Canon 514 XL-S AF

Canon 514 XL-S AF

Year: 1980-1983

Weight: 1600 g

Lens: Canon zoom 1,4 / 9 - 45 mm (filter size: 52mm)

Macro focusing

Auto Focusing

Auto / Manual Zoom

Frame rates: 18, 24 + single frame

Shutter degree: 220

Manual / Auto Exposure

Backlight Control

Remote control socket

Auto / Manual Recording Level Control

6 X AA batteries

Made in Japan

Original price in England (in the year of introduction): £260

Comments

Essentially the same as the non-autofocus 514XL-S, this has an autofocus module above the zoom lens. The autofocus has two rangefinding windows using visible light but no moving parts apart from the motor driving the lens focussing. The camera should not be used with a lens hood or wide angle attachment since this blocks the rangefinding windows. The autofocus can be switched off and the lens focussed manually.

One of a handful of autofocus models made by Canon, Elmo, Sankyo, Bolex and others, introduced in 1979/80 before mass production of Super 8 cameras ceased in the mid 1980s. Scarce and hence a future collector's item

Reviews

Jörg's Review

This is one of the few super8-cameras where the auto-focus is working fast and accurate enough for most of my purposes. Not to mention that the camera supports 24fps and has got all the nice features of the Canon 514 XL-S. If it only could recognize the Ektachrome 64T as a 64ASA film! Nevertheless it's a great camera. And so I sold my other AF-cameras (Elmo 6000 AF and Revue Sound CS 60 AF) ... ... however keep in mind that it's still a "first generation"-autofocus that will let you down in several cases. And it'll only work when the object that you want to focus is in the centre of the viewfinder. So don't expect too much from this autofocus-feature. I only need it for special occasions and not for "every day". Using the "snapshot"-setting of non-autofocus-cameras (refer to your manual, e.g. for the Nizo 4056 it's 4m focal distance and 15mm focal length) will give the same or sometimes even better results.

another review, from 2016

Like all Canons, this is a sturdy, well-built camera. It was introduced around the same time as the 814XL-S and 1014XL-S and hence has some similar features. While it's not made of metal it is covered in a very tough plastic. It works with AA batteries or a 9V battery pack could actually be used via a DC plug. The lens is also not bad! I'd say it's actually sharper than the earlier model 814E and 814XL. It doesn't have many extra features, but makes a great "run and gun" camera because the auto-focus works within 2-3 seconds to refocus on a new subject. And if you don't need the auto-focus all the time, it still makes a great camera, and much better quality than the other auto-focus cameras.

It unfortunately lacks the macro setting at the 45mm end of the lens like the regular 514XL-S has. It's a fairly rare camera which makes it collectible, but it's not worth spending over $100 on it unless you intend to use it. Save your money and get an 814XL-S.

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