HISTORY BEHIND THIS CAMERA
My professional and private background is all about electronics, audio and 'The Arts' but NOT photography! My photographs on this website will atest to that (I am "learning the ropes" with a 'new' 350D camera, the photographs are the best I can do presently)
A while back now, I was been asked by an associate/friend to 'look after' their collection of photographic equipment and small format film projectors and stock due to his serious ill health and inability to look after this gear any longer. His wish was to have his large collection of film stuff find new owners who appreciate the history behind both his films and equipment.
Sadly, his long battle with health issues was lost recently and while I had advertised a fair amount of his gear, I have been taking a lengthy break from his film world partly because I needed too! (setting up projectors, test running films etc was taking up a lot of my time and interfering with the home life) and also I had to check on the legal status of these items since he had passed on.
All lights are now GREEN so I will slowly get back into his world of film!
This is my first advertisement in the Super 8 world since early this year so let's get on with it ...
This film camera may be considered a "classic", from the Japanese world of film based movie cameras ... the XL204
My friend used to laugh at the Japanese marketing of this camera because (as he used to say)"let's be real here ... describing this as a Professional camera is a stretch!" The camera was fairly aimed at the consumer marketplace and Cosina just got a bit loose with their marketing language!
Cosina weren't so loose with their pricing though ... at the time of release, I was told that the camera retailed in Australia for just shy of $500 ... that's "1980's money" and it works out to be roughly equivalent to at least $5000+ in todays 'mulla'
That's not to say the camera is in the "rubbish" league, but definitely you would not find professionals using this camera, Cosina has been a bit rubbery with the truth here.
I must say though, it DOES look impressive with that big fat lens!
Included is the original carry case, accessories and even the manual for the camera.
There are NO returns or refunds offered, this is second hand gear and offered 'as-is' but I do try to give some helpful information in the TESTING section of this description.
COSINA Portable Movie Camera
Technology: Super 8 film cartridges (Analog)
Model: XL204
Marketed as featuring Magic Sound for Professionals
Released to market 1978~81
BASIC CAMERA FEATURES:
TESTING:
When providing this movie camera to me, the owner told me that this Cosina was, in his opinion, "a beauty" but that was when he last used it! In truth, he had not actually used the camera for around 30+ years so I have attempted to establish the current condition, as best I can ascertain.
Here we go ...
Installed the 6x AA batteries with no issues and the battery compartment lid fits nicely, the centre screw holding it in place.
Lowered the camera handle to the normal operating position, unless I did this the camera will not turn on
Using some guidelines I found online about these cameras, I first made a pseudo film ... pushing the front button and making sure the motor(s) were running nice and smoothly ... all good here. I switched between 18fps and 24fps to ensure both speeds were working ... another tick here.
Next I used the side controls for Wide Angle, Zoom and took a peek through the viewfinder. I could not see any issues here, all was good and appeared to be operating as it should.
I then put the camera into Auto mode and changed the lighting conditions to check that the part I believe is called the Iris opened and closed - it did.
Lastly I manually adjusted the lens, particularly changing the focus for near and far objects/scenes and all looked to be fine.
During all of these tests, a Green light shows at the front of the camera (just below the lens) and in the viewfinder I can see a Red dot - I can only think this means "Hey fella! What about some film?" I also noticed a small Green dot showing in the viewfinder (lower edge) when changing the lighting conditions.
As I mention in my cosmetic description below, although I could see a very small fungi 'dot' or spot when viewing from the front of the camera and peering inside the lens system, I could not see this same dot through the viewfinder.
ACCESSORIES TESTED:
EARPIECE: This is in great shape and has a DC resistance of 5K Ohm, I strongly suspect this is a crystal earpiece. To check it's operation, I used it in "reverse" by connecting to my trusty audio desk and using it as a microphone ... it works a treat although a bit 'peaky' which is to be expected.
MICROPHONE A: The only markings (stamped at the base of the microphone) indicate that it is Low Impedance and from Japan. I am sure this is a dynamic microphone and the DC resistance was measured at 300 Ohms. Again, I used my audio desk to check the microphone and all is good (good audio) although at a lower level than microphone B.
MICROPHONE B: This microphone has stamped into the base 500 Ohm Impedance JAPAN and like the other microphone, looks to be a dynamic type. DC resistance for this microphone was measured at 450 Ohm and I did notice quite an appreciably higher output level from this microphone.
COSMETIC CONDITION:
For a 40+ year old "home movie" camera, I am amazed at the condition of this camera, the carry case and the accessories ... it certainly appears that he cared about this camera!
USED
CLEAN
The carry case is in amazing condition (for it's age!) and has NO cuts in the leatherette, no damage to any of the seams or joins (no lifting of the leatherette) but does have a couple of small "scuff' marks to the top section - nothing to write home about though! The carry strap (stamped as JAPAN) is also in great condition with no cracking or splits - very nice.
The lock on the side of the case is one of those old spring types (push the side of the lock and it fits into the catch) and this lock is not keyed. The metal of the lock shows no signs of oxidisation e.g no rust
The lens cleaning accessory pack is clean and has slight Yellowing to the outer plastic, pretty common for these old clear plastics - I get the impression that this kit was not used very much at all.
The earpiece is very clean, along with the lead and plug ... no damage to the lead. The 'cleanable ear insert' looks great but to be sure, I have given the earpiece and insert a good clean - sterilisation using Iso Alcohol on a cloth.
Both microphones are in great shape, no body damage nor to either of the leads or their plugs. No nicks or cuts to the cable sheath at all. Both microphone stands and the wind foam balls for each microphone are in great shape with no damage at all - even that 50 year old foam looks and feels great!
The same cannot be said for the original Condenser boom microphone, although working fine, as it has a physical issue. You see this microphone has a telescopic section and where that section meets the body it looks as though something is missing, a bush or washer of some kind. The lack of this piece results in the telescopic section being pretty 'loose'.
I made a close inspection of the battery compartment (so many batteries!) and it is nice and clean. No-one has previously left batteries inside so there is no acid leakage damage, fortunately. All contacts are clean and the small White labels, which are vital to knowing the battery orientations, are easily readable.
The rubber hand grip is not damaged or cracked - very nice to hold (although the camera is quite heavy in the hand!)
The rubber lens boot (Oh my, what a big boot you have!) is in great shape with no cracking or other damage apparent at all.
Absolutely NO damage to the camera body at all! Not even scratching, with the exception of the previous owner having a code number etched into the side of the camera body! When a camera costs a small fortune, it is a good idea to make some identity markings in case it gets lost or stolen.
NOTE: In the photographs I have obscured these etched numbers for privacy reasons.
After all of the above...I DID notice one 'issue' - peering into the lens from the front (of course), I think I can see a small spot of fungi growth INSIDE the lens system. Funny enough, when I was testing the camera and looking through the viewfinder, I CANNOT see this spot at all. I believe the viewfinder uses the reflex system so it should show the spot that I can see from the front ... its beyond my film camera knowledge I'm afraid.
Now that I have carefully examined every piece and undertaken some basic testing, I did what I always do ....
Each item is now within a sealed, clear plastic packet - even the camera itself. I do this to keep everything as dust free as possible. All of the various items plus the camera have now been put to bed inside the case and the XL204 now awaits a new owner who wants to have a bit of fun with a Super 8 format film camera! Even if you don't use it, imagine the looks if you are out in public with this beastie sitting in your hand - you are bound to get comments!
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