Equipment for hire

"Broadcast TV cameras" equipment.

The Marconi Mk II TV camera appeared first in 1951. A 3"inch Image Orthicon, this camera type was used mainly on outside broadcasts by the BBC. It covered the 1953 Coronation broadcast. Also used by CBC TV in Canada

The Marconi Mk III 4.5 inch Image orthicon 4-lens turret camera, appeared first in late 1954 and soon was used by most major broadcasters. Using an innovative tilting viewfinder, this large and heavy tv camera was highly reliable, especially on outside broadcasts (up in planes, on board ships). This camera was most famously used as the opening credits of BBC Televisions' 'Grandstand' programme. Picture shows the camera 'dressed' for a recent production.

The Ikegami HK 323 was a high quality three-tube colour camera used during the 1980s & 1990s in studios and on outside broadcasts. GA-TV has several in full working order. Blue or cream livery.

The IKEGAMI HL (Handy Looky) 79A was a ubiquitous portable 3-tube colour camera with zoom lens and detachable battery. Popular with tv news ENG systems, of rugged constuction, GA-TV has one in working condition. Note: GA-TVs Dicky Howett is an experienced cameraman and can be hired to operate.

An innovative camera, the PYE Mk 3 was a 3-inch b/w Image Orthicon with several automatic (if problematic) features (iris control, turret turning). First in operation with the BBC in 1951, and ITV (notably ATV) ) from 1955, the Pye Mk 3 was used for nearly 20 years by most major tv stations throughout the world. Pictured is one of our Pye Mk 3's with an original 'ATV' camera logo.(in reality, car number plate letters)

The EMI 203 was a 4 1/2" image orthicon camera used in the UK by BBC Television and ITV. European broadcasters included RAI(Italy)and MTV(Hungary). The camera had a four-lens mechanical turret with a blanking plate which could be removed. This enabled the camera image tube to be inserted. A special plate could hold also a fifth lens or diascope. Larger picture shows camera rear with functioning viewfinder and cue light.

The RCA TK11A was a 3"inch b/w image orthicon camera used mainly in the USA and Asia. Some European use. A few were used in the UK during the 1950s by the independent television company Associated-Rediffusion at their Wembley and Kingsway studios. The camera generally used Kodak Ektar lenses.

The LINK 125 was a 25mm three-tube colour camera with an integral zoom lens package. This sleek-looking camera was used mainly in the UK by BBC and in few studios at ITV. Independent company Limehouse Television bought these cameras because of an in-house cameraman's choice. GA-TV has several examples in non-operating condition.

The EMI 2001 was a late-1960s four-tube colour tv camera used by most British tv broadcasters-and in particular-for over twenty years by BBC Television. This camera was used in studios and on outside broadcasts. Integral zoom lens. Liked by cameramen.

The RCA TK 10A was the 1950s studio version of the RCA TK 30A 'field' camera. The TK 10A used a 3"inch image orthicon monochome tube and had a turret of four, usually Kodak Ektar lenses. The larger image shows the TK10A with an 'implant' viewfinder, shooting 'The Last Shadow Puppets'

Portable version of the Marconi MkIX three-tube colour camera. Shoulder-mounted or pedestal use.

The Ikegami 79E was a mid-1980s upgrade of the Handy Looky 79 range. Good quality 3-tube colour camera. GA-TV has several in full working condition

Classic four lens image orthicon television camera. Best selling ever camera in its class.

Portable version of Marconi MkVIII studio/OB camera. Requires electronics 'backpacked' (as shown) or 'golf trolley' carried.

Studio/OB mid-sized 3 tube colour TV camera. First ever with automatic line-up.

Black and white 4.5 inch Image Orthicon zoom lensed camera. Similar in style (but smaller) to the colour Marconi MkVII

The one that never was - never produced in quantity. Appeared 1986.

Studio/OB colour TV camera developed from the MK VIII. Popular in the UK during the 1980's, particularly with ITV. (LWT, Anglia etc)

Very large 4 tube plumbicon colour TV camera for studio and OB use. Used by BBC, ITV and numerous countries around the world.

