[QuadList] was Helicals, Quads, now Marconi cameras

[Guy Spiller]

Hi Park,
Ironically, I didn't get to work with very many RCA cameras...except for 
the venerable TK-76, which was not in the same league picture-wise with 
the big studio cameras back then.  Most of my direct camera experience 
(color, anyway!) was with the Marconis and GE-250/350s.
Of course, with the four plumbicons, the MkVII took a lot of light and 
the standard Taylor Hobson 40-400 lens was an f/4!  Subjectively, they 
were usually noticeably sharper than the three tube ones, as slight RGB 
registration errors didn't affect the Y signal at all.
I liked the Marconi colorimetry much more than the Philips/Norelcos, but 
I also was impressed with the look of the RCA studio cameras of that era 
as well.  Overall, I thought the NBC produced video generally was more 
appealing to me.  No matrix or masking adjustments either in a Marconi, 
or a GE for that matter,  so what you got...is what you got.
I saved one quad tape out of the dumpster from the PBS station where I 
worked up into the early '70s that I did video on with their MkVIIs in 
1972 or so.  Except for the various tube blemishes here and there, as 
the station was a big "frugal" on replacing plumbicons, it still looks 
pretty decent.. even today.  It was the very first program produced at 
our station that was accepted for nationwide distribution by PBS/NET.
I'll make you a DVD sometime if you'd like to see it.
Guy

C. Park Seward wrote:
> Hi Guy,
>
> Can you compare/contrast the Marconi cameras to the RCA? I'm sure they were better than the 42. But how did they compare to the 44?
>
> Best,
> Park
>
> C. Park Seward
> Visit us: http://www.videopark.com
>
>
>
>
>   

-- 
Guy Spiller
email: quadruplex at verizon.net
phone: (804) 379-2050
website: www.GuySpiller.com
Midlothian, VA