X-Rite 811 Densitometer tutorial wanted

I hope I am posting this in the correct forum - if not, please re-direct me.

I was just given a used X-Rite 811 Densitometer that I would like to learn how to use. I would prefer to pay someone, who knows how to use it and how to explain how to use it, to give me a tutorial. I want to learn how to use it for T/R applications and especially for testing film for EI. I would prefer to do this in the next two weeks in the New York City metro area.
Any takers?

Do you mean how to use that particular model (like how to turn it on and how to calibrate it?) or do you mean how does one use a densitometer, in general?

I can't help you with that particular model of densitometer, but in general a transmission densitometer can be used for two things:

1) in camera film exposure index. A quick popular method (and the one I use) is to shoot some zone 1 frames at various exposure indexes. Then use the densitometer to pick the frame that is 0.1 above film base plus fog.

2) to compare the development times of films the densitometer is used in conjunction with a sensitometer. The sensitometer exposes the film with a series of densities which are read with the densitometer to make an H&D curve.

Check out this link:http://www.tpub.com/content/photography/14209/css/14209_283.htm
http://www.tpub.com/content/photography/14209/css/14209_282.htm
http://www.tpub.com/content/photography/14209/css/14209_281.htm

I mean a tutorial using the densitometer I now have. How to calibrate it and how to use it to check my negatives to check for proper Zone I exposure. I would also be interested in using it as a transmission densitometer.
The links you listed are helpful but I feel that I need a tutorial to speed up the learning curve.

A link to X-Rite's Website relating to the X-Rite 811

Renato Tonelli said:

I hope I am posting this in the correct forum - if not, please re-direct me.

I was just given a used X-Rite 811 Densitometer that I would like to learn how to use. I would prefer to pay someone, who knows how to use it and how to explain how to use it, to give me a tutorial. I want to learn how to use it for T/R applications and especially for testing film for EI. I would prefer to do this in the next two weeks in the New York City metro area.
Any takers?

Click to expand...

Hi Renato,

I think that you'll find the following link helpful X-Rite 811 Page


Mike Sullivan

Using the 811 Densitometer

The 811 Densitometer is fairly straight forward to use. First go to the web site suggested in the string to learn how to calibrate and operate it. The user manual should still be available on that site. Then just start measuring things to get an understanding of the data it will report.

TO use it for EI, look for tutorials or information on converting Optical density to EI. It will work with any densitometer. Every 0.30 increase in density means the film has received 1 stop more light. Densitometry basics!

Good luck!