Ziel war eine transportable Kamera mit angedocktem Lineplex Recorder auf der Basis der kleinen 1/4" CVC Kassette.

Das Projekt ging (im Nachhinein gesehen) voll in die Hose. Kurz gefaßt wollte man eine kleine handliche EB Kamera mit angedocktem 1/4" Recorder auf analoger Basis mit analoger Video-Kompression mit allen nur möglichen Tricks auf die Beine stellen. Die Theorie war zu der Zeit natürlich schlagkräftig, doch in der Praxis gab es Hürden ohne Ende.

Das erste waren die Aufnahme-Röhren in der Kamera. Egal, wie effizient man die Elektronik zusammen-quetschte, der Stromverbrauch der 3 Plumbicon Röhren fraß alle Einsparungen wieder auf. Und Philips rückte nicht mit den bereits entwickelten CCD Chips raus. Auch RCA und Kodak waren da am Entwickeln, aber es war alles noch nicht reif. Die Japaner waren natürlich auch an dieser neuen Technologie dran, nur wußten die zu gut, daß sie das alles erst mal geheim halten mußten.

The KCF 1 is a very light and compact camera. It weighs only 6.2 kg, including the battery, small viewfinder and lens, and is therefore very suitable for ENG applications.

The KCF 1 is an integral part of the QuarterCam system. For ENG or EFP operation a large viewfinder can be attached, which can even be used when the camera is carried on the shoulder. The extra grip to operate the lens and start the VTR is a valuable aid to the cameraman during lengthy productions.

Portable cameras are very often used as an extra camera in the studio or in an OB van. The KCF 1 can be used up to 50 m away, using the remote control.

The KCF 1 is light and the camera body has a small volume. This makes it possible for the cameraman to see the surrounding area on the right of the camera when it is shoulder-mounted. The exchangeable shoulder pad allows the position of the camera to be changed and thus adapted to the requirements of the cameraman.

If the automatic iris is switched off, 2 zebra patterns* (which can be switched off) enable a quick assessment of whether the iris setting is correct.
A narrow zebra pattern appears only in those parts of the picture which show a 70% level, i.e. not in the lighter or darker parts of the picture. At 70 % level a face, for example, is at the correct picture level. A wider zebra pattern appears in any part of the picture which exceeds 100 %. The cameraman can therefore always see whether important parts of the nicture are too bright.

The color balance is particularly easy to operate. The black level does not need to be adjusted as the KCF 1 shows a very stable, uniform black level. If the switch is set to pre-set, a pre-set white balance is carried out automatically for that filter, i.e. if the filter wheel is set to 3200 K the color balance is correct for artificial lighting and at 5600 K it is right for normal daylight.

Of course, automatic white balance can be carried out at any color temperature and with any filter wheel setting. Automatic white balance is carried out as follows:
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• 1) Switch off pre-set switch, giving access to the white balance button.
• 2) Press the white balance button. In the viewfinder a 1 % light window appears in the middle of the picture. This window now has to be filled with a white area (by panning the camera, to a white shirt collar, for example).
• 3) Release the white balance key. White balance is achieved in one second and the window disappears - unless the camera recommends a change of filter wheel. In this case the right-hand side of the window flashes "please select 5600 K filter", or the left-hand side flashes "please select 3200 K filter". If one does not wish to change the filter, the "white bal" key has to be pressed again and the camera carries out the white balance.

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Note: If white balance is carried out when the filter wheel is set to 3200 K, even if it is daylight, the sensitivity of the KCF 1 is increased by approximately one iris setting, compared with working with the daylight filter. The color reproduction remains very good, but is no longer optimized. A correct color temperature filter should in any case be chosen if sufficient light is present.

• The KCF 1 is a portable camera with the quality characteristics of a studio camera.
• The 3-tube system uses 1/2" Plumbicon pick-up tubes.
• The 1/2" Plumbicon tubes, which are of the latest design, provide excellent black level uniformity, making it no longer necessary to carry out black balance.
• Sensitivity is equal to that of cameras with 2/3" pick-up tubes.
• Resolution is very high over the entire picture. Uniformity is better than with 2/3" tubes.
• Beam deflection in the pick-up tubes is very stable, which means that the registration does not require subsequent adjustment and therefore no auto-registration is required.
• Colorimetry is excellent. The saturated colors are natural and clear.

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The applications are very wide. In order to improve the dark parts of the picture the KCF 1 is equipped with the following functions:

• - Bias light to reduce streaking
• - High Contrast switch. Dark areas of the picture are lightened.
• - + 6 dB, + 12 dB or, optionally, + 9 dB, + 18 dB gain switches.

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In order to improve highlights, the KCF 1 is equipped with the following functions:

• