Response to How do YOU determine EI?

Prior to now, I'd sneak up on it. I keep a notebook in the darkroom and record negative appearance and how it printed (grade of paper). I'd adjust the EI and development time, and continue the feedback process. After a few rolls, everything falls into place. Recently I decided to get a bit more scientific and did a series of exposures with a white diffuser in front of the lens. Measured the density of each frame. Plotted the curves and did the 0.1 over base plus fog thing. Matched the density range to Kodak and Ansel's suggestions for paper grade. The two methods gave pretty much the same result. I might add that once you've seen 0.1 over b+f a few times, you can do it by eye. No densitometer required unless you want the rest of the curve!

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