The Zone System
Discussion
beano500 said:
a scale from Zone 0 (zero) all the way through to Zone X (ten), with a standard 18% reflectance falling at Zone V (five). Total black (in the final output) is at Zone 0, the first sign of shadow detail falls at Zone 1. Complete white-out is at Zone X and highlight detail appears at Zone IX (nine). A step from one Zone to the next is the equivalent of one stop in EV
That seems suspiciously like a histogram divided into 10 chunks like a bar chart. 10 stops DR!I don't claim to be any good at landscapes but these seem to have something:
Edited by Simpo Two on Sunday 27th January 21:20
course we use the zone system only its called spot metering now! You spot meter then up or down 1 or 2 stops for the tone you want. Instead of 10 you have 5 tones, black, shaddow, grey, white, bright white. You take your spot at grey then adjust for the tone you want most
I suppose you could go further and make it a 10 zone system by using 0.5 stops if using the standard ev meter or you could learn and remember each full stop number for shutter speed or aperture but its a pita when the spot metering works good enough.
Plus we dont all have f1 lenses like Adams did
I suppose you could go further and make it a 10 zone system by using 0.5 stops if using the standard ev meter or you could learn and remember each full stop number for shutter speed or aperture but its a pita when the spot metering works good enough.
Plus we dont all have f1 lenses like Adams did
Yea... Matt was into it big time for a while. He spent ages spot metering each shot when he was up here (by which time the light had gone or it was raining)
Here's his take
http://mattwatkinson.com/blog/?p=45
Here's his take
http://mattwatkinson.com/blog/?p=45
GetCarter said:
Yea... Matt was into it big time for a while. He spent ages spot metering each shot when he was up here (by which time the light had gone or it was raining)
Here's his take
http://mattwatkinson.com/blog/?p=45
Steve - sent a mail to Matt a couple of weeks ago saying I hadn't heard from him for a while, and to ask if he was dead. Haven't received a reply - was wondering whether or not to start a party, but just want to make sure that you haven't heard from him recently, it'd be a shame to order in all the booze only to hear at the last minute that the sweaty jew is still alive... Here's his take
http://mattwatkinson.com/blog/?p=45
Andy M said:
GetCarter said:
Yea... Matt was into it big time for a while. He spent ages spot metering each shot when he was up here (by which time the light had gone or it was raining)
Here's his take
http://mattwatkinson.com/blog/?p=45
Steve - sent a mail to Matt a couple of weeks ago saying I hadn't heard from him for a while, and to ask if he was dead. Haven't received a reply - was wondering whether or not to start a party, but just want to make sure that you haven't heard from him recently, it'd be a shame to order in all the booze only to hear at the last minute that the sweaty jew is still alive... Here's his take
http://mattwatkinson.com/blog/?p=45
I got really interested in the zone system years ago, even had a long chat with Mattyboy about it a few months back. I read and re-read it until I knew it inside out...then went out with the camera and forgot about it 
A spot meter and a histogram is all you want, a histogram is all you need.
Martin.
A spot meter and a histogram is all you want, a histogram is all you need.Martin.
Ah the Zone System. I learnt all about this at college. That's why I don't need to shoot RAW. Just kidding 
It's fascinating stuff, but the nearest I get to it these days is using a grey card. One has to admire the time and attention to detail of Adam's. Seeing his prints in the flesh, so to speak, is a rather wonderful experience.
It's fascinating stuff, but the nearest I get to it these days is using a grey card. One has to admire the time and attention to detail of Adam's. Seeing his prints in the flesh, so to speak, is a rather wonderful experience.
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