Canon 312 XL S (1978)
A Super 8 movie camera with integrated Canosound capability, released in late 1977 for the 1978 model year.
Overview
The Canon 312 XL-S is a Super 8 movie camera designed for both sound and silent film recording. Marketed starting in November 1977, it was positioned as a high-end consumer camcorder of its era. It features a manually focused Canon zoom lens with a wide aperture and a 3x zoom range. The camera supports macro and aerial focusing modes, along with auto and manual zoom control. Despite its advanced features, some units today exhibit a common failure where the motor does not advance the film even when powered on.
Specifications
| Film Format | Super 8 |
| Lens | Canon Zoom 1.2 / 8.5 - 25.5 mm |
| Lens Composition | 13 elements in 10 groups |
| Zooming Ratio | 3x |
| Focusing | manual, 1.2 m to infinity |
| Image Size | 4.2 x 5.7 mm |
| Weight | 1400 g |
Market
The Canon 312 XL-S has appeared in recent listings with wide price variation—examples include a sale for $30 on eBay and another listed at $561.66. Common operational issues include the motor failing to advance film despite the camera powering on, as reported by multiple owners.
eBay Listings
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