Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12
Results 11 to 12 of 12

Thread: ZS without densitometer

  1. #11

    Join Date
    Dec 1999
    Location
    Forest Grove, Ore.
    Posts
    4,675

    ZS without densitometer

    To suggest that one only needs to be able to see the detail that they require on the negative in order to obtain the photograph they want discounts the fact that the negative can retain more information than the paper is able to print. It's also necessary to match the detail (in the negative) that one requires on the final print to the paper that they've selected. I know that I've always had bad luck relying on paper grades to pull the proverbial rabbit out of the hat.

    The zone system is an ingenious system to transfer the image onto a negative in a way that the photographer can best achieve his or her visualization of the final print. A densitometer is a useful tool that allows one to better and more easily accomplish this task.

    As to Edward Weston, he used an emperical approach that relied on years of experience in the field taking how many thousands of shots in determining his exposure strategy. Using a light meter in conjunction with the zone system enables us to achieve a personal exposure strategy in far less time.

  2. #12

    Join Date
    Dec 1997
    Location
    Baraboo, Wisconsin
    Posts
    7,697

    ZS without densitometer

    Treaditional zone system testing is a pain, with or without a densitometer. Phil Davis' system as explained in his book "Beyond the Zone System" is far simpler and much more accurate. For approximately $30 The View Camera Store (formerly Darkroom Innovations) will do everything for you with whatever film (or films) you like. They send you five sheets of whatever film you wish to test, exposed with a 21 step wedge. You develop the sheets for 4 minutes, 5 1/2 minutes, 8 minutes, 11 minutes, and 16 minutes. You return the developed film to them and they take the readings with a densitometer, plug the readings into Phil Davis' plotter program, and send you the resulting information so that presto you have everything you need to use the zone system without the time, expense, and general hassle of old fashioned methods of testing. I'd strongly recommend letting them do most of the work for you so that, among other benefits, you don't have to worry about not having a densitometer.
    Brian Ellis
    Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you do criticize them you'll be
    a mile away and you'll have their shoes.

Similar Threads

  1. densitometer
    By Jerry Cunningham in forum Darkroom: Film, Processing & Printing
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 8-Dec-2005, 14:04
  2. densitometer
    By Yong-ran Zhu in forum Darkroom: Film, Processing & Printing
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 6-Nov-2004, 14:46
  3. How does a"scanning" densitometer differ from a regular densitometer?
    By octagon in forum Darkroom: Film, Processing & Printing
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 14-May-2002, 20:16
  4. Which densitometer?
    By joe freeman in forum Darkroom: Film, Processing & Printing
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 9-May-2002, 22:37

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •