The HydroChrome Sutton’s Panoramic Belair is a 35mm camera. It belongs to the group of panoramic cameras. The camera was introduced by Lomography in October 2020. The design of the housing is based on that of the Belair medium format camera.
The 35mm camera comes with a fixed lens. The lens is called “Suttons’s Liquid Filled Lens”. The focal length is 32 mm and the maximum aperture is f/11. The focus of the lens is fixed. There is a choice of apertures between f/11, f/16, f/22, f/32 and f/168. The closest focusing distance for this lens is 1.5 m.
The special feature of the optics of this camera is already indicated in the name of the camera. Inspired by Thomas Sutton, the lens can be filled with liquid. Depending on the liquid, the aesthetics of the image is thus changed.
The exposure is not measured by the camera. The only exposure time is “N” and corresponds to 1/100 second. For long time exposures there is a bulb mode. In this mode the shutter is opened as long as the shutter release button is pressed. Multiple exposures are also possible with the panorama camera.
Hot-shoe flashes can be used with the HydroChrome Sutton’s Panoramic Belair. There is also a PC flash socket. The 35mm camera has a cable release and a tripod thread. The camera does not need electricity to take pictures. Therefore, you do not need to buy batteries for the camera.
Films for the HydroChrome Sutton’s Panoramic Belair
The HydroChrome Sutton’s Panoramic Belair is built for the 35mm format. For this film format there is still a good selection of material for color and black and white images. One possibility for b/w images is the Kodak T-Max 100*. A possible film for color images is Kodak Gold 200*.
The color film is developed in the C-41 process. This process is offered by almost every photo lab. The negatives of HydroChrome Sutton’s Panoramic Belair are 104 mm x 35 mm. The sprockets of the film are also exposed. The film must be manually rewound by the photographer.
Example photos
Technical datasheet
| Attribute | Specification |
|---|---|
| Type of Camera | Panorama camera |
| Film format | 35mm |
| Film transport | Manual |
| Picture format | 104 mm x 35 mm |
| Focal length | 32 mm |
| Widest aperture | f/11 |
| Minimum focus distance | 150 cm / 4.92 ft |
| Focus | Fixed |
| Exposure times | 1/100 second s, Bulb |
| Bulb mode | Yes |
| Date imprinting | No |
| Double and/or multiple exposure function | Yes |
| Built-in flash | No |
| Flash Connection | Hot Shoe, PC-Flash |
| Tripod mount | Yes |
| Cable release thread | Yes |
| Self-timer | No |
| Power supply | Not necessary |
| Country of production | China |
FAQ about the HydroChrome Sutton’s Panoramic Belair
Is the HydroChrome Sutton’s Panoramic Belair a 35mm camera?
Yes, it is a 35mm panoramic camera. It uses standard 35mm film, making it relatively easy to find film for it. The panoramic format gives you wider shots than a regular 35mm camera.
What kind of lens does this camera have?
It has a fixed, 32mm 'Suttons' Liquid Filled Lens' with a maximum aperture of f/11. The lens is unique because it can be filled with different liquids to alter the image's aesthetic.
How do I control the exposure on this camera?
The camera doesn't have an exposure meter; it only has one standard shutter speed of 1/100th of a second and a bulb mode for longer exposures. You'll need to manually determine the correct settings.
Can I use a flash with the camera?
Yes, you can use hot-shoe flashes or flashes with a PC sync socket. The camera doesn't require batteries to operate, so it's a purely mechanical device.
Does the camera have any special features?
Besides its unique liquid-filled lens, it allows for multiple exposures and has a tripod mount. The film sprockets are also exposed, adding a unique border to the image. It's important to manually advance the film.