EXCELLENT Minolta XL 401 Super 8 Movie Camera Cine Film Tested 100% Works! &more

Description

Long live the analog resurgence! There is nothing like shooting on film…
Up for bid is a SUPERB example of the very capable Minolta XL-401 (the updated version of the XL-400) Super 8 movie/cine camera (Made in Japan, serial # 104056). The camera is in great condition and FULLY film-tested (I use actual S-8 cartridges to test motor, shutter, intervalometer, single-frame, self-timer, etc) and in perfect working order! The  lens system is completely clean and clear (no mold, fungus, or scratches - very nice multicoated glass for high contrast imaging) and viewfinder is bright and clean, free of dust and debris. The body is like-new - it was well cared-for over the last 4 decades. Zoom and focus rings move smoothly, and there appears to be no corrosion or water damage anywhere on/in the camera.
It's got a FAST f1.2 zoom lens 8.5-34mm (4x zoom), XL (eXisting Light) shutter (220 degree shutter opening allows more light to reach film per frame - better for low light conditions, and also great for normal lighting). This is one of the best super 8 cameras for existing light (potential low-light conditions, such as you might find this summer on a road trip, visiting with friends, trekking hiking around the foothills of mountains, around the campfire, sunset on the beach or mountains, indoor parties, candlelight, moving into college, etc.)
Obviously it works well with bright light, too (camera stops down to f32), but most movie cameras don't handle existing (low) light as well as these. It also features Auto/Manual exposure options, auto/manual zoom (plus MACRO focus option - focuses right up to the lens), AND... an intervalometer (exposes one frame at a time and you can change the interval between frames - perfect for time lapse photography!).
This camera not only films at the standard super-8 rate (18 fps), but also does single-frame photography. That, along with MACRO capability, is excellent for stop motion work.
I would contend that, even though the lens is slightly slower than the 310 XL (that one is an f1.0, this one is an f1.2), this camera is overall much more capable. The Canon is a good XL camera, but this has a split-prism finder (Canon 310 does not), auto/manual exposure control (310 and 514 XL are ONLY auto - they have no manual aperture - so if doing stop-motion/animation you'll want total control of exposure, which these 400 and 401s allow). This Minolta ALSO has Macro focusing, a better zoom range (4x zoom on this vs 3x zoom on the 310) and an electronic self-timer. Finally, the XL-401 has an INTERVALOMETER!
Yeah, no real comparison, actually... but I do compare for a reason. Those Canons (working, tested ones, anyway) go for 0+ all day on eBay (9, before tax, if you buy one through Pro8mm - BTW, excellent company for film, processing, and transfers). My point? You will be getting a superb value (build quality is just as good as Canon or Nikon, and with many more features) when it comes to quality, ease-of-use, and features if you choose to invest in this Minolta movie camera.
Again, this auction includes a film-tested and working Minolta XL-401, original lens cap, original box and original owners manual. These are fantastic movie cameras, and why I've purchased quite a few of these over the years when I have the opportunity (this is the last of the 400 and 401s that I have to sell). They've been very useful to me in various projects - they're fantastic for on-the-go shooting as well as in more controlled situations. The intervalometer feature is awesome - like my 400, everybody who has used the 401 cameras have loved how easily they are to set up. Pop it on a tripod, switch exposure to Auto, frame your shot, choose the intervalometer variance (that is the time between frames, which ranges from one frame every 1/2 second to one frame every 60 seconds), close the viewfinder (blocks out extra light that could leak in through viewer - prevents possible overexposure) and it's done. Great for recording things like chess, sports, setting up camp, recording a climb, etc.
I'll start the bidding at a low with NO RESERVE!
S&H will be .99 to the contiguous US. If you live in Alaska, Hawaii, Canada or other parts of the world I ship to, please contact me prior to bidding for appropriate shipping fees.
I have been on eBay since 2000 and have 100% feedback rating, so bid with confidence! I'm in the U.S. (west of Chicago). I was a film student at Columbia a couple of decades ago and film is still a hobby of mine. Am I THE authority/expert about super-8 and/or 16mm? No, but I have used quite a few of these cameras, and have a decent working knowledge. If you have any questions, please ask. I will respond ASAP.
That said, there is no warranty, express or implied. What I do guarantee is that camera will arrive in condition as described in auction. Beyond that, the camera may function for 8 months, 5 years or 4 more decades (I would think the latter, as long as it is well cared for). I would never sell a camera that I would not want to receive myself! Eventually, I will be selling some non-functional "parts/project" cameras, but those will be explicitly labelled as such. If I say a camera is in good condition and fully functional, it is. And this XL-401 is really very nice...
Thanks for your interest - good luck, and happy bidding!