Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/01/23
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]The Zone System really does hold the secrets of metering and exposure and works well with digital or film. Zone Theory: Meter gives you Zone V - Middle gray Each one stop increase in exposure = one Zone lighter Each one stop decrease in exposure = one Zone darker I just did the following with the M8/50 lux Point camera add wall with texture. Meter reads 1/125 sec at f:1.4 = Zone V - middle gray So: 1/4,000 Zone 0 = Black with no detail 1/2,000 Zone I = Black with some murky detail 1/1,000 Zone II = Black with some detail 1/500 Zone III = Dark gray with good detail 1/250 Zone IV = Dark gray with maximum detail 1/125 Zone V = Middle gray 1/60 Zone VI = Light gray with maximum detail 1/30 Zone VII = Light gray with detail 1/15 Zone VIII = Lightest gray with detail 1/8 Zone IX = White with some detail 1/4 Zone X = White without detail Try it - It works to place any metered value where you want it to be. Black cat = Zone II or III depending on your personal preference Regards, George Lottermoser george@imagist.com http://www.imagist.com http://www.imagist.com/blog http://www.linkedin.com/in/imagist Picture A Week - www.imagist.com/paw_07