Customer Reviews

The Zone System for 35MM Photographers: A Basic Guide to Exposure Control

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Carson Graves' The Zone System for 35mm Photographers is both more and less than its title suggests, but mostly more. I'm an amateur photographer who has been using his best understanding of the Zone System for a few years. I don't use my view camera as much as my Leica, though, so my ears definitely pricked up when I heard tell of a book about adapting the System to roll-film. I've always been frustrated by the difficulty of that. Anyhow, I got the book through Amazon. The "less" is that there really isn't an overwhelming amount of information about squeezing the Zone System into the 35mm format. Some of it is commplace (e.g., shoot the whole roll in more or less identical light circumstances, and to make this easier, use 24 rather than 36 rolls, etc.). Some of it is not commonplace and is very useful indeed (maybe worth the price of the book). But what really makes the book worth it is that it is a very clear and concise overview of the Zone System itself. I've read Adams, Minor White, John Schaeffer, and others, and this may well be the best explanation I've read to-date (I can't say to what extent this is so because I have in fact read the others). Graves' explanations are really usefully different from the others'. A specific example: I've always been EXASPERATED by the Adams-White-Schaeffer explanations of how to test film for EI and development for times and so on. It's like you need either a densitometer (reach for $500+) or a PhD in calculus. I have neither. Graves describes -- clearly -- a very practical method for testing film speed and development times. That part of the book is outstanding and worth the price without a doubt.

Great book. I went from a "4" to a "9" (on a scale of 1 to 10) in terms of my ability to control exposure and get the results I wanted after reading this book. It's clearly written and a person can cover the major topics in just one day. A+

If you intend to be serious about manual photography, you'll need to have an understanding of the zone system, and if you intend to have an understanding of the zone system, this book is for you.


While not circumventing the science of the zone system, Carson Graves prudently focuses more on application of its principles. Basically, this book will give you a clear understanding of what the zones are, how to relate them to real-life objects, how to understand what your light meter is telling you, and a lot more...


Do ya like pictures, Sonny? This book is full of 'em! The technical points about previsualization, judging contrast, etc. are really driven home by informative photos, drawings, and graphs.


On top of the basics, Mr. Graves "takes it to the hole" when he deftly explains advanced stuff like finding your exposure index and adjusting your development times...This book is an easy (and educational) read with just enough seriously technical stuff in it to warrant flaunting it in front of all the ladies (or guys) to show them what a brainiac you are. But YOU would never do that, you're way too cool...


All jokes aside - this book will give you knowledge, and through knowledge, control. Don't miss it.

I count this as one of the most useful books on photography one can own. Its strength is in its explanation of the Zone System and how a photographer at any level can put it to use. Though the information is quite accessible there are a number of calibration tests which can seem a bit tedious. But if one follows through it will pay off in allowing the photographer to put to film and paper what one visualizes in one's mind.

I have been taking Black and Whites for about a year now, and every chapter I read my pictures improve. While the Zone system can be presented as hard core math, Grave uses Black and White images to define the Zones and help you think in grey scale. His book is extremely practical and is based on using the light meter in the camera. This means that you are not forced to buy extra equipment such as spot meter or hand held meters unless you want them for convience. The book really is good in making you think about the black and white print that will be produced. The proper exposure give you or your developer maximum latitiude in making prints. As well great effects can be made by adjusting your preceptions an adjusting the camera to capture what you precieve. The part on developing looks good also. There are film test and exposure test to determine if your camera is fuctioning normally or if needs work. If you are not getting good results then I suggest using these test to determine if your camera is functioing correctly the test seem unnecessary if you are getting good results. The Pictoral examples in this book are great. The text is about seeing a picture in your mind and then telling you how to create it on film for priinting. This book will greatly improve your black and white skills if you are a beginner without creating a great deal of confusion. Some of the lessons translate well to color photos. And there is a chapter onthe zone system for color.

I have only one complaint to make about this book. All the examples Carson Graves uses to illustrate the nine zones appear in black and white photographs. What I would really like to see in order to previsualize the various zones as I see them, which is in color, would be a side by side comparison of the same photos in black and white, in color. Is a light blue sky zone III? What zone is a light yellow leaf? A dark yellow leaf? A simplified pantone chart translating the various color tonalities into the various zones would be very helpful. Otherwise, the book is a marvelous learning tool. If any of you reading this know of such a book, please let me know.

For those photographers who didn't struggle through Ansel Adams' exquisite explanation of this approach to B&W photography, this is a brief, lucid, and excellent introduction. For those already familiar with the Zone System, this is an excellent refresher. Easy going, clear writing, good teaching technique. Worth the price and the time.

One of the first photography books I've ever bought, it remains one of my favorites. For the few film lovers (like myself) still out there, it's simply amazing. Using a clearly understandable language, it walks you through the Zone System way of thinking and taking your shots, which some other books fail to accomplish. If you love developing your own films, you need to buy this.

The author made an honest effort to do what the title says the book would do, explaining the zone system for today's cameras. In my opinion, not reading this book will prevent understanding of photography, even for those who later decide not to use the zone system.

A great way to understand how to control not only brigth, but also contrast, when taking and developing b&w photographs