Response to Zones System - 10 or 11 zones?

From someone with a vicarious experience with the zone system: If you have 11 zones and set zone V to midpoint, you will have a notation system with as many zones above midpoint as below. I don't know if this is a big deal, but it appeals to me because of it's symmetry.

To touch a bit on another point, many modern negative emulsions have an extended shoulder with up to, say 5 more zones. Bruce Barbaum describes this best in his book "the Art of Photography". I wonder if papers incorporating optical whiteners have also made an additional zone possible in the actual print?

Cheers,

Duane

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