Use of a Zone ruler

[riu]

I am currently doing the institute of photography diploma. I am really enjoying the challenge and i am learning very quickly. I have just covered a module that looks into the use of the grey card, and as part of the study i created a zone ruler. From the readings i have identified all the zones, what i am unsure about is how do i tell from the card whether my set up seems to favour highlights or shadows, as to get to white, or to black (0 - 255), i need to move the same number of stops?

regards
Steve

 

[Lensflare]

Not knowing how a zone ruler works, but using my pooh sized brain I would say that if you meter for the card - being in the middle and you want to make those tones lighter - open up a stop at a time. If you want to make those tones darker, stop down a stop. All in manual settings and with the shutter fixed at whatever you choose.

 

[riu]

Not knowing how a zone ruler works, but using my pooh sized brain I would say that if you meter for the card - being in the middle and you want to make those tones lighter - open up a stop at a time. If you want to make those tones darker, stop down a stop. All in manual settings and with the shutter fixed at whatever you choose.

Thanks, i understand about stopping up or down to get either dark or light, however the question asked in the module is "from the zone ruler you have created for your camera and favourite lens, does it seem to favour highlights or shadows". The test i did shows that to get to either black or white i need to stop up and down by the same amount. So does this mean my set up favours neither?

how this makes sense !!!!

Steve

 

[dazzajl]

Hmmmm, perhaps it's asking you if you shoot your ruler, metering off of the grey card, do you get better coverage into the shadows or the highlights.

 

[Bazza155]

Perhaps this helps?

http://thephotostudent.com/blogpi/?tag=zone-ruler

At some point on your zone ruler you will be reading 0,0,0 (pure black) 255,255,255 (pure white), depending on how many stops either side of your neutral (18% grey) you are will tell you what your camera is better at, shadow or highlight. if it's equal either side of the neutral them your camera is evenly balanced........Hope you understand all that??

 

[will69]

"from the zone ruler you have created for your camera and favourite lens, does it seem to favour highlights or shadows". The test i did shows that to get to either black or white i need to stop up and down by the same amount. So does this mean my set up favours neither?

Steve

Badly worded question ...

Assuming "it" in the question means the camera and lens (although the zone ruler seems to be the subject of the sentence, but that does not make sense), then I would say your conclusion is correct.

If the highlights blew out in fewer stops than the blacks then the conclusion would be that the camera and lens favoured the shadows.

I have done a similar test before on my 40D although I had not heard the term zone ruler. How many stops of dynamic range did you conclude for your camera and lens combination. I concluded 5 on my 40d.

 

[riu]

Badly worded question ...

Assuming "it" in the question means the camera and lens (although the zone ruler seems to be the subject of the sentence, but that does not make sense), then I would say your conclusion is correct.

If the highlights blew out in fewer stops than the blacks then the conclusion would be that the camera and lens favoured the shadows.

I have done a similar test before on my 40D although I had not heard the term zone ruler. How many stops of dynamic range did you conclude for your camera and lens combination. I concluded 5 on my 40d.

Sorry if the question was worded badly, however you have understood what i was meaning.
Thank you all very much for the input on the subject, i have finally grasped what they were after, so my camera lens set up is Neutral.