Super 8 camera / Beginners & Professionals (2023)

There are so many super 8 cameras manufactured, and prices range between EUR 0.99 and USD 1999. So, are you looking for the best super 8 camera available? Or just one that fits your needs and budget? Here you'll find a list with popular super 8 cameras.

Top 6 most popular super 8 cameras

According to the internet, the following cameras are most searched for:

• Canon 310XL - Lightweight camera for low-light conditions, few features only.
• Nizo S800 - Superb lens, many features (slow-mo, stop-motion, etc.)
• Canon 1014XL-S - First super 8 camera with processor, silent, durable.
• Canon Auto Zoom 814 - Introduced in 1967, this cam has the world's first 8x f/1.4 zoom lens.
• Beaulieu 4008 (ZMII) - Sleek and professional, this one is not for the faint hearted.
• Canon 514xl - Compact successor of the 518SV with delay timer for special fx.

You can also browse all super 8 cameras for sale right now.

But what are you looking for?

Have you already decided what you want to capture on 8mm. celluloid? Nature, sports, events outside, events inside like weddings, parties? Dark or light subjects? Most super 8 cameras you'll find on flea markets or in 2nd hand shops are very simple, straightforward to use cameras. Those were the cheapest at the time so most people bought these. Usually they have a minimal range of exposure possibilities, or a limited range of cartridges you can use (cartridge notches). These cameras were used for holidays, outside, lots of (sun-) light. The more expensive cameras have more features, like adjustable shutters, exposure time, interval timers, better lenses, more settings for a larger range of super 8 film. Bear this in mind when you want to choose one.My advice: buy one for a few bucks, see if you like filming and then move on to more sophisticated, expensive cameras.

Super 8 cameras and ASA settings

Filmspeeds for common reversal super 8 films are mostly marked for artificial light (without wratten filter - 85). For daylight you must use this filter, which reduces the amount of light passing onto the film surface. This is the reason why the same film 'has different filmspeeds'.

The cameras that only allow 40 or 160 ASA tungsten -25 or 100 daylight- are now only useable with B&W film stocks (f.e. Kodak TRI-X 160 ASA tungsten, PLUS-X 100 ASA daylight). Inserting a 64t cartridge into one of these cameras will most likely result in one of two possibilities: an underexposure due to the camera metering for 160 ASA film loaded or an overexposure due to the camera metering for 40 ASA. However... if you don't try, you'll never know. I've read stories about the 64t coming out fine out of these 40/160 ASA cameras. Maybe it's worth a try... It's also possible to use an ND filter to compensate. Look in the table at the end of this page (scroll down) to read about this.

• Kodachrome film K40 (discontinued) has 40 ASA in artificial light (without filter 85) and 25 ASA in daylight. This means for usage, in daylight the f-stop must be 2/3 more open.
• Ektachrome 64T film (artificial / Tungsten) used without filter 85B has 64 ASA. Used with 85B for dayligth usage it has only 40 ASA. Also for this film the f-stop must be 2/3 more open in daylight.
• Ektrachrome 100D film: Is daylight balanced, so when you insert use this film, switch the camera's filter to 'tungsten' or 'indoor' to film without the 85 filter. Ifyou will be using 100D Film under tungsten illumination, I recommend the use of an 80A external filter.

Cartridge notches

If you want to know more about how cameras 'read' different types of super 8 cartridges, here is handy super 8 notch ruler in PDF format.

Here is a list of some cameras with ASA settings and specifications. If you don't have a manual, maybe you can find some info here.

You can click on the names to search for them in auctions.

Beaulieu

• Beaulieu 2008
• Beaulieu 3008
• Beaulieu 4008
• Beaulieu 5008
• Beaulieu 6008
• Beaulieu 7008
• Beaulieu 9008

-> manual ASA setting, big range.

Beaulieu 4008 ZM IV (2 fps up to 80 fps slow-motion !)

• Lens: Schneider Optivaron 1.4 / 6 - 70 mm.
• Ground Glass Focusing
• Macro focusing
• Manual / Auto Exposure
• Frame rates: 2,4,8,18,25,36,50,70,80 + single frame
• Shutter degree: Variable
• Fades & lap dissolve (crossfades)
• Remote control socket
• Flash contact

Browse all Beaulieu super 8 cameras for sale on eBay.

Bolex

Bolex 150 / 155 / 160 (macrozoom)

Nizo

Nizo 481 / 561 / Nizo S800 / Nizo 801 / Professional (25 fps. instead of 24):
Tungsten: ISO 16 to 160 (recommended cameras!)
Daylight: ISO 10 to 100

Nizo lightmeter batteries

Though there are people who claim to use the replacement batteries of 2x 1.5 volts, I strongly advise against it because it can damage your lightmeter and underexpose your film. The correct voltage is 2x 1.35 volt = 2.7 volt. These silent series require these on eBay available

manual / auto zoom with 2 speeds; 6, 18, 24, 56 + single frame; shutter degree: var. (expose one frame as long as you want!!)

Nizo 801 (same as 481 & 561, only different lens. Has the automated B-function with which you can film the moon f.e.)

