steady while metering. I've been using it to set manual white balance before every shoot and the 18% gray reads exactly where I expect it to.

I finally have a reliable reference for white balance that I can trust, and the 18% gray square makes setting exposure a breeze. The uniform surface across all three patches has made my color grading much more consistent in post.

The three patches are exactly what I use for every session, and the 18% gray square reads consistently even in mixed lighting. It’s a bit pricey for what’s essentially three squares, but the finish is matte and even, so I’ve stopped second-guessing my exposures since switching to it.