That couldn't be more on target... the meter wants to make everything 18% (middle) grey. The Zone System gives you the language (or mechanism) necessary to think about how to control the exposure (lighter or darker) of specific areas of you image once your meter gives you the reading for 18% grey.(posted 9342 days ago)A good non-technical resource that talks you through the Zone System concepts can be found at http://www.onlinephotography.com/bw.html. For $5 you can download a simplified Zone System manual. That will help you understand what it is the Zone System enables you to do. Another source is an on-line manual at http://www.cicada.com/pub/photo/zs/. And A. Adams' The Negative is a must-have/must-read/must-study book to really get good control over your photographic process.