Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/01/02

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Subject: [Leica] RE: Sensiometry (& Zone VI Plugs)
From: Stephen Alred <salred@toad.net>
Date: Sun, 02 Jan 2000 23:59:49 -0500

Martin,

Please permit me to suggest, as others have before me, Fred Picker's "Zone
VI Workshop", which, although out of print, has appeared on eBay, etc.
Picker covers the gamut of exposure/development/printing for black and
white photography in about 100 pages.  In particulary he focusses on  three
key issues that will enhance anyone's photographic craft:

1) A proper film speed test (Calumet Photo will do the test for $US10)
2) A test for proper development time (Zone VIII)
3) A "Proper proof" : minimum exposure to yield maximum black through the
film edge

Yes, the "Z" word appears, but so what?  In my opinion performing these
basic tests is like a musician learning his/her scales -- it just should be
part of everyone's "kit".  Also, while the "Workshop" is now technically
dated, the approach that Picker puts forward can be applied to modern
materials just fine. 

Regards,

Steve Alred 

On topic bit: I photograph with an M6 & IIIf and get very pleasing (to me)
results from my 1972-era Omega B22 outfitted with a Zone VI cold light and
printing on (Zone VI) Brilliant paper.