Staff Review: Firsts Impressions of the HydroChrome Sutton's Panoramic Belair Camera

Musician, photographer, and store staff member of Lomography Japan Yuya Kumagai tested the HydroChrome Sutton's Panoramic Belair Camera. Going after the vintage and washed-out aesthetic, he used some diluted coffee and filled up the Sutton Lens with it. Check out the results and his initial thoughts of the camera in this interview.

Hi, Yuya! How did you like HydroChrome Sutton Camera?

I'm interested in this lens. I was attracted to the mystery of the lens because it shoots with liquid, the panorama that stimulates the motivation to create, and the simple specifications that are full of ease and challenge.

What liquid did you inject into the Sutton lens this time?

I wanted to recreate the "sepia" look, so I diluted the coffee with water and put it in a Sutton lens. The images I took in a small town by the sea turned out light brown, just like tea color. It didn't come out how I imagined, but I liked the faded look the images showed. For cityscape shots, I actually wanted to do light brown, but it also turned out faded. After I shot those photos, I just realized that if I could use darker colors, images are more like the sepia look.

Could you tell us a little bit about the photos you shot with the HydroChrome Sutton's Panorama Belair Camera?

The camera was lighter than I expected, and I could easily press the shutter button. Since you can take panoramas and perforation holes, I can shoot wide images.

How did you scan the films?

I scanned by myself with DigitaLIZA because it can scan the sprocket holes. I really liked it.

What do you think about the results?

To be honest, the photos were better than I expected! Because the shutter is so soft, I was worried whether I really got the pictures. After I saw the photos taken with this camera, I came up with a more exciting idea. I would like to try various other situations next time.

What advice would you give to someone trying the lens for the first time?

I think the aperture is a little bit relatively dark, so I recommend shooting in a bright place. Also, I guess the exposure will change a little depending on the color and density of the liquid, but I think it's fun to just give it a try without thinking too much about the exposure! When you carry it, don't forget to plug the Sutton lens liquid tightly so that the liquid doesn't leak in the bag.

What kind of liquid would you like to try next time? And What kind of things would you like to try to shoot?

I like this camera anyway but I would like to go into the clear water to Sutton lens next time. Also, I will try to take a snapshot at a shorter distance.

Thank you for your initial thoughts, Yuya! To see more of Yuya's work, visit his Instagram, alternate Instagram and Twitter.

2021-07-01 #gear #people #liquid-lens #hydrochrome-sutton-s-panoramic-belair-camera