Hello, Thomas. The Zone System was pioneered by Minor White (I think) and
codified by Ansel
Adams. Very roughly, the idea is to establish an ideal EI and development time
for your
materials and to meter correctly. It really only works in all its aspects with
large format
view cameras, field cameras, etc. since each piece of film can be processed
separately. The
most succinct and useful explanation of its use for 35mm is in a little book
called The Zone
Six Workshop by Fred Picker. It's available (at Amazon, probably) and well
worth studying
IMO. For someone who shoots as much B&W as you, I think it would be helpful.
My copy is a
few decades old and very well used.
Regards,
John
Thomas Heide Clausen wrote:
> Hello John,
>
> Actually, I've been running tons of b&w films through my cameras but
> less than 10 of color over the past decade (I started acounting my
> film usage in 1990 - *grin*). I find that using spot metering yields
> what I want - when combined with enough experience to
> over/undercompensate as appropriate. However it is also my experience
> that compensation is rarely needed (or is something I just "do"
> without too much thinking) when using spot metering.
>
> I've never heard of the method you propose, but I will try it out and
> see what happens. On the same note, I have no clue what the "zone"
> conecpt is. I assume it is a well-understood term and that I (as
> usual) am just being ignorant. Anyone care to enlighten me?
>
> Thanks in advance
>
> --thomas
>
> On Sun, 13 Feb 2000, John Pendley wrote:
> > Hello All,
> > I'm new to Oly and already the proud owner of a -4 and a -4T. As an old
> > B&W buff, I'm
> > eager to use the multi-spot feature. Bill Pierce once wrote that a
> > virtually
> > foolproof way to get the best B&W exposure is to spot the lightest area in
> > which you
> > want retain siginificant detail--say zone VII. The spot measure the
> > darkest area in
> > which you want to retain significant detail--say zone III. Then shoot at
> > the average
> > of the two readings. I'm not so sure about the use with color, having done
> > much less
> > color photography. I can see Thomas' point about one spot being
> > sufficient; it would
> > allow you to expose for the one area of the subject that your predetermine
> > must be
> > exposed correctly. Could anyone describe a situation in which multi-spot
> > would be
> > helpful in color?
> > Thanks,
> > John
> >
> > Thomas Heide Clausen wrote:
> >
> > > Hiya Gary et. al.,
> > >
> > > Contrary to many, I almost exclusively use the spot-metering
> > > features. As mentioned before, I prefer the OM2s/p, which per default
> > > does one spot-metering when in manual mode. When I use the OM4, I
> > > also almost always take one spot-metering (rarely more than one) -
> > > and while doing so, I'm feeling annoyed by having to move the finger
> > > to press the "spot" button. This is particulary annoyig when using
> > > the winder on the OM4. I guess it is almost needless to say that I
> > > rarely use the "hilite" and "shadow" buttons - if I were to do so I'd
> > > have to take the camera from my eye and look to see which is which.
> > > Also, I'd have to think to remember what the exact semantics of
> > > pressing either of the buttons has.....no, I never use them. In fact,
> > > I have no recollection of ever using them in "real" situations....
> > >
> > > --thomas
> > >
> > > On Sat, 12 Feb 2000, Gary Edwards wrote:
> > > > My ratio is about 300/60 in favor of the OM-2, but I did adapt rather
> > > > quickly to
> > > > the spot meter button when I got the -4T. Still don't use the
> > > > hilite/shadow
> > > > buttons. Guess it's a case of old dogs and new tricks (uh, sorry about
> > > > that
> > > > choice of words, Susan.)
> > > >
> > > > Gary Edwards
> > > >
> > > > DaEyeGuy@xxxxxxx wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > In a message dated 2/12/00 2:59:46 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> > > > > loren@xxxxxxxx
> > > > > writes:
> > > > >
> > > > > << Questions, though. Does anyone actually find uses for the
> > > > > highlight and
> > > > > shadow buttons? >>
> > > > > never have yet..guess i don't do enuf just white or just black...
> > > > >
> > > > > <<Does anyone still use the exposure compensation dial >>
> > > > > Like you, I often just go straight to it (after 25 years with my
> > > > > trusty OM2,
> > > > > habits die hard. I suupose some day i will totally trust the spot
> > > > > meter, but
> > > > > until then i spot meter, but in extreme lighting situations I still
> > > > > bracket
> > > > > using the overexposure comp. dials.
> > > > > Susan
> > > > > 17-month user of OM4
> > > > > 300-month user of OM2
> > > > >
> > > > > < This message was delivered via the Olympus Mailing List >
> > > > > < For questions, mailto:owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >
> > > > > < Web Page: http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright/olympuslist.html >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > < This message was delivered via the Olympus Mailing List >
> > > > < For questions, mailto:owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >
> > > > < Web Page: http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright/olympuslist.html >
> > > --
> > > Mange hilsner / Sincerely
> > >
> > > -------------------------------------------
> > > Thomas Heide Clausen
> > > Civilingeniør i Datateknik (cand.polyt)
> > > M.Sc in Computer Engineering
> > >
> > > E-Mail: T.Clausen@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > WWW: http://www.cs.auc.dk/~voop
> > > -------------------------------------------
> > >
> > > < This message was delivered via the Olympus Mailing List >
> > > < For questions, mailto:owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >
> > > < Web Page: http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright/olympuslist.html >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > < This message was delivered via the Olympus Mailing List >
> > < For questions, mailto:owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >
> > < Web Page: http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright/olympuslist.html >
> --
> Mange hilsner / Sincerely
>
> -------------------------------------------
> Thomas Heide Clausen
> Civilingeniør i Datateknik (cand.polyt)
> M.Sc in Computer Engineering
>
> E-Mail: T.Clausen@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> WWW: http://www.cs.auc.dk/~voop
> -------------------------------------------
>
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