heather l

Hello,

I just got my new Sekonic L-558, and am trying to learn how to use it

in relation to the Zone System. (Using it in Ambient mode with the

spot function.) I'm also reading, and am nearly finished with,

Adams' book "the negative". (Feels like I'm reading a math book, but

with more pictures!) So I have a rudimentary understanding of the

Zone Sys.

If I'm understanding correctly (and please let me know if I'm not!),

when I take a reading with the spot meter in Shutter speed or

Aperture priortiy mode, the value I get back will be placed on Zone

5. But, in the EV mode, if I take a reading, the value I get back

tells me what zone that value is placed on? (Assuming that EV and

Zone numbers are the same thing.)

Here's a hypothetical situation with fictious numbers: Let's say I'm

taking pictures of a white church in the country side on a sunny

day. I meter the church and I get a reading of f/11 125 speed.

That's zone 5, right? How then do I get the church to be on Zone

VII? Do I adjust my shutter speed two stops slower to get two zones

brighter? (And then is it two full stops, or will two 1/3 increment

stops work?) Now lets pretend that in the EV mode, I get a reading

of 7. Is it on Zone 7?

I have another question wich may or may not be related:

I metered my gray card with the spot meter in EV mode, and get

readings anywhere from 6 to 8. But, when I turn it to the incident

mode and take a reading (again, in EV mode) I get a 5. What's going

on?

Thank you for any help you can give me. I have a lot to learn!

~Heather

I too am looking into getting a meter; also have a Bronica MF. I'm lusting after the Sekonic 558: spot, flash and ambient all in one for a cool $500. Anyone know if this is a good idea? I want something I can buy once and never have to "grow into" another meter.

Heather