Photography Zone System with Color Slide Film

[Eman2005]

I am confused on what the Zone System is and how to use it. After reading multiple website, I am confused. I will probaly get the Ansel Adams book on it. Does anyone here use it?

[charles]

[sneakyracer]

[norco17]

The zone system works best when you can either under or over proccess individual slides so unless you are shooting large format, medium format with several interchangeable backs, or have multiple cameras I would not bother with the zone system.

[dietcookie]

[sneakyracer]

Just remember that when metering a scene (or individual scene elements), the meter doesnt "see" colors*, it doesnt know what things are supposed to look like. It wants to balance everything to the 18% gray its calibrated with. Look at scene elements and determine where you want pure white and pure black. If you have snow in the scene in full sun and want detail on it then set it as your upper limit with detail (Zone 9). The meter will want to render it gray so remember, Zone 5 is what the meter will want to put it in, overexpose accordingly. If you want more texture in the snow then you can put it in Zone 8 or 7. Its best to use a spot meter to analyze a scene.


*There are some exceptions. I think Nikon has put color evaluative meters on most of its new DSLR's with thousands of programmed scenes in it that it uses for comparison to determine exposure which works nicely most times.