Ansel Adam's "Zone System" (Page 7): Yes, the zone system was all about controlling dynamic range with film. Maybe studying it will give a better understanding how to expose your...

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

srt101fan wrote:

In my humble opinion, and as others have said, for... (show quote)

Yes, the zone system was all about controlling dynamic range with film. Maybe studying it will give a better understanding how to expose your images, but unless you’re developing your own film you can’t really implement it. One of the big advantages of digital is the ability to easily get the same kind of results.

Bruce T Loc: Michigan

I can tell you that it was good shooting film but the enjoyment was seeing the print develop.
I am amazed that they still sell printer paper at university towns…I guess for photography classes.

User ID

Amaize wrote:

I would recommend you add to your library Beyond the Zone System, by Phil Davis.

The title sounds quite promising.

Amaize

Goes into the science of B&W film and its processing. Phil Davis was a prof at UMich — I had the great fortune of taking 2 classes with him. He later moved to Arizona and continued his work.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

A. T. wrote:

Okay, what I'm doing now in my studies is learning... (show quote)

If you have an iPhone, download the App, MyLightMeter Pro. It turns your phone into a surprisingly accurate incident/reflected light meter.

Jack 13088 Loc: Central NY

SuperflyTNT wrote:

Yes, the zone system was all about controlling dynamic range with film. Maybe studying it will give a better understanding how to expose your images, but unless you’re developing your own film you can’t really implement it. One of the big advantages of digital is the ability to easily get the same kind of results.

Actually, the thought process is opposite for digital vs film. And digital ISO does not change the sensitivity (speed) of the sensor just the part of its of its range you are using. Nevertheless, the methodology of identifying identifying the brightest and darkest detail before you want to preserve hence the blinkies on the histogram on the camera or in post.

therwol Loc: USA

A. T. wrote:

In digital photography, when a DSLR is in matrix metering mode, the entire scene is averaged to determine a proper exposure.

Not exactly. Matrix metering was pioneered by Nikon and introduced in the FA film camera. The camera actually tries to guess what you're taking a picture of based on taking several readings at once in different areas and exposes accordingly. A database of many photos was used as reference to guess the proper exposure. The flaw in the FA's matrix metering was that few of those photos in the database were taken in a vertical orientation. That has since been corrected.

https://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/matrix.htm

Bruce T Loc: Michigan

I went to Northern Michigan Unviersity.

BebuLamar

therwol wrote:

Not exactly. Matrix metering was pioneered by Nik... (show quote)

The FA only had 5 points. The F5 had 1000 points. Nikon Matrix meter was up to 2000 points. I don't know how many points the current Nikon cameras have now. In the center weighted mode there is an option to set to full screen and this is where all the points are averaged. The matrix mode isn't an average but Nikon never pubished on exactly how. I found it works very well for digital as well as slide film. Not good for color negative or B&W film.

therwol Loc: USA

BebuLamar wrote:

The FA only had 5 points. The F5 had 1000 points. Nikon Matrix meter was up to 2000 points. I don't know how many points the current Nikon cameras have now. In the center weighted mode there is an option to set to full screen and this is where all the points are averaged. The matrix mode isn't an average but Nikon never pubished on exactly how. I found it works very well for digital as well as slide film. Not good for color negative or B&W film.

In my personal experience with the FA, The D810 and the D850, matrix metering outdoors tends to underexpose more than center weighted metering. I don't know why.

A. T.

burkphoto wrote:

If you have an iPhone, download the App, MyLightMeter Pro. It turns your phone into a surprisingly accurate incident/reflected light meter.

I don't have an iPhone but I do have the sekonic Speedmaster L-858D-U which is sekonic's top of the line spot meter.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

A. T. wrote:

I don't have an iPhone but I do have the sekonic Speedmaster L-858D-U which is sekonic's top of the line spot meter.

I have a couple of older pro meters, a Minolta and a Gossen, but the iPhone is always with me. It also seems to be just as accurate.

A. T.

burkphoto wrote:

I have a couple of older pro meters, a Minolta and a Gossen, but the iPhone is always with me. It also seems to be just as accurate.

Okay

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

burkphoto wrote:

If you have an iPhone, download the App, MyLightMeter Pro. It turns your phone into a surprisingly accurate incident/reflected light meter.

The same kinds of apps are available for android. Mine is on its third phone, but hasn't been used in ages, I keep it just-in-case.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

A. T. wrote:

I recently purchased Ansel Adam's book, "The ... (show quote)

Yep the zone system still works. In camera metering systems makes it easier to apply now.