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Frequently asked questions about densitometers ?? Why would I want to use a densitometer when I can see the negatives and the prints and I can make adjustments by eye? If you are perfectly pleased with every aspect of your work, subject and lighting, film and processing, and paper and processing, sensitometry makes little sense. On the other hand if you are looking to improve your work, want to try a few new techniques and materials, sensitometry makes great sense. Blindly, or even intuitively trying out new materials or processes is daunting work using a lot of time and materials in order to reach any new artistic goal. The is essentially no clear way to predict the range of any material or process change. Film, chemicals and paper are expensive. Wasting your time can be much worse. Spending a little testing time will provide you with a very much more complete fundamental picture of photographic materials and processes. The graphic outcome of the tests provide a clear insight into your present work and most importantly allows swift pursuit of better results. A few hours in testing allows you to use new (or even your present) materials and processes to their full range and help guide future probes into unknown but interesting directions. ?? Isn't sensitometery time consuming and difficult to learn? It is very much easier than it appears. If you are a serious photographer, you have already learned many equally technical concepts and practices and then much of sensitometry is doing what you already know, exposing and developing photographic materials. The rest of it is simply using a densitometer to take density readings (very simple) and either plotting curves by hand or computer, all of which is easier than using most microwave cookers! There are several good books that can lead you through the whole process very simply. The results are rewarded with great feelings of confidence, since you now have a complete understanding of the results of all your photographic actions. And having done it once, you then have a powerful convenient tool to use at a moments notice. ?? Isn't sensitometry only for Zone System users? Any photographer who is serious must be interested in improvement in their work. Using sensitometry is the most effective way to get the technical side of photography under control. It saves time and money, and gets closer to where you want your work to be. ?? What makes the Heiland densitometer the one to buy? Heiland densitometers come from Wetzlar Germany, home of Leica cameras. They have been sold for over 13 years in Europe where they have a very fine reputation. What you want in a densitometer is a solidly made, reliable and accurate measuring machine that doesn't have useless bells and whistles which make it difficult to use. That is precisely the definition of a Heiland densitometer. |
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