Ampex cam 1

This is a rare survivor from the professional camcorder format wars of the mid 1980's.

Designed as the 3 tube option for a modified VHS based broadcast camcorder, the system was
withdrawn from the market when Sony's Betacam all-conquering system became the apparent
winner. Ampex called their version 'Recam', RCA called theirs 'Hawkeye' and Panasonic
called theirs 'M'. Quite what the real differences were between these 'brand names' may have to
remain shrouded in the mists of time, as Panasonic in Japan (probably) actually made all the
hardware. This Ampex version of the camera section was made in October 1983.

I understand from this camera's previous custodian that it came directly from Ampex in Acre
Road Reading (now sadly long gone), where I presume it must have been part of their
demonstration stock.

It is fitted with 3 Saticon tubes, and in those days these types of high quality portable TV
cameras could be supplied with various tube options. Panasonic could provide three types of
Saticons (H9366B, H8398B, H8399B) and three types of Plumbicons (XQ3427, XQ2427,
XQ1427).

This camera was working perfectly until the evening of the 22nd September 2003 when the
green tube failed...

(Click on the pictures for more information.)

Ampex never seemed to have been a camera manufacturer. They did of course supply various
television camera packages (all portable?), but these were actually badge engineered products
usually sourced from RCA in the States. Bit odd this though, especially as the Japanese were
making some very good broadcast cameras by the late 1970's, having started from the fairly
modest surveillance business. Perhaps Ampex thought that as RCA had broadcast television
cameras mostly 'sewn up' and didn't want to be re-inventing the wheel, perhaps they had a
'gentleman's agreement' with RCA, perhaps Allied Signal (who owned Ampex in the 1970's) didn't
allow much (money for) new product development...

The other day I came across an Ampex product leaflet for their (!) 'new' Betacam system (dated
1986), but this kit appeared to be just a Sony BVP3A camera (also on this site) and a Sony
Betacam 'back end' with some Ampex labels.