Sprocket Rocket

For the month of January 2012 I'm featuring the Lomography Sprocket Rocket. A 35mm toy camera designed to shoot sprocket hole photography. The camera has an all plastic build with a classic retro design that resembles the Falcon Miniature from the late 1930's. Equipped with a 30mm super wide angle lens the Sprocket rocket can capture a 106º field of view making it a pretty decent panoramic camera. This camera also has the ability of rolling back the film to previous frames to create double exposures. The Sprocket Rocket sells for around $90 but you can find in cheaper if you shop around.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• SprocketPhotography
• SprocketHolePhotography
• FilmPhotography
• AnalogPhotography
• FilmCameras
• Film
• 35mmFilm
• SprocketRocket
• LomographySprocketRocket
• BokehImage
• Dred242
• AdventuresInAnalog

[dsl100stack]

Very interesting camera. The ease of creating multiple exposures and the sprocket exposing are pretty appealing. However, the slow shutter speed combined with the lens mounted shutter release seems shake prone. The price seems a little high for a camera with so few features and a plastic lens considering the prices of many excellent vintage camera, but overall, I am interested to see how the images come out. It's great to see you doing a second analog project!

[Dred242]

@dsl100stack How true on every point. I would love a glass lens on this camera - I have a Holga with a glass lens that cost far less then the Sprocket Rocket so cost can't be the issue. Perhaps they wanted to retain the lomo effect which is what most people want who use cameras like this. Unfortunately today's toy cameras are marketed more and more as overpriced boutique cameras and I fear that companies like Lomography are going to price themselves right out of the market.

[Dred242]

@dsl100stack My Diana Mini Petite Noire with its lens mounted shutter release lever has way more camera shake than my Sprocket Rocket. The action on the Diana Mini shutter release lever is terribly stiff - it causes the camera to move every time and with its default shutter speed of 1/60sec it's troubling. The action on my Sprocket Rocket's shutter release lever is extremely smooth - absolutely no camera shake when hand held.

[Dred242]

@dsl100stack I often wonder about the manufactures choice to use slow default shutter speeds on toy cameras - they seem too slow but somehow ends up always working out. Most folks use toy cameras outdoors in bright sunlight or indoors with a flash and it just seems to magically work. Also, I almost never see where the manufacture has recommended which film speed works best with their toy camera - users are left to roll the dice on that.

[tadhg27]

i had this camera in 2010 :-)

[dsl100stack]

@Dred242 The slow shutter speed could be to make up for the high aperture settings offered to get the proper exposure, but I agree with all you say. It's a roll of the dice, and that's what makes them interesting. You get interesting pictures, and you never know how they are going to turn out. I can't wait to see the photos you upload to your flickr.