mrpaul Posted December 31, 2014 Share #1 Posted December 31, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) I am new to the forum and digital photography. I have been using an Olympus OM-1 on and off for 35 years. I am not a professional by any means. Only processed my own BW from time to time. I have recently picked up a Leica D2 and a Nikon D7000. My OM-1 is dead and time to move into the next century albeit late. The D7000 is overwhelming so I plan to start with the D2 as it is a bit closer to the OM-1. The menu system on the D7000 is beyond my imagination but I have a couple of old Nikkor lenses and got a very good deal. Everything I read online recently suggest that the advanced matrix metering systems of todays cameras replace the work and guessing required in the "old days". Does anyone here use the zone system and spot metering anymore? Do you just default to matrix and compose based on your perceived EV value? Thank you. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 31, 2014 Posted December 31, 2014 Hi mrpaul, Take a look here Digital Zone?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
lct Posted January 1, 2015 Share #2 Posted January 1, 2015 Spot metering is indeed usable with digital but as far as focussing is concerned, your D7000 is closer to the OM-1 due to the huge DoF of the Digilux 2. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted January 1, 2015 Share #3 Posted January 1, 2015 Does anyone here use the zone system and spot metering anymore? You got one answer here. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrpaul Posted January 1, 2015 Author Share #4 Posted January 1, 2015 Thank you. Much practice and experimenting to do…. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted January 1, 2015 Share #5 Posted January 1, 2015 In the digital world, histograms do more to eliminate guessing than do matrix metering systems IMO. And nothing beats getting to know your camera….and maybe keeping an incident meter handy for tricky situations. The zone system of course relates not just to camera settings, but translating zones to print. In that regard, digital PP offers far more flexibility and ease of manipulating print results than darkroom techniques…at least based on my darkroom skills. I don't think about zones so much anymore, but always about tones….getting the print right is my goal. Jeff Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted January 3, 2015 Share #6 Posted January 3, 2015 Know nothing of the D2. First digital was a point and shoot, Then a new D200. The salesman advice was to put it on program and shoot pics. Pretty much correct for Nikon, all of them. Although I use M 99% now. Just center the dots in viewfinder as you adjust speeds or stops, front and rear command dials for right finger and thumb. Manual focus lenses, use ring on lens. Spot is useful if you can not approach a subject close enough. Or overcast landscape which every NIKON I OWN OVEREXPOSES up through D800 and D750. Measure the brightest portion of the sky then open 1.5 stops. Ai or later lenses all work. Older ones will break the meter signaling ring. Use M or A. Set the lens focal and speed in the non cpu menu. I use 5 for 50 mm and work up and down from there. The main thing is to make some pics and learn slowly as required. You can not read the book and remember it all. Instruction books are available on Nikon USA website. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted January 3, 2015 Share #7 Posted January 3, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) The D7000 is overwhelming so I plan to start with the D2 as it is a bit closer to the OM-1. The menu system on the D7000 is beyond my imagination but I have a couple of old Nikkor lenses and got a very good deal. As it sounds like you are learning digital anyway I suggest you should jump in with both feet and use the Nikon, not try to be 'polite' and learn with a simpler but far less capable camera. After all, while you are learning you need some encouragement by getting good results more often than not, so put the Nikon into 'Auto' and have some fun to start with, and if you ever need to go beyond fun then you can start to learn the functions and menu's. Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrpaul Posted January 5, 2015 Author Share #8 Posted January 5, 2015 For all intents and purposes, I am starting all over. Good advice and well said. I will try and do both if I can. I was no more than a "hack" with a film camera and I have not used any camera in nearly 15 years. My wife has been taking the pictures with an iphone all these years. I will try and do both. Use the D2 more deliberately and perhaps use the little knowledge I have and experiment. I can put the D7000 is Program mode and see what it can do. I have a Nikkor af 50mm f1.8 effectively making the lens a 75mm prime with the crop factor. I also have an Ai f4 80-200 manual Nikkor to use as well. Paul Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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