Shooting Panoramas on Film #1
Taking panoramic photos is a special treat and challenge at the same time, especially if you have decided to shoot the panoramas on film, and not stitch together some digital images in a software. Don’t get me wrong, shooting digital panoramas is a legit form of art. Shooting them with the limitations of film is something special, though.
In this post, I will talk about my first steps taking panoramic photos with the cheapest panorama camera out there - the Lomo Sprocket Rocket. The name implies that you can actually extend the images to sprocket holes areas of the 35mm film strip. I wouldn’t have minded doing that with the first roll of film, but simply forgot to take out the mask that allowed you to shoot “normal” panoramas without the sprocket area. The mask is not perfect, but typical Lomography: bent…
Before you ask, this first roll with the Sprocket Rocket was shot on Lomography film, too - on Color Negative 400. This is a great film in medium format, but this time was the first that I shot it on 35mm. It is a bit grainy, but that only adds to the character of the images.
I didn’t expect the pictures to be tack sharp, and there were a lot of examples of the kind of images the camera produces out there. What surprised me, though, was that the center third of the photos was relatively sharp, while the outer two thirds were not. Heavy vignetting is present. As is a strong barrel distortion. Overall, I like the photos.
Shooting with the camera is straight forward. You can choose between two apertures (f10.8 and f16), and you get try to zone focusing. Shutter speed is about 1/100s. The viewfinder gives you a rough idea what you are shooting.
The biggest issue in panorama photography is that you get the horizon level, or it otherwise looks just crappy. Unless you do it on purpose, that is. But then you go for a really slanted horizon, which can make for really dynamic pictures. That was not was I was after, so I took a bubble level and mounted it to the camera. It helped a lot.
Of course, there could always be more to be asked of a camera. Starting with a possibility to use a remote, mechanical shutter release. Or, a version of the camera with an automatic exposure like in the Lomo LC-A. Or, even better, a much better glass lens. But then it wouldn’t be a cheap camera any longer.
Which begs the question - are there high quality alternatives to the outrageously expensive Hasselblad XPan?
The answer is yes, if you are willing to forgo an automatic exposure. And yes, if you are willing to accept a camera that is 3D printed and uses large format lenses. More on that in a separate post.
Let’s focus on the strenghts of the Lomo Sprocket Rocket instead. Let’s take the multiple exposure function instead. Function is a big word. It’s rather the lack of a function that prevents multiple exposures. You can basically take an unlimited number of exposures on the same frame. You just have to press the shutter without advancing the film in the camera.
Also, while the camera doesn’t have a coupler for a remote shutter release, which would be great for long exposures, it still features a bulb mode. You do have to touch the camera for it, so there is a chance that you get some jittery photos. But if you mount the camera on a reasonably stable tripod, you can get away without the remote shutter release, I guess. I haven’t tried it yet.
Lastly, one of the biggest advantages of the Sprocket Rocket is that it is light like a feather. I guess the moment you add an Arca Swiss plate to its bottom, you easily double its weight. It’s all plastic, even the lens, with some minor parts made of aluminium. Together with its size this turns the Sprocket Rocket into a pocket rocket and contributes to the fun of using it.
Just insert an ISO 400 film of your liking, go out and shoot. Don’t overthink it. And be mindful that you get about 18 frames out of a 36 exposure film.
