🚀 go-pugleaf

In sci.electronics, bryanh@hplsla.hp.com (Bryan Hoog) writes:

>       Before camcorders, there were video cameras.  A bit smaller than
...
>     - The connector appears to be standard between vendors.  Is (was) it?

If I remember correctly, there were VHS connectors and Beta connectors.
I have no idea if they needed anything different going on, all I knew
about was a different implementation. I believe there were VHS-Beta Camera
Converter boxes available, and vice versa.

>     - Can the camera be made functional without the VCR?  In other words,
>       can I put in power and get out video?  Or was some important part
>       of the electronics in the VCR portion (scanning circuits, etc)?

There were power supplies that you plugged the camera into, which in turn
had video-level outputs (not RF). And audio outputs, of course.

>     - Any ideas where I could get documention on the connector?

Perhaps Sams Books has a title on Video Camera and VCR repair, etc.

>     - Finally, how does the picture quality in these old cameras (vidicon
>       tubes?) compare with the new CCD technology?  

Vidicon: low sensitivity, radial blooming (spreading outward from point)
Saticon: a little better?
Newvicon: Much better on both counts.
CCD: Line-wise blooming, best sensitivity (perhaps mainly due to having the
benefit of being on the market during the last few years. Maybe Newvicons
would be as good as CCD's, given only that R&D had continued). The line-
oriented blooming IMHO is a regression.

tonya@hpldsla.sid.hp.com