First self contained 3 tube colour TV camera. Named '76' for the US bicentennial year. The camera that made ENG (Electronic News Gathering) really viable.

Fully developed 3 tube colour TV camera offering microprocessor control and alignment. Popular around the world and often finding many 'second user' assignments in many places.

A very popular camera worldwide offering good performance and triaxial cable (LDK5 only, LDK25 is multicore cable) capability. This made it a natural choice for ob operations - especially at the BBC in the late 1970's.

Full size 3 tube studio colour TV camera. Electronically very similar to the RCA TK47, but the styling is very different.

A high quality 4.5 inch image orthicon monochrome tv camera with an offset 4-lens motorised turret. Produced in 1962 and first used by ATV at their Elstree studios, this camera was used also by Anglia Tv in Norwich and BBC tv at the Television Theatre and Riverside studios in London. A total of only about 60 cameras were sold.

The JVC 1900 was one of a range of JVC three-tube 'Saticon' semi-professional colour video cameras from the early 1980s. Easy to operate. Picture quality as you might expect

Created especially for IBC '97 in Amsterdam this unique camera is an Image Iconoscope camera using a Cathodeon Photicon tube from 1948 powered by modern solid state electronics developed especially for the task. The result is iconsoscope pictures of the pre-war type exhibiting all the 'text book' problems of 'tilt and bend', low sensitivity etc. The top picture is of the camera head under construction, the lower left picture is of the Image Iconoscope itself and the lower right picture is an off screen image from the camera. The camera is still operational. Also see 'Pye Photicon'.

Studio/OB CCD television camera. An excellent workhorse and still in use worldwide. We have two examples of these cameras in full working order complete with triax base stations as required.

Introduced in 1984, the Sony BVP 3A was a lightweight portable colour camera designed to attach to the BVV 1A recorder creating a self-contained 'ENG' unit. The BVP 3A 'Betacam' used three 'Saticon' or 'Plumbicon' 18mm pickup tubes delivering '650 lines'. The camera also had an unique system of tube auto-centering without a test chart.

Still used in production around the world, this 1990s vintage SONY BVW 300AP 3-ccd camcorder ( Beta SP type) was a firm favourite with news gatherers and production companies. Our 4:3 aspect ratio example is in working condition.

Introduced in the early 1980s, the SONY BVP330 was a lightweight ENG/EFP three-tube colour video camera, battery powered and with a microphone input. This camera was popular with news crews. The example pictured was used by Thames Television outside broadcasts.

The Link 130 was a mid- 1980s camera that never made it beyond a dozen or so 'trial' deliveries to broadcasters (some to BBCTV and Swedish TV amongst others). The Link 130 had many 'auto' features and used three 2/3rds lead oxide colour tubes, but the camera was plagued with software problems including 'lock outs' and niggling faults such as the cue light effecting the picture. Also, by the end of the 1980s, all the major broadcasters were considering switching to CCD studio cameras. The camera pictured is an ex-museum display with a non-standard repro lens unit (with space to house a small ccd camera)and a fixed viewfinder unit with an implant tube. Because the camera is only a shell and thus lightweight, it is ideal for theatre productions etc. The camera here is sitting on a Vinten 459 lightweight pedestal with an additional 'steer' wheel.

Superior broadcast colour tv camera, the Ikegami 355 portable is an early 1990s 3-CCD model capable over 650 lines of horizontal definition. GA-TV has three examples (4:3 aspect ratio only), all in working order. This camera is still used worldwide.

The IKEGAMI 79D three-tube 18mm colour camera was used worldwide throughout the 1980s, especially for 'ENG' news gathering, Lightweight and rugged, the larger image shows an optional top-mounted viewfinder for studio use. This 79D has shot many music videos and recently, several scenes for a '1980s' tv character comedy show. Note: GA-TVs Dicky Howett is an experienced cameraman and can be hired to operate.

