Tipster: How To Build A Sutton Lens For Your LomoApparat

You might be familiar with our HydroChrome Sutton’s Panoramic Belair Camera. Perhaps you also know the work of Thomas Sutton, who in 1859, developed the earliest panoramic camera with a wide-angle lens. The lens consisted of a glass sphere filled with water.

Inspired by this camera, we had the idea to create an extra attachment to use with the LomoApparat 21 mm Wide-angle Camera. Using the same principle as a Sutton lens, today we will make a water-filled lens that creates distorted images and adds an odd sense of fuzzy unreality to your photos.

How it Works:

The procedure is fairly easy. You will need some simple tools. A plastic bottle, scissors, plastic glue, and syringe to get the water in. If you are particularly handy and have a soldering iron at your disposal it can help you to glue together the plastic components.

• Plastic bottle
• Cutter or scissors
• Glue

To cut a proper shape for the lens, we used the rim that comes with your LomoApparat attachments as a guide. Cut two identical parts and glue them together. It is best to use glue specifically for plastic as it must hold together when we fill it with water.

If you have soldering iron and know how to use it, try to seal the two parts together, then you can use the glue to ensure that no holes will be left open. The iron can get very hot so be careful when handling professional tools.

Leave only one small aperture to fill the water. Try to fill the lens with water, check if it is leaking and give a second round of glue. Each time it's best if you let the water dry before applying another layer of glue or it won't hold.

When the two parts are well sealed together, take the rim and use it as a base to attach to the lens. This way you have a fitting hook that can attach to your lens.

Make sure to leave the open side of the lens in the upward position or you will slowly lose the water. It is best to have the lens filled with water to get optimal results, even though bubbles form, there are interesting distortions that play in your frame and create even more fun photos.

Unfortunately, due the small gap on top from which water can escape, you have to make sure to refill the lens with more water. Remember that the more centered your subject is within the water when you frame the picture, the shaper the photo will be.

Will you give it a try and hack your LomoApparat? Don't forget to share your results with the community!

written by eparrino on 2023-09-26 #tutorials #distorted #sutton-lens #lomo-apparat #thomas-sutton #wide-angle-camera #water-effect #lens-manipulation