[LargeFormat] Exposure Introduction - Reflective Meters

[Joseph O'Neil]

At 17:09 6/18/02 -0400, you wrote:
>I'm trying to understand my meter better as well as use it to test Ansel 
>Adam's famous
>zone system.  I know that he was reknown for getting perfect exposures 
>with his 8x10
>cameras.  Right now, I'm stuck with a reflective light meter (Vivitar 
>35).  How can I
>perform both an exposure test (grey card) with such a meter using a 35 mm.

         Well first off, start ssavinfg up money for a spot 
meter.  Expensive, sometimes hard to find, but worth every penny.  I use a 
plain old Pentax analog spot meter, and i love it.  Bought it used.  I 
remember i was in Toronto a  few years back checking out allt eh major 
camera stores (including ALT - they were open then),a nd nobody had 
nothin.  Oh, special order fine, but nothing in stock!

         However, in the short term, here is what I did.  First, spend some 
money and buy a kodak grey card.  Next, meter off your grey card in the 
shadows, not bright sunlight.  This is not perfect, and don't look for the 
darkest shadow you can find, but try it out, it works not bad.

>  I would
>prefer using the really small format, so that once I'm familiar with this 
>meter, I can
>start using the cost unfriendly 8 x 10 sheets.

         Does not work that way.  35mm you will probally develop in a tank 
& reel, while 8x10 you will probally develop in an open tray or maybe a 
roller tube.  The mechanics of agitation differ,a nd so will your 
developing.  secondly, I find difference in films form LF to roll film 
size.  In some cases - such as Tri-X, there is a well stated difference, 
but I find even in films that are supposed to be identical between formats, 
there is still a difference in  - ph, how to put it - "personality"?  Not 
the best description, but there you go.

>Also, I've heard that he used the zone
>system to his advantage to a point where light meters were unnecessary for 
>him.  Is that
>true?

         No, it's experience.  I have a friend, photographer for 40 
years.  He  guesses the meter setting for his old Nikon F by naked eye 
within one stop under just about any light condition, indoors or 
outside.  Sen other guys do it too.
joe




http://www.oneilphoto.on.ca
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