You posted:
>How are the Sankyo XL 420 cameras? Are they any good? How do they handle weak light conditions? How much should one pay for such a camera?

The SANKYO XL 420 Supertronic camera compares very favorably to it's bigger brother, the XL 620, and to it's little brother, the XL 320. All three cameras have incredible low light filming capability owing to the 220° Shutter opening, and the F/1.2 lens maximum aperture. Also...though a beamsplitter viewfinder type camera...the beamsplitter uses only a small portion of the imaging light rays, which robs less than 20% of the incoming light (so the loss is about 1/5th of a stop compared to earlier designs which often robbed as much as 1/2 to 1 Stop.....kinda making the maximum aperture displayed on the lens not anywhere near what the 'real' effective maximum aperture would be based on the light loss).

In use...this allows very generous low light filmmaking in Super 8mm with the higher speed films...and also allows filming with Kodachrome or Plus-X at the lower end of their exposure threshold capability. I have used my XL 620 in very low light, both with and without Push Processing on the films and have been very pleased with the results over the past 20 years. I also use this camera with a KOWA 16-H 2x anamorphic for CinemaScope (WIDESCREEN) filmmaking and even with this extra optic added.....I have filmed in incredibly low light levels with various filmstocks with very acceptable results. The results of these cameras compares quite similarily to the silent model cousins to these Supertronic series cameras: e.g. EM-60XL, EM-40XL, and EM-30XL.

They are good cameras...but are now about 20 years old, and a variety of things could begin to go wrong...one being minor...but irritable nonetheless....that being the sound dampening and light sealing foam in the cartridge chamber turning to a black oozing goo. It can be removed....using several cloths dampened in alcohol or better yet....some acetone...and then regluing some new foam seal to the edges. The SANKYO XL 420 Supertronic has minimal features compared to the more expensive XL 620 (which has the lap dissolve, superimposition, selftimer, time-lapse, and animation timer functions). The XL 420 has the following features:

1. F/1.2 9.2mm to 37mm power zoom lens (with macro from 5cm to 1.5m)4:1 zoom ratio. But unlike the XL 620 which has separate zoom and drive motors...this uses a common motor to drive the camera and zoom (means that you can't power zoom when the camera isn't running...however, the flip-side advantage to this is that you have a very smooth manual zoom, which isn't possible on the XL 620 due to the internal zoom motor linkage).
2. Red LED light on the front to let actors know the camera is running.
3. 18 & 24 fps, plus single frame.
4. Accepts film types: ASA 40, 160, Type A{will work with the current Type B Ektachrome VNF 7240}, Type G{discontinued}.
5. Automatic exposure with full manual override and aperture scale in the viewfinder with over/under exposure warning indicators.
6. Film running indicator (but most Super 8 cameras have these).
7. Automatic or manual fading in/out (in automatic, simultaneous picture and sound fading if using sound film).
8. PC Flash Synch terminal.
9. Sound level indicator in the viewfinder (for use with sound films only).
10. MIC & AUX input sockets.
11. ALC for the sound with a Hi-Low sensitivity switch (alters audio by 10dB).
12. Accepts OPTIONAL Sankyo (or other) universal timer.
13. Power Source: 6 - 1.5volt Alkaline batteries which fit into the slim foldaside handle grip (power remains working even with handle grip folded up to the side).
14. Remote control socket for switch release.
15. Running lock, Lock, & Run trigger postions.
16. Battery LED checker, backlight compensation, accessory shoe for optional top microphone (hot shoe which powers the telescopic mic), builtin #85 Daylight filter, footage counter, and sound monitoring function prior to recording.

SANKYO made several accessories for this camera: the Radio Remote Control, Remote Control Lead, Movie Light adapter, External DC Power Pack, Telephoto Converter Lens, Wide Angle Converter Lens, Self-Timer, Universal Timer(for time lapse filming), Microphone Extension Cord, FM Wireless Microphone, Telescopic Condensor Microphone, Lens Hood, and a Soft Carrying Case. Even with all the accessories....which were optional....it still doesn't have all the features of the XL 620...but it's close. Original selling price back in 1981 was about $359.95 if you bought it from the big city camera houses. I paid $459.95 for my XL 620 which listed at $689 or thereabouts. Taking inflation into account.....that was plenty of money 20 years ago. I estimate a good working model XL 420 to be worth in the $100 to $175 range privately or from eBay....and in the $150 to $250 range from dealers (though some would want much more than that of course). Compare the features to what another similar featured camera would cost you and make your decision. After all...the reality is this....it will only cost you the equivalent of about 5 to 7 Super 8 cartridges with processing.....a relative figure.

Addenum: The only other camera that can beat this in low light conditions would be the CANON 310XL with its F/1.1 lens....all others come close....such as Minolta 400 and 600 series, and a few others. For low light...Sankyo does great. It also helps that the viewfinder is nice and bright so you can see what you're filming (a bit small compared to some...but average sized compared across the board with other Super 8mm cameras of the time period).

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