• Lens: Schneider Kreuznach1.8 / 7 - 80 mm (nizo 801) / 7 - 56 mm (nizo 561) / 8 - 48 mm (nizo 481)
• Split Image Focusing
• Manual / Auto Zoom with 2 speeds
• Frame rates:1, 3, 6, 18, 24, 56 fps. + single frame
• Shutter degree: var.
• Manual / Auto Exposure
• Backlight Control
• Time exposure (VERY NICE FEATURE!)
• Flash contact
• Lap dissolve
• Remote control socket
• Cable release socket
• Interval timer

Nizo 1048 / 2056 / 3048 / 4080 / 6080
Tungsten: ISO 40, 64, 100, 160, 250, 400 and 640
Daylight: ISO 25, 40, 64 , 100, 160, 250 and 400

Nizo 6080

• Lens: Schneider macro-Variogon 1.4 / 7 - 80 mm
• Macro focusing
• Split Image Focusing
• Auto / Manual Zoom with 2 speeds
• Frame rates: 9,16 2/3,18,24,25,54 + single frame
• Manual / Auto Exposure
• Backlight Control
• +/- correction for auto
• Flash contact
• Fades & lap dissolve (crossfade)
• Remote control socket
• Cable release socket
• Interval timer with 2, 5, 15 second intervals

Nizo 136 / 148 / 156 (manual adjustment possible! See chart below)
Tungsten: ISO 40, 160 and 250
Daylight: ISO 25, 100 and 160

Canon

Tungsten: ISO 25, 40, 64 , 100, 160, 250 and 400
Daylight: ISO 16, 25, 40, 64 , 100, 160 and 250

Canon 512 XL

Canon Auto Zoom 814 Electronic

Canon Auto Zoom 1014 Electronic

Canon 1014 XL-S: (1, 9, 18, 24, 36 fps and interval)

• Lens: Canon zoom 1.4 / 6,5 - 65 mm (10x zoom, f 1.4 - > 1014)
• Macro focusing
• Split Image Focusing
• Auto / Manual Zoom with 2 Speeds
• Frame rates: 9, 18, 24, 36 + single frame
• Shutter degree: 150 / 220
• Manual / Auto Exposure
• Backlight Control
• +/- correction for auto
• Flash contact
• Fades & lap dissolve
• Remote control socket
• Interval timer with 1,5,20,60 second intervals

Canon Zoom 250:
Tungsten type film: ISO 25, 40, 64, 100 and 160
Daylight type film: ISO 16, 25, 40, 64 and 100

The Canon 310 and the popular and widely sold 514 XL (-S):
Tungsten: ISO 40, 160, 250
Daylight: ISO 25, 100, 160
note: If you want to buy one of these, on YouTube are lots of sample videos: Canon 514 100D. Also I spoke with someone who successfully shot a roll of 64T with her Canon 310 XL. I've seen the pictures and it came out nice. She filmed indoors and outdoors with it. Try a roll before shooting your feature!

Canon 310 XL (F/1.0 XL eXtended Light aperture )

• Lens: Canon zoom 1.0 / 8,5 - 25,5 mm
• Macro focusing
• Aerial Focusing
• Auto / Manual Zoom
• Frame rates: 18 + single frame
• Shutter degree: 220
• Auto Exposure
• Backlight Control
• Cable release socket

Other Canon cameras are the Canon 518 and the rare 1218

Bauer

Bauer:Bauer Royal C 6 / 8 / 10 (not to be confused with the Royal E serie):
Tungsten: ISO 25 to 160
Daylight: ISO 40 to 200

Bauer Royal C 10

• Lens: Variogon 1.4 / 7 - 70 mm
• Auto / Manual Zoom
• Split Image Focusing
• Macro focusing
• Manual / Auto Exposure
• Frame rates: 18, 24, 54 + single frame
• Shutter degree: Var.
• Backlight Control
• Fades & lap dissolve (crossfade)
• Interval timer
• Flash contact

Bauer C 107 / 109 / S 204 / S 207 / S 209 XL / C Royal 6, 8 and 10 E
Tungsten: ISO 40, 160
Daylight: ISO 25, 100

Cosina

Elmo

Elmo Super 104 / 106 / 108 / 110
Tungsten: ISO 25, 40, 64, 100, 160 & 250
Daylight: ISO 16, 25, 40, 64 , 100 & 160

Elmo 104 (18, 24 fps and single frame)

• Lens: 1.8 / 8,5 - 34 mm
• Split Image Focusing
• Auto / Manual Zoom
• Frame rates: 18, 24 + single frame
• Shutter degree: 160
• Manual / Auto Exposure

Elmo 612S-XL / 1012S-XL
Tungsten: ISO 40, 160
Daylight: ISO 25, 100

Eumig

Eumig Viennette 3 / 5

Eumig Viennette 5

• Lens: Vario-Viennar 1.8 / 8 - 40 mm
• Split Image Focusing
• Auto / Manual Zoom
• Frame rates: 18, 24 + single frame
• Auto Exposure
• +/- correction for auto
• Cable release socket

GAF

GAF ST/111E / ST/802 / ST/1002
Tungsten type film: ISO 25, 40, 64, 100, 160 and 250
Daylight type film: ISO 16, 25, 40, 64 and 100

Nikon

Nikon, All Nikons, R10 and R8, measure properly.

Leicina by Leica

Leicina Special and the Super RT-1 (25 fps. capability)

Minolta all Minolta Autopaks

Porst ZRS 448 Reflex
Tungsten: ISO 25, 40, 64, 100, 160 & 250
Daylight: ISO 16, 25, 40, 64 , 100 & 160

Ricoh 800Z
Tungsten: ISO 25, 40, 64, 100, 160 & 250
Daylight: ISO 16, 25, 40, 64 , 100 & 160

Yashica SUPER-600 Electro
Tungsten: ISO 25, 40, 64, 100, 160 & 250
Daylight: ISO 16, 25, 40, 64 , 100 & 160

Super-8 camera repair

Not many shops are repairing super-8 cameras, but you can try contacting Duallcamera. For 16mm. camera repair contact: super16inc.

Updated: 2 December 2021