Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/09/25
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I'm not sure if this is valid or not but both of my R4's meter for zone VI when compared to my hand held incident readings. It is consistent over a wide range of light and SHOWS when using slide films. Is this typical? I don't usually mind, I just meter something I want zone VI in the image, lock the exposure, recompose and shoot. Usually fits together all ok! Kpeters - -----Original Message----- From: Johnny Deadman <deadman@cinematic.freeserve.co.uk> To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us> Date: Saturday, September 25, 1999 12:32 PM Subject: [Leica] Grey Zone >>>Some of you may recall that I asked a while ago about why I was consistently >>>underexposing my photographs taken with my M6...I think I'll eventually >>>get used to it. > >RE your gray identification problem, I strongly recommend getting a basic >book on the zone system, which will make it much easier for you to get your >exposures right. > >EG if you can't find an 18% grey, knowing that caucasian skin (Zone VI) is >generally one zone lighter than 18% grey (Zone V) means that you can >confidently meter off your hand, open up one stop, and be in the ballpark. >Similarly, you can meter off something white that you want to retain full >texture (Zone VII) and know that you should close down two stops from there. > >And buy a grey card!! > >If you are technically minded, and you seem to be, you should find the Zone >system easy to learn. I think the two easiest places to learn it are Ansel >Adams (THE NEGATIVE) and Chris Johnson's THE PRACTICAL ZONE SYSTEM. > >Knowing the Zone system is like understanding scales in music. > > >-- >Johnny Deadman > >"You can straighten a worm, but the crook is in him and only waiting" - Mark >Twain