[Leica] thinking Zone System

[tcharara at mac.com (Tarek Charara)]

Thanks George, 

I found the zone system easy with 4x5 and 120 (3 backs on my Bronica GS1), 
but cumbersome on 135. Probably because I mainly did (and still do) 
Reportages....

I had tested Tri-x (with the help of AA's Negative) and did a general 1 stop 
over exposure and 1 stop under development. Everything else being handled 
with paper grades. I use the meter of the M6 or an incident light meter.

For the other formats I tested the films and development and used the 
spotmeter.

I also used 2 or 3 bodies, but only with different lenses, so I didn't waste 
time changing them according to subject...

All the best from Beirut,

Tarek

Tarek Charara
2, rue Bastion St. Dominique
66000 Perpignan

tarek at tarekcharara.com

Le 9 nov. 2010 ? 18:51, George Lottermoser <imagist3 at mac.com> a ?crit :

> Tarek,
> When I shot film I used all formats:
> sheets from 4x5 up to 12x20,
> 120 rolls from 6x6 to 6x9,
> and of course 35 mm.
> So I saw Zone System thinking, processing and testing
> as the way to achieve predictable results with Black and White.
> I use a spot meter to read the dynamic range of the subject;
> exposing for the shadow detail I want to preserve;
> and developing for the highlight detail I want to preserve;
> and then having a pretty good idea of where the other tones will fall.
> With 3 120 film backs I was able to carry an N, N-1 and N+1 back.
> With 35 mm I'd carry two camera bodies - an N and N-1 body
> (and if exposing an entire roll under the same dynamic range conditions
> I'd be able to process accordingly ++ or - - or whatever).
> 
> Zone system thinking translates to color film as well.
> Except only in terms of understanding the dynamic range of the film
> and knowing how to expose for the highlight detail you wish to preserve;
> and knowing where the shadows will fall to black without detail.
> Of course various emulsions have different dynamic ranges.
> 
> Lluis and Tarek,
> With digital I think in similar terms to color film.
> What is the dynamic range of the sensor?
> in order to place the highlights where I want them
> and know where the shadows will fall.
> Further: knowing I have some limited possibilities to extend both ends in 
> post processing.
> 
> For example:
> Expose an evenly lit turkish towel (great texture) as metered (zone V).
> Increase the exposure in one stop increments to determine when the 
> highlight detail disappears.
> Decrease the exposure in one stop increments to determine when the shadow 
> detail disappears.
> Through testing I have determined that
> the DMR has approximately 9.5 stops from deep shadow detail to bright 
> highlight detail;
> below that is solid black; above that is solid white.
> This is about 1 1/2 stops more dynamic range
> than the M8; which has about 8 stops from deep shadow detail to bright 
> highlight detail.
> And the 5D has about 7 1/2 stops from deep shadow detail to bright 
> highlight detail.
> I say "approximately" and "about" because
> different levels and types of lighting; ISO settings; and yes lenses
> will have effects on these numbers.
> 
> If you want to get really crazy
> you can bring these test shots into photoshop
> and read the values (just like we used to do with a densitometer).
> It's an interesting exercise because you'll find greater separation 
> between some zones than others;
> a little freaky actually.
> (I no longer get that crazy)
> 
> Lluis,
> I don't know if anyone else is writing about or discussing digital work 
> flow in terms of the Zone System.
> This is simply my own way of understanding the equipment I'm working with;
> and my way of thinking about the more critical work that I do.
> Just a natural shift from what I grew up with to what I'm doing now.
> 
> Others use the histogram to accomplish the same thing.
> I find histograms hard to interpret when the subject has a whole lot of 
> black or a whole lot of white in the frame.
> Though I can always rely on my spot meter to tell me what is actually 
> being recorded and where things will fall.
> 
> YMMV
> 
> Hope this helps
> 
> Regards,
> George Lottermoser 
> george at imagist.com
> http://www.imagist.com
> http://www.imagist.com/blog
> http://www.linkedin.com/in/imagist
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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