film friday: the nikon fe vs. the hasselblad. sort of.

130503cenacle01.jpg

I had big plans for today's post, my friends. 

Last week, I was having a bit of a down day, and I decided that I would head over to the Cenacle Retreat Center, and walk their labyrinth.  Because the setting of the Cenacle is so beautiful, at the last minute I grabbed both film cameras I own -- a Nikon FE and a Hasselblad 501c -- to take some shots.  Wouldn't it be cool​, I thought, to take similar shots, to see which camera is truly the better?​  I strongly suspected that the Hassie would win hands-down, since it would be wildly considered the better of the two cameras.

I'm sorry to say that I didn't really succeed in this mission.​

See, here's the thing:  even though I took the shots at the same camera settings and the same film (ISO400 Fuji colour film), I failed to consider the fact that I was in far more practice using the Hasselblad as opposed to the Nikon (not to mention the fact that I was using lenses with different focal lengths on each camera; not to also​ mention that the Nikon takes rectangular photos and the Hassie takes square ones).  So even though I instinctively believe the Hasselblad takes technically better shots, there were certain shots on the Nikon I liked better (because the image wasn't as sharp, and the blurry effect was sort of cool), and shots that I liked the Hassie better (because I just liked the square shape).  And then there were some where I just totally screwed up the focus on the Nikon, and others that I completely messed up the depth-of-field on the Hassie ... and ... and ... and​.

Anyway​.

For the record, here are some of my favourites from that day.  I'll let you guys be the judge.​

Taken with the Hassie.  Compare with the similar shot I took with the Nikon, at the top of this post.​

Taken with the Hassie.  Compare with the similar shot I took with the Nikon, at the top of this post.

See what I mean?  Different.  My instinct is that I'm able to take sharper images with the Hasselblad (and for this reason I like the second shot better -- plus, I like the tilt and the square format of the second shot), but then just as soon as I make that decision, I look at the next two photos, and decide that sharpness is overrated:​

Shot with the Nikon FE.​

Shot with the Nikon FE.

Shot with the Hasselblad.​

Shot with the Hasselblad.

I totally like the Nikon better in that second set. 

And finally, the third set:

Nikon FE.​

Nikon FE.​

Hasselblad.​

Hasselblad.​

*sigh*  I don't even know anymore.  What do you think?​

Finally, just to muddle things up a bit more, here's a shot I really liked from the roll of film on the Nikon (taken in our kitchen.  Fruit is kind of a big deal in our house):​

130503nikonfe.jpg

And now, a favourite from the Hassie.  Also of fruit, now that I think of it ... see??  See how different??

130503hassie08.jpg

And on that confusing note, have a wonderful weekend, friends.  See you next week.​

SongHit the road, Jack by Ray Charles

UPDATE:  I just learned May is National Photography Month.  I am so on this -- we need to do something.  Stay tuned for Monday.​


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