If you want to understand Film Photography, you really can't do much better then Ansel Adams.
He had lots of talents, he was a concert quality pianist and lover of music, a wonderful clear writer, and a scientist by avocation. He studied sensitometry in order to understand the technical side of photography. He did so well at that , he was paid buy Eastman Kodak and Polaroid corp as a consultant. He also loved a good party.
His central thesis was that of a scientist, he learned the process and experimented to perfect it.
That is the essence of the Zone system, and while the inherent 'Tone curve' of Digital capture is different than film capture, his scientific approach always holds up. As an Artist, he believed that you needed a deep technical understanding of your medium in order to make the medium more expressive of your creative vision.
He LOVED new technology, he DOVE into Polaroid, but always technology was interesting as a means of better artistic expression. I'm certain he would have loved and mastered digital technology.
He also loved his Hasselblads in his later years.
I still have all my original Hasselblad cameras & lenses including the incomparable 903 SWC.
So, great good luck in your endeavor

I recently purchased Ansel Adam's book, "The Negative" specifically to understand and learn to apply the zone system of exposure. I just reached the chapter on the Zone System and though I shoot digitally, I'm finding that this system is amazing and can definitely be an added bonus. I also recently purchased a top mint condition Hasselblad 500CM that I'm over the moon excited to start using; however, there are some things that I need to learn about film photography. I've become a student once again and it's truly exciting.

The zone system is the beginning for serious film photography. I think that an equivalent in digital photography is using histograms to assist in capturing highlights without burning them and preserving shadow detail. Both require some work before the exposure it taken.

There are other variables that have to be corrected either in printing or in a photo editor. Contrast is adjusted with different photo papers, for instance. Exposure by the enlarger and development time can be critical and may require some experimentation. Ansel Adams spent more time "adjusting" his images in a darkroom than he ever did taking the pictures. He wrote out specific printing instructions for his photos, including how and where to use dodging and burning.

The zone system is a good beginning, but it's only that. There are other things that have to be learned in the post processing of film, particularly black and white film. You can make some of the necessary adjustments if you print color film, but it's not going to be as easy. I think the best thing to do with color is to scan it and make adjustments in a photo editor.

These are my opinions. I haven't done this in a while.

Congrats on a great camera purchase. You will not be disappointed.
I was going to go into a long essay on this subject but the posts before me have said it all.

The fundamentals of photography have not changed.
It is sad that so many questions asked on the hog would be unnecessary if that basic knowledge were in place.

Us old film guys have an advantage because it is burned into our soul. We just look at a subject and shoot. We do the setup without a single thought most of the time. When you become one with your gear, it is a 6th sense.

Good luck. You will have fun.

Film development is how you make the Zone System work. You expand or contract the contrast in your negatives via the film development time to better match the lighting contrast in the scene. A Zone System photographer marks their film to be developed with N for normal development and then N+ or N++ and/or N- or N-- to indicate the required development manipulation to adjust the film's response curve. That's what makes the Zone System work.

It's easy to process roll film at home. You need a daylight tank and reels, some measuring beakers a dark place to load the tank, a sink, thermometer and the chemistry.

It's so funny that you say, "when I become one with my gear", that's exactly how I feel with my digital equipment and it's exactly what I want with this Hasselblad and that is exactly why I'm here. You guys and gals in this forum are directly responsible for my success with my digital photography and I will always be grateful for the help and direction. I read every response and I respond to them all. I might be a bit slow at times in responding but my goal is to never have someone take time to provide answers and advice and I not at least respond. So never hesitate to give an opinion or advice on my posts, it's always appreciated. So, many thanks to you for responding.

Enjoy. But do beware. Adams and White had built a great cult out of "desimplification".

Take what you need and leave the rest. When questions arise, avoid use of the terms "zone system" and "ansel adams" whenever posting to the forum.

Youll get broader more objective photographic advice in the replies if you can strictly avoid those terms. Theres way too much mythology, blind worship, and simple plain ignorance that gets triggered by those terms, so just try to "keep it clean".

Congrats on a great camera purchase. You will not be disappointed.
I was going to go into a long essay on this subject but the posts before me have said it all.

The fundamentals of photography have not changed.
It is sad that so many questions asked on the hog would be unnecessary if that basic knowledge were in place.

Us old film guys have an advantage because it is burned into our soul. We just look at a subject and shoot. We do the setup without a single thought most of the time. When you become one with your gear, it is a 6th sense.

Good luck. You will have fun.