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 built for both sound and silent film. It went on sale in November 1977 as a high-end consumer camcorder for its day. The Canon zoom lens has a wide aperture and a 3x zoom range, and it is focused by hand. The camera has macro and aerial focusing modes, and zoom can be auto or manual. Some units today have a common fault: the motor won't advance the film even when the camera is 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
Recent listings for the Canon 312 XL-S show a wide spread in price. One sold for $30 on eBay and another was listed at $561.66. Multiple owners report the same operational problem: the camera powers on, but the motor fails to advance the film.
eBay Listings
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