Vintage Canon Auto Zoom 814 Super 8 Movie Camera – Fully Power Tested & Meter Verified Functional
Up for auction is an exceptional piece of analog film history: the original first-generation Canon Auto Zoom 814 Super 8 movie camera (produced between 1967–1972). Renowned by film students, indie cinematographers, and vintage enthusiasts for its legendary all-metal construction and ultra-fast, razor-sharp f/1.4 zoom lens, this is a true workhorse of the Super 8 format.
This unit has been mechanically tested only - The motor works as well as the light meter. It has not been film tested.
This isn't just a camera; it is a beautifully documented piece of history. This unit was purchased new in 1968 at the RCAF (Royal Canadian Air Force) Zweibrücken Air Base exchange in Germany during the height of the Cold War.
Included in this auction:
The Original 1968 Purchase Receipt from the military base exchange.
The Original 1970 US Customs Form documenting exactly when it was legally brought home to the United States.
Finding a functional, single-family-owned Canon 814 with continuous military provenance paperwork is incredibly rare. This is an absolute crown jewel for film historians and high-end collectors alike.
The original hard case features an embossed name tape identifying its notable original owner: Dr. Alfonz Lengyel, a world-renowned Hungarian-American archaeologist, art historian, and professor.
After surviving a communist prison camp and escaping the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, Dr. Lengyel built an illustrious international career teaching art history and archaeology across Europe and the US (including Paris, Heidelberg, and California). He is famously known for his monumental work in China, where he later helped lead excavations on the world-famous Terracotta Warriors tomb site in Xi'an.
This Canon 814 was his personal tool, purchased while teaching/traveling near the RCAF Zweibrücken base in Germany. It represents an unprecedented, fully documented piece of academic and historical significance.
This Camera was purchased at his old estate at in Sarasota, Florida. I'm located in Sarasota, Florida (34240) if you would like to pickup.
Drive Motor: Powered with 4 standard AA batteries. The motor runs smoothly, cleanly, and consistently. Tested and verified operating properly at 12 fps, 18 fps, 24 fps (not film tested)
CdS Light Meter: Tested utilizing the independent twin PX-13 / PX625 battery circuit inside the film chamber. The internal light meter needle in the viewfinder is active and responsive.