YASHICA SOUND 50XL Macro
Picked up this Yashica Sound 50XL Macro at a local flea market today for the equivalent of about $3 USD, and I honestly didn’t expect much from it at first.
After cleaning it up and putting fresh batteries in, pretty much everything seems to work:
- motor runs
- film transport works
- zoom works both directions
- speed settings work (1/2x, 1x, 2x, 4x)
- light meter reacts
- macro mode works
It also came with:
- the original microphone
- a really clean hard leather carrying case with shoulder strap
- lens cap
- two old AGFA Moviechrome 40 Sound cartridges
The only things missing compared to what I’ve seen online seem to be the original box, lens hood, and mic wind muff.
Cosmetically it looks almost unused.
The funny thing is: I’m mainly a still photographer (mostly analog black & white, concerts, basketball, street stuff), and I don’t really shoot motion picture film. So now I’m kind of torn between keeping it as a cool piece of gear or selling it to someone who would actually use it.
I’d love to hear from people who know these cameras:
- How respected are these in the Super 8 world?
- What would something like this realistically be worth today as a complete kit?
- Are they generally reliable if they seem functional mechanically?
Would also love to see footage if anyone here actively shoots with one.
