This is the Canon 1014XL-S, the most advanced Super-8 Camera produced by Canon and is regarded as among the best Super-8 Cameras ever made. As stated in the instruction booklet, this camera was designed for the professional Super-8 Filmmaker or the experienced amateur. The XL-S should not be confused with the vastly inferior Canon 1014 Super-8 camera.

          The camera is in the original box with the instruction booklet and includes the following accessories:

          - Dynamic microphone

          - Remote switch

          - Earphones

          - 'Skylight' filter.

          - Strap

          I am also including a Vivitar V3000 fluid-head tripod (it is missing a screw in one of the legs: either a Vivitar replacement screw can be obtained or an ordinary 3/16" screw will suffice).

          The camera offers the following features:

          Compact Zoom lens: Wide-angle to telephoto, sharp image and color balance. Built-in wide-angle macro and telephoto macro mechanisms for close-ups. The 1014XL-S offers zoom to ten times maximum focal length. Ordinary closest focusing distance is 1.2 meters unless using close-up lenses.  

          Power and Manual Zoom: Extendable lever for Manual Zoom. Power zoom offers two speeds and both wide-angle and telephoto zoom.

          Daylight or Artificial lighting switch: Daylight and Artificial light offer different color temperatures. The camera has an inbuilt CCA filter to correct colour balance, controlled by the CCA filter switch.

          Full-Information Viewfinder: Showing exposure, exposure warnings (in both automatic and manual aperture control), recording levels, film remaining, power level, jammed film and film end.

          Multi-Mode filming: Sound, silent, colour, black-and-white, built-in self timers and interval timers, single-frame filming (for stop animation), automatic fade-in/fade-out of sound and picture (picture only or sound only also possible), automatic lap dissolve of both picture and sound.

          Unique Control of Shutter Opening Angle: The camera's shutter has a variable opening angle for the most effective filming in various lighting conditions from bright light to dim lighting conditions. Regardless of opening angle, exposure is automatically adjusted.

          Range of Filming Speeds: 9fps, 18fps (usual speed), 24fps (for highest quality), slow motion, single-frame.

          SPC Servo AE:  Metering through lens, automatic exposure control regulated by wide-range, high-response silicon photocell (SPC), five-bladed iris diaphragm for image quality.

          Exposure Compensation and Manual Aperture Control: aperture can be altered in 1/3 f/stops up to +/- 1 f/stop for backlighting etc. Exposure lock mechanism for quickly changing lighting conditions. Option for complete manual control over aperture for special lighting conditions or for  effects.

          Advanced Recording Mechanism: Automatic level control for ordinary sound conditions. For unusual situations or special effects, regular manual control or manual control with limiter option. Features manual volume control dial, tone and input sensitivity controls. Level meter for manual and ALC recording. Microphone or auxiliary input (for voice over, music etc.) or simultaneously (for example to have backing soundtrack during recording of dialogue or present sounds etc.).

          System Accessories (not included except for those stated above): Lens attachments allow filming range into super wide-angle, super telephoto and close-up fields. Wide attachment shortens focal length to 4.3 mm. Filters, lighting adaptors, viewing aids, remote control accessories, power pack, movie light, rubber hood, chest pod (for stability) Time lapse Programmer, wireless receiver, wireless microphone, connection to TV, Record player, Radio, Tape recorder. Can also be connected to CD player, video and DVD with the same connection although this is not stated as camera was produced before the advent of these technologies. Standard tripod attachment.    

Safety Mechanisms: Detection of abnormalities in film transport and film end detection are shown as warnings in the viewfinder and camera is automatically stopped.

          Special effects: Single frame filming, timed interval filming, self-timed filming (allowing filming a flower opening, or following the passage of a day etc.), slow motion, macro filming (useful for filming titles or small subjects such as insects and plants), flash (useful for photographing titles or stop-animation)

          Special effects with sound: Manual sound recording (allows total control of sound levels, recording low sound levels, adjustment of soundtrack, sound distortion for special effects), Limiter (allows manual control while utilising the ALC function to subdue extremely loud sounds), Bass cut (eliminates low range frequencies to cut out wind, background noise, traffic noise, echoing in confined spaces), Microphone Attenuator Switch (for recording outdoors or in noisy areas, when recording extremely loud sounds (egg. jet engine), Auxiliary Input and Mixing (records sound from audio equipment and allows mixing of dialogue or natural sounds from microphone with audio equipment input (egg. backing soundtrack, sound effects etc.), Pulse synchronized recording (allows taping on separate source (egg. tape recorder) while filming and then ability to sync-control sound/dialogue with picture).          

          Other:  -power level meter

                                -shutter release lever

                     - Eyepiece shutter switch (for use with remote control, self-timer and stop animation)

                     - Eyesight correction feature (to adjust to individual eyesight)

                     - Split-image rangefinder focusing aid (for keeping subject in focus while zooming)

                     - TV screen filming switch

          The camera is in excellent condition. I always used a filter when filming to protect the lens so there are no issues there. There has never been any trouble with the motor, the power zoom or any other functions of the camera. The only damage is some light scratching and marking to the bottom where the camera attaches to the tripod. Some light rust on the corner of the film compartment door where the paint has chipped off. The camera is encased in metal and is extremely robust. Built to last.

          While the many features allow this camera the ability to produce professional films I must stress that what really impressed me was the sharp picture, the sound quality and the impressive zoom. I also found it to be an excellent camera for clay animation. I have something of a sentimental attachment to this camera and hope that it goes to someone who will make good use of it.