Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/01/23

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Subject: [Leica] black cats, metering and zone system
From: imagist3 at mac.com (George Lottermoser)
Date: Fri Jan 23 12:38:55 2009

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





Replies: Reply from luisripoll at telefonica.net (Lluis Ripoll) ([Leica] black cats, metering and zone system)
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