Bencini Comet 800 XL

Photos by Sylvain Halgand text by Sylvain Halgand. From the collection of Sylvain Halgand. Last update 2023-12-07 par Sylvain Halgand.

Manufactured or assembled in Italy from 1979 to (After) 1979.
Index of rarity in France: Infrequent (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 2333

See the complete technical specifications

Chronology of cameras Bencini

Starting in the mid-1960s, Bencini followed the trend towards simplicity initiated by Kodak and its Instamatic 126 cameras. The first models, starting from 1966, were named Unimatic and were made with a serious approach. In 1968, Bencini introduced a new series of 126 format cameras, primarily made of plastic. For these cameras, the manufacturer revived the name Comet, which the brand had used since the late 1940s.

The Unimatic cameras were intended for both domestic and international markets, while the Comet models were more geared towards the Italian market.

The Comet series included several models, all capable of using the Flashcube and thus requiring a battery. Starting in the early 1970s, following Kodak's lead, Bencini adapted existing models for the use of the Magicube. Since the Magicube did not require a battery to initiate, the previous cameras were modified at a lower cost, retaining their name but with an added "X" to indicate Magicube compatibility. Later, new models were introduced, with some of them ending in "XL," signifying the presence of a winding lever (starting from 1979).

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If you were to overlay the photo of the Comet 800 XL with, for example, the Comet 455-X, you would notice that the placement of significant components (viewfinder window, lens and ring, shutter release, etc.) of the camera has remained the same. The shutter release button no longer protrudes from the top but from the front, yet the "stem" is arranged in an identical manner. This is because the Comet XL series is a modernization achieved by adding a film advance lever in place of the film advance knob, with the rest being primarily aesthetic modifications.

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