Digital BW, The Print

On Wednesday, September 10, 2003, at 06:48  PM, Thomas Fors wrote:

>
> Don,
>
>
>
> I think the technique is good, but I would recommend taking it a bit  
> further and finding out:
>
>
>
> 1) How many zones can you record in a single exposure.

Don't confuse zones with f stops. zone 0 is always black and zone 10  
white. Even a 5 stop latitude will have 11 zones.
>
> 2) At what zone does your camera overexpose and blow out the highlight  
> detail.

Always zone 10
That is the definition of zone 10

>
>
>
> You may find that your camera's exposure range only covers 5 zones or  
> so.

You mean stops.
>
>
>
> Knowing your ISO to get midtones placed correctly is good, but I think  
> knowing how to place highlights without blowing them out is much more  
> useful for digital captures.

Absolutely

>
>
>
> Of course with most digital cameras you can always check the histogram  
> after the shot.  It would be nice if the built-in metering took into  
> account all pixels and fit every scene into the dynamic range of the  
> camera for each shot.  Maybe some day...
>

That would kill high key and low key photos.
Better that we should do the fitting (expansion at any rate) post  
capture.
>
>
> --Tom
>
>
>
> On Wed, 10 Sep 2003, D. Hill wrote:
>
>
>
>>
>
>> I've had a few responses about my method of
>
>> determining effective ISO for the digital realm - so
>
>> here goes:
>
>>
>
>> This testing is very similar to that done with
>
>> conventional photographic materials.  I use a
>
>> hand-held meter, even toned card (white or grey), and
>
>> a zone dial (the sticker from calumet that attaches to
>
>> the pentax spotmeters).
>
>>
>
>> To determine effective ISO of the camera, read your
>
>> cameras manual for the default ISO setting, and set
>
>> your camera as such.  Most digital cameras default at
>
>> 100, but still check.
>
>>
>
>> Use a tripod and fill the viewfinder with the white
>
>> card - I typically will make sure that the light is
>
>> even across the card, and the sun is at a 45 degree
>
>> angle to the card itself.  At this point, set the
>
>> focus at infinity.
>
>>
>
>> Meter the card, and do a series of Zone V exposures.
>
>> I shoot a series in 1/3 increments from 1 stop below
>
>> to one stop over ASA 100.  This gives me a set of
>
>> seven Zone V values from ASA 50 - 200.
>
>>
>
>> At this point, I convert all images to 16 bit
>
>> greyscale files in photoshop as stated in my previous
>
>> post.  Using the eyedropper tool, I choose the image
>
>> that is closest in value to 50% (zone V value).
>
>>
>
>> If you have taken notes, you should be able to line up
>
>> what image is the correct ISO for your equipment.  My
>
>> equipment sets my ISO as 80 - but most likely your
>
>> results will vary from mine.
>
>>
>
>> This is a very simple and quick method in determining
>
>> ISO - and is extremely helpful when you want to place
>
>> a specific zone for imaging.  As I stated before, this
>
>> does not allow for any processing functions of the
>
>> zone system (such as n-1, n+2, etc.) but does allow
>
>> specific placement of the important values.
>
>>
>
>> Good luck,
>
>> Don
>
>>
>
>
>
> ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor  
> ---------------------~-->
> Buy Ink Cartridges or Refill Kits for Your HP, Epson, Canon or Lexmark
> Printer at Myinks.com. Free s/h on orders $50 or more to the US &  
> Canada. http://www.c1tracking.com/l.asp?cid=5511
> http://us.click.yahoo.com/l.m7sD/LIdGAA/qnsNAA/ucIolB/TM
> --------------------------------------------------------------------- 
> ~->
>
> Please visit the Group Homepage to check the Files, Bookmarks, Polls  
> and other resources as they are often being updated. The page is at:
>
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint
>
> If you wish to receive no emails or just a daily digest, or you wish  
> to unsubscribe, please edit your Membership preferences by visiting  
> this same page.
>
> Please follow these basic guidelines:
> - Include your full name with your message.
> - Include the address of your website, if you have one.
> - As threads develop, trim off excess portions of earlier messages to  
> keep them short.
> - As the topic of a thread changes remember to change the subject  
> header.
> - Good manners are required at all time. No personal attacks or flames
> - Complete your Yahoo profile.
> - Before posting a question, search the message archives and the  
> various resources on the homepage.
>
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to  
> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
Regards,

Loring Palleske
Creative Imaging
416.301.1711