The Sprocket Rocket SUPERPOP! Blue is a panoramic camera from Lomography. This version was presented in the summer of 2011 with the SUPERPOP! Green, SUPERPOP! Yellow and SUPERPOP! Orange from Lomography.
The plastic body of the Sprocket Rocket SUPERPOP Blue is completely colored in bright blue.
The camera features at a glance
The Sprocket Rocket camera exposes film per frame with a 72×35 mm area including the perforation with its super-wide angle lens. Each photo is about the size of two normal shots, which means about 18 images can be taken on a 36 frame 35mm film.
The Sprocket Rocket’s plastic lens has a maximum aperture of f/10.8 (almost f/11) and a focal length of 30 mm. The characteristic features are the strong vignetting and the decreasing sharpness in the corners.
For panorama shots, the camera offers two exposure times: 1/100 second and Bulb for long exposures. Due to the lack of a shutter lock, multiple exposures are possible by releasing the shutter several times. The film can be fast-forwarded and rewound at will. There are also two distance settings: one for close-ups (0.6 meter to 1 meter) and one for everything else (1 meter to infinity).
The camera can be fitted with a strap using a screw with a handle that screws into the tripod thread. It also has a hot shoe for connecting an external flash and a thread for a tripod.
The development of the films
During development, it is important to make sure that the film is not cut to avoid cut-up images. Since most labs do not make prints with the Sprockets on them, it is difficult to obtain prints from the Sprocket Rocket. A practical solution is to scan the images yourself and then send them to a lab to have them printed.
Technical datasheet
| Attribute | Specification |
|---|---|
| Type of Camera | Panorama camera |
| Film format | 35mm |
| Film transport | Manual |
| Film transport mechanism | Rotary knob |
| Focal length | 30 mm |
| Widest aperture | f/10.8 |
| Minimum focus distance | 60 cm / 1.968 ft |
| Focus | Fixed |
| Exposure times | 1/100 second, Bulb |
| Bulb mode | Yes |
| Auto DX (Film sensitivity) | No |
| Date imprinting | No |
| Double and/or multiple exposure function | Yes |
| Built-in flash | No |
| Flash Connection | Hot Shoe |
| Flash sync speed | 1/100 s |
| Tripod mount | Yes |
| Cable release thread | No |
| Self-timer | No |
| Power supply | Not necessary |
| Country of production | China |
FAQ about the Sprocket Rocket SUPERPOP! Blue
What kind of photos does this Lomography camera take?
The Sprocket Rocket SUPERPOP! takes panoramic photos. Each picture is approximately twice the size of a regular 35mm frame, resulting in fewer photos per roll.
How many pictures can I take on one 35mm film roll?
A standard 36-exposure 35mm film roll will yield roughly 18 panoramic shots with this camera because of the larger image size.
Does this plastic camera have any special features?
Yes, it features a wide-angle lens, multiple exposure capability due to the lack of a shutter lock, and it allows for both short and long exposure times.
Can I use a flash or tripod with the blue camera?
Absolutely! The Sprocket Rocket SUPERPOP! Blue has a hot shoe for external flashes and a tripod mount for stable shots.
How do I get my pictures developed from this super wide camera?
Developing the film from the Sprocket Rocket can be tricky. Most labs won't print the sprocket holes, so scanning the negatives and then having prints made from the scans is often the best solution.