ND Filters and Hasselblad V System

[SteveT]

Having recently acquired a 501cm Hasselblad I have been trying out various lenses to see which one I will find most useful when it comes to landscape photography. Having looked at my recent prints (Provia 100) I have been a little disappointed with the results and was wondering whether or not I should invest in a ND Filter to cut down the light coming into the camera. If so which Filter would you recommend and why?

When I handed in my film to be processed I was asked if I wanted it processed at 50 and declined because of the range of subject matter and lighting conditions the film was exposed in. Most of the coastal photos that I took were metered at EV14 and I used a 40mm Distagon CFE IF lens.

Thank you in advance for your time and patience.

Steve

 

[frank]

The only benefit to using ND filters to "cut down on the light coming into the camera" is that you will use larger apertures (to obtain/maintain a proper exposure) thereby having less depth of field, or slower shutter speeds which can render motion blur. (If that's what you want.)

 

[BrianShaw]

Before suggesting solutions or asking opinions it might be worth your while to explain a bit more about your disappointment. What is disappointing? What do you want to change?

And why would the lab ask such a question; every lab I've ever used assumes normal development unless specifically directed otherwise.

 

[moto-uno]

Possibly , if any of these photos are near the sea , you might wish to try an 81A or 81B filter .
Not a measurable reduction in light , but it could offer an improvement in the light the film sees .
Peter

 

[SteveT]

I will look into your advice Peter. Thanks for that. In answer to your question BrianShaw the prints seemed a little washed out and the colour saturation not as rich as I had hoped which was why I had chosen Provia 100 in the first place. The fastest shutter speed the Hasselblad does is 1/500 and I was thinking that perhaps it was not quite fast enough for the amount of light that was around. The images that I was after were all static and I was not looking to create motion blur or candy floss type water effects.

Steve

 

[BrianShaw]

Another idea to try, if not doing so already: use an effective lens shade/hood.

And if you want punchy colors, try some Ektar 100.

 

[frank]

You mention the limit of 1/500sec. If this is causing you to over-expose colour negative film, the result will be the opposite of the washed out result you got. Too much light entering the camera is not the problem here, and a ND filter is not the solution.

 

[etn]

And if you want punchy colors, try some Ektar 100.

Or Velvia 50, if you're into slides...

Have fun!
Etienne