Elmo Super 110 (1972–1975)

It's heavy in the hands. It's a precision tool in brushed metal, with a zoom lens that still gets attention.

Overview

The Elmo Super 110 doesn't show off. It's dense and deliberate, like lab equipment that wandered onto a film set. It weighs 1.35kg and is built from solid aluminum, a long way from the plastic-bodied Super 8s that flooded the market in the late '70s. This was Elmo's top-of-the-range Super-8 camera, built for shooters who wanted serious control without stepping up to professional 16mm. It has a smooth single-lens reflex viewfinder and an f/1.8 zoom lens that gives crisp, contrasty images with a richness modern digital often struggles to mimic.

The Super 110 was marketed between 1972 and 1975, when most home movie cameras were still stuck on 18fps, automatic-only exposure, and fixed lenses. This one gives you 24fps, the cinematic standard, plus 54fps for slow motion, manual exposure, and a 10x power zoom that motors from 7mm to 70mm in about 7.5 seconds. The lens, the Elmo Zoom f/1.8 / 7-70mm, is the star. Owners praise its sharpness, color saturation, and low-light performance, especially for a variable-aperture zoom from the '70s.

Many so-called "silent" Super 8 cameras whine like dentist drills. A properly serviced Super 110 runs smooth and quiet, thanks to its DC micromotor. That makes it one of the few silent 8s you could realistically use for sync-sound experiments, even though the standard 110 has no dedicated audio socket (that's the job of the rare 110R variant). It was sold in the USA by Honeywell Photographic Products, which gave it a quiet presence in American homes, though it never got the mass recognition of a Canon or Kodak. Those who knew it respected it, and forum comments decades later say things like, "The pictures I get with this camera exceed all my other S8 cameras."

Specifications

Key Features

The Lens That Does It All

The Elmo Zoom f/1.8 / 7-70mm is the heart of this camera. A 10x zoom with a fast f/1.8 aperture at the wide end was no small feat in the early '70s, especially in a consumer-grade Super 8 body. It's a power zoom, so a lever gives smooth transitions, or you can dial it manually. The 62mm filter thread allows filters, and the macro range focuses as close as 14cm, which is rare for a zoom of this era. Owners consistently report sharp, saturated images with a contrasty punch that scans well today. This lens is why many filmmakers still seek out the Super 110, even when simpler cameras might be easier to operate.

Through-the-Lens Metering Without the Bloat

Many cameras of the day still relied on external light meters or basic CdS cells. The Super 110 offered TTL (Through-the-Lens) EE metering, and it needed no separate battery for the metering circuit. Elmo used integrated circuits (ICs) to streamline power use, which reduced complexity. You set the film speed (from 25 to 250 ASA, depending on lighting), and the camera adjusts exposure accordingly, with manual override for full control. Some users note the meter can be "a bit jumpy," especially when locked, so watch for that in critical light.

Built Like a Tool, Balanced Like a Weapon

The all-metal construction, compact dimensions (25.8 x 11 x 8.2 cm), and 1.35kg weight make it feel substantial without being unwieldy. The detachable pistol grip adds handheld comfort, but it's often cited as the camera's weakest point, and "flimsy" is the word that comes up. Remove it and you get a well-balanced core body that pairs well with stabilizers like the Steadicam Jr., a trick some filmmakers still use today. The oversized film gate is another asset, especially for those doing their own telecine, since it reduces edge artifacts and improves scan quality.

Viewfinder and Usability

The single-lens reflex (SLR) viewfinder shows exactly what the lens sees, with no parallax error. It has an adjustable eyepiece (+1 to -3 diopters), so you can set focus without glasses. The finder shows f-stop, film transport status, end-of-reel warning, and battery check, so you don't have to look away mid-shot. A window on the side lets you confirm film type, and rotating arrows show film movement. The 160-degree shutter angle gives natural motion blur at 24fps, and the three-speed motor (18, 24, 54fps) plus single-frame mode gives real creative range.

Historical Context

The Elmo Super 110 landed in a market where most Super 8 cameras were sold as easy-to-use home movie gadgets, with automatic exposure, fixed lenses, and no 24fps option. The Super 110 was different. It was positioned as a top-of-the-range tool for serious shooters, the kind who cared about frame rates, manual exposure, and lens quality. Its fit and finish was quite good, but not quite on par with the best European models. It offered more features than most, at a price of £210 in England at introduction. Sold in the USA by Honeywell Photographic Products, it flew under the radar compared to Canon or Nizo, but earned a quiet reputation among those who valued performance over branding.

Collectibility & Value

The Elmo Super 110 is underrated in the vintage camera market — a sleeper hit. One owner reported picking one up for just 5 EUR years ago, though those days are likely gone. A fully accessorized example with original case recently sold for 100€, and according to 2024 observations, CLA’d (cleaned, lubricated, adjusted), film-tested units now start around 300–400 Euro on eBay and Etsy. That’s still reasonable for a camera of this quality, especially when you consider the lens. The main concerns for buyers are the condition of the pistol grip (prone to cracking) and the light meter’s stability — some report it shifts when the motor starts. There’s no public data on common electronic or mechanical failures, but owners agree: a serviced Super 110 runs smooth and quiet, a hallmark of its engineering. If you’re scanning your films, the oversized film gate is an unsung bonus. It’s not the rarest Super 8, but it might be one of the most capable.

Market Value

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ ELMO SUPER 110                                                  Nov 2026 │
├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ High      $410                                    Latest            $209 │
│ Median    $183                                    Trend                — │
│ Low       $78                                     Volume           ~2/mo │
├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│   $500 ┤                                                                 │
│        │                                                                 │
│        │                                   .                    .        │
│   $307 ┤                                            .                    │
│        │                                                                 │
│        │   .                   .                      .     .           .│
│        │.                                                   .      .     │
│    $50 ┤                                .        .        .              │
│        ├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────│
│    vol │▂  █                   ▂        ▂  ▂     ▂  ▂ ▂   ▂ █   ▂  ▂    ▂│
│        └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────│
│         2025-11                      2026-03                      2026-07│
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

eBay Listings

Recently sold on eBay: $93–$400 (median $183, based on 17 completed sales, past 12 months)

All Works [NEAR MINT w/Case] Elmo SUPER 110 Black Super 8 8m

$330

ELMO SUPER 110 Super 8 8mm Movie Camera N413021 #3077808

$169

All Works [NEAR MINT w/Case] Elmo SUPER 110 Black Super 8 8m

$330

[NEAR MINT] Elmo Super 110 8mm Film Movie Camera 7-70mm f/1.

$300

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Service Manuals, Schematics & Catalogs

Related Models

• Elmo 612S-XL (1978)
• Elmo Super 110R (1977)
• Arriflex 16 BL (1965)
• Arriflex 16 SR (1975)
• Arriflex 16 ST (1952)
• Arriflex 16S (1952-)
• Arriflex 16SR2 E
• Arriflex 35 BL (1972)
• Arriflex 35 IIC (1964)
• Arriflex 535B (1992)