Using the Zone System with InCamera Meters
The following is a simple method for measuring the contrast and determining the proper exposure for your subject using built-in camera meters.
1. First previsualize the Important Shadow, (usually Zone III) and the Important Highlight (usually Zone VII) areas of your subject.
2. Meter both of these areas using either an aperture or a shutter speed as a reference; For example your two meter readings might be:
Important Shadow area 1/30 @ F/5.6
Important Highlight area 1/30 @ F/22
In this example, the shutter speed of 1/30 is your Reference Reading; the two apertures are your Measurement Readings.
3. Write your reference reading in the box provided for that purpose near the bottom of the form.
4. Write the Shadow Measurement Reading under the Zone III (or II) box and fill in the other readings under the corresponding Zones where they automatically Fall after the Shadow Reading is Placed where you want it to be.
For example: If you write the F/5.6 Measurement Reading on Zone III, F/8 will Fall on Zone IV, and F/11 on Zone V, etc.
5. If the Measurement Reading for your Important Highlight falls on the Zone you pre-visualized for it (usually Zone VII), use Normal Development.
If it Falls one Zone too high use N - 1. If it is one Zone too low use N + 1, etc.
6. The Measurement Reading that Falls on Zone V, plus the Reference Reading, is the correct exposure for that placement.
In this example the correct exposure would be F/11 @ 1/30; or an equivalent exposure like F/5.6 @ 1/125. See Figure 157.
|
APERATURES SHUTTER SPEEDS |
Vus |
f/32 Vio |
f/22 Vic |
y2 |
2 sec. | |||||
|
ZONES |
0 1 II III |
IV V |
VI |
VII |
VIII |
MEASUREMENT READINGS (2 SETS) REFERENCE READING
| ||||
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