Zone system (Transferred)

[Andrei]

To Gandini:

I know that Zone system is much wider. What I tried to say was how to use Exposure Compensation (the most asked question) using Basics of ZS.

And there are exactly 5 stops (3 to rather that full range, because of the very short G1 dynamic range.

So treat it as Applied ZS fo G1 exposure compensation.
Albeit it is not the answer to the question about "clear Zone System"

For the rest of details:
http://www.cicada.com/pub/photo/zs/toc.html


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The metering system is adjusted on 18% Grey. In Zonal system it is Zone 5. Black - usually 2, and White - 7-8 (usually 7). What your camera does, is:

Black 0% - --> Grey 18% Zone 5

[gandini]

Andrei:
We are certainly not at cross purposes! Whichever rubric, or method, one uses to obtain knowledge and understanding is essentially irrelevant if the end result is the same. And call it what ever. If we are going to use the Zone system to achieve a better exposure of the "negative" rather than some other system (which in the end cannot be contradictory to the zone, or any other, system) then so be it.
Unfortunately, I doubt if many photographers using digital cameras (G1 included) are aware of the limited dynamic range of the recording medium, let alone able, willing or interested in taking sufficient meter readings to be aware of the exposure range of the subject they are imaging. I certainly do not carry my 1 deg. spot meter around with me taking measurements before I press the shutter on the G1! I don't even use the built-in spot to measure subject range.
And all for good reason! What if I discover a mis-match of 3EV between subject and camera range? I'll probably expose for the highlights, and hope to recover shadow detail in PS. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't: I recently made an image of a butterfly on a flower, but the surrounding petals were totally blown out. Nothing coudl be done to recover detail, but I exposed for detail in the butterfly. Maybe with more time I could have got a superior exposure, or with flash fill, but it wasn't to be! The vaguaries of photography.

cheers,

[gbjune]

gandini wrote:
Andrei:
And all for good reason! What if I discover a mis-match of 3EV between subject and camera range? I'll probably expose for the highlights, and hope to recover shadow detail in PS. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't: I recently made an image of a butterfly on a flower, but the surrounding petals were totally blown out. Nothing coudl be done to recover detail, but I exposed for detail in the butterfly. Maybe with more time I could have got a superior exposure, or with flash fill, but it wasn't to be! The vaguaries of photography.

But isn't this one of the wonderful things about digital photography ?

even if the dynamic range is a bit limited compared to 35mm or other formats, we get the instant feedback that makes learning about the zone system (or in general, how to take the pictures I want).

Since whatever I learn will mostly apply to 35mm photograpy, I can learn more while saving money and time (and it's darn convenient to just delete the pictures that didn't turn out...

Geir

[fat alan]

If the butterfly was stationary and you were using a tripod then you could always take bracketed exposures and combine them in photoshop later.

PS nice pics on your website