ENG cameras

The place to discuss ex-Broadcast equipment
Forum rules
This forum is run by the BATC (British Amateur Television Club), it is service made freely available to all interested parties, please do not abuse this privilege.

Thank you
Post Reply
G4GUO
Posts: 728
Joined: Tue Feb 16, 2010 12:51 pm

ENG cameras

Post by G4GUO » Mon Jun 21, 2010 7:54 am

I notice you can pickup 1st generation 3 CCD ENG cameras
for around £300 - £500. Is the picture quality likely to be
any better than a consumer camcorder of a similar price?

- Charles

G4DVG
Posts: 14
Joined: Mon Mar 03, 2008 4:08 am

Re: ENG cameras

Post by G4DVG » Tue Jun 22, 2010 8:33 am

I would have thought so - better colorimetry and larger sensors. But if you're going for recordings, domestic camcorder is digital of course so better rec/replay results.

G4GUO
Posts: 728
Joined: Tue Feb 16, 2010 12:51 pm

Re: ENG cameras

Post by G4GUO » Tue Jun 22, 2010 10:14 am

Hi,

Thanks for the reply.

As I don't have any experience of them I thought I would ask.
I am looking just for something with a bit better picture quality
than the one I already have, no need for recording portability etc.
I guess the thing to do is buy one try it and if it is no better sell it.
Technology moves on so fast these days that you would think a
modern cheap consumer camera might be better than a low end
professional one from the 90s.

- Charles

Aittch
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2010 12:49 pm

Re: ENG cameras

Post by Aittch » Thu Jun 24, 2010 1:36 pm

Any of Sony (or Ampex badged) range of Broadcast ENG of 3CCD cameras will give you an extremely high quality picture.

The dockable models (BVP5, BVP7 and BVP50) will require a studio or Betacam SP recorder back in order to apply power and provide composite and component outputs. Undockable models with integral recorder are BVW 200, BVW300 and BVW400

These are typical prices for the basic bits you need.

BVP5/7/50 Dockable Camera £100 - £200
CA3 Studio Back £50 - £75
BC4 2/3" 12 pin connector Lens £200 - £1000
VCT 14 Tripod Mounting Plate £50 - £90
12v Power Supply and cable £30 - £50

G8GQS
Posts: 210
Joined: Sun Feb 24, 2008 9:01 pm

Re: ENG cameras

Post by G8GQS » Sun Jun 27, 2010 4:58 pm

I think a lot depends on what you want to do with it?

Broadcast cameras were (are) very expensive and offered good picture quality in a robust package. You do need to find all the bits needed as mentioned in the last email. The other problem is as they are pushing 20+ years old, they could well be broken in one or more aspects. They are to some extent mendable and apart from the lens and viewfinder, easy to get a second one for spares.

Brian
Regards Brian

Visit the Virtual Broadcast TV camera Museum

G4GUO
Posts: 728
Joined: Tue Feb 16, 2010 12:51 pm

Re: ENG cameras

Post by G4GUO » Mon Jun 28, 2010 8:50 am

Thanks everyone for your replies.

In the end I decided to buy a refurbished JVC HD consumer
camcorder with 3 CCDS albeit only 1/5 in sensors.
Thankfully it is possible to switch off the OSD
so it behaves like a regular camera, my old
camcorder wouldn't do that. The colour depth
on the new camera is much better and is adequate
for what I want. For information, the ENG camera
JVC GY-DV500E I was looking at sold for £340.

- Charles

davezawadi
Posts: 14
Joined: Thu May 12, 2016 6:05 am

Re: ENG cameras

Post by davezawadi » Thu Oct 20, 2016 11:47 am

I have one or two of these, and they are OK but not particularly reliable any more. There is no shortage on auction sites, but are quite difficult to repair needing extenders and manuals which may not be easy to get. Modern semi broadcast cameras have become quite cheap, use solid state memory cards instead of tape, and are HD. They give very good pictures compared with the consumer items, and are very sensitive.
If anyone needs beta SP bits, I have some available including a digi-beta edit recorder (Sony).

david<at>zawadisoundandlighting.co.uk
G8FNR

Post Reply

Return to “Broadcast Equipment Discussion Zone”