Development of video cameras and recorders for lightweight television production

Abstract

The early development of broadcast television equipment for professional use was constrained by the need for the best possible technical performance for a market that was limited in its extent. Thus video cameras and recorders were expensive, technically complex, bulky and had high power consumption. During this period the use of such equipment was almost exclusively restricted to broadcasters. Gradually, however, the new video technology was increasingly used in institutional and consumer applications. Initially the technical performance was limited to obtain equipment that was low-cost, simple in operation, portable and of high reliability. The mass production of precision components was an essential ingredient in meeting these objectives. As the technology improved so did the performance of the equipment until it was sufficient to meet the requirements of professional broadcasters in an important respect, which was in the obtaining of an immediacy in news gathering, which was impossible with 16mm film. The rapid growth of ENG (electronic news gathering) provided a strong impetus to the development of a new generation of professional lightweight video cameras and recorders. The experience gained with such products in turn was a major influence on the ability to produce cameras and recorders which had all of the operational advantages of the early lightweight equipment, but with little or no compromise in performance. Together with the ingenuity of the professional broadcaster the latest equipment is generating an apparent revolution in the techniques of television field production.