Full-quality studio portable version of the HK 323, the 323 Portable was capable of full auto line up (with a dedicated zoom-illustrated- with an in-built diascope). The camera used three 18mm Diode Gun Plumbicon colour tubes. Triax back adapter, attached to the rear of the camera, is shown in the picture. Optional multicore adapter.

The EMI 201 was a 'low cost' broadcast camera using a Vidicon type b/w imaging tube. Not intended for main production use, the EMI 201 could be found in news studios and educational establishments. The pedestal is a Vinten 459 'lightweight'model

The IVC 7000P was described (with hyperbole) as 'setting your cameraman free'. Free, possibly to encounter back strain. No little weight, this mid-1970s 'portable' three-tube lead-oxide colour camera came in at over 12.5kgs (not the 7 claimed) and that was without the 'control backpack' unit which added at least another 12 kgs. The camera was tethered by a polypole cable and had an optional 'Studio Adapter' rig with a 7" inch viewfinder. UK users included Anglia TV, Grampian Television, Thames Television, Southern Television and LWT. Our example was used by TVS (TeleVision South). The IVC 7000P picture quality was described as 'awful'.

Picture shows two EMI 203 4.5 image orthicon cameras on Debrie pedestals. Jason Isaacs is seen playing 'Harold Steptoe'in the famous junk yard set for a BBC4 drama series entitled 'The Curse Of Comedy'. GATV supplied also several vintage cameras and related equipment for two other plays in the series, 'Hancock & Joan' and 'Most Sincerely', about Hughie Green.

The LINK 110 was a boxy-looking three-tube 25mm lead oxide colour camera, a technical design instigated in part by the BBC to replace their aging studio stock of 4-tube EMI 2001 cameras. The Link 110 (from Link Electronics; a firm that produced 'industrial' CCTV equipment) boasted anti-comet tail and light bias, plus an integral zoom package. The camera's picture quality was reasonably pleasant but not up the 'sharpness' of existing 4-tube designs.

Rather indifferent and chunky three tube 'Saticon' portable colour camera aimed at the semi-pro or corporate market. 550 lines of resolution claimed. Mains, 12v or battery powered. Not in operating condition. Repro mic.

Typical 1980s styling, Japanese three-tube lead-oxide colour camera. This example is in cream livery. Non-practical. Implants possible. Good for prop use. Camera is sitting on an EPO pedestal.

A dressed Pye Mk3 camera for a new BBCTV drama production set in the mid to late 1960s, 'Hancock and Joan' featuring Ken Stott as 'the lad 'imself'. Golden Age Tv can always authentically recreate the correct studio 'look' for a given tv era, in this case the ABC-TV, studios at Didsbury in Manchester.

The famous 'BETACAM' design was the popular Sony ENG 'stand alone' camera kit, whereby the camera, power supply and vt recorder (BVV 1PS) were combined in one unit. Launched in 1984, this camera employed a single Trinicon tube(Saticon) which delivered upwards of 400 lines of horizontal definition. The camera/recorder had no playback capability and so tapes needed a separate player. With an adaptor, the BVV 1PS recorder could also be used to record from other cameras. Our Betacam (still in working condition) was used by a regional broadcaster on local news.

The 'Handy Looky 77' appeared in 1978 and was offered to broadcasters as an 'ENG' camera. These were early days for electronic news gathering equipment. The HL 77 had no on-board record capability, no on-board battery and overall, was rather heavy. Using three 'Saticon' tubes, our rather careworn example was alleged to have 'filmed' the 1980s Brixton Riots as well as several rather more sedate feature programmes for BBC East.

Late 1980s Sony 3-CCD BVP 7P with a Fujinon 9-126mm zoom and detachable Betacam SP recorder unit. The larger picture shows a CA-50P back adaptor in position. All units in working condition.

For presentation studios, educational, corporate video studio or budeget broadcast use. Novel waveform monitor built into the rear of the camera.

Ampex CVR 200P integrated ENG 'Betacam SP'. A lightweight 3-CCD video camera capable of 550 lines of resolution. This model is the same as the Sony BVW 200. 1990s vintage.

On set image of a EMI 2001 'The Damned United'