CANON 518SV SERIES

A Tale of Two Cameras

In the late 60's Canon found itself in a unique position. It was producing a model for Two different cartridge formats.

Inspired partly by the success of Fujica's Single 8 "Z" series, and the need to produce a mid range camera for the Super 8 format, Canon wisely decided to keep costs down by building almost identical designs.

In the end, it would came to nought, as Kodak was able to dominate the 8mm market in areas outside of Japan. Hence Canon's decision to drop support for future Single 8 models.

Canon 518SV Super 8

Definitly built for a price and place in the market, the Super 8 version, an update of the earlier succesful 518 Camera,is still a very plain looking camera.

More evolutionary, than revolutionary the only "outstanding" part of this camera is the 6 "piano key" like notch sensors, found inside the film chamber.

Further reinforcing its ordinariness, the f1:1.8 9.5mm-47.5mm lens, which it shares with its Single 8 sibling, doesn't even contain a macro function.

Canon 518SV Single 8

When you decide to support both sides in a small format war, you have to make some careful decisions. So it was with the Single 8 version.

Canon decided it would make a Single 8 camera that would take advantage of the format's strengths.

It did this by developing a "Shutter Opening" Wheel, that would later be used in the successful 814/1014 Electronic Super 8 series.

This early version had the extra bonus of motorised reverse filming, something that would be denied on later Super 8 versions.

Finally

Competition has a way of throwing up some odd, and at times, innovative items. Some thrive and become classic pieces of design, while others fall by the way side with the passage of time.

The Canon 518SV series tends to be forgotten in the Annals of 8mm camera design, with the Super 8 version too plain to be remembered, and the Single 8 version not sold widely outside of Japan.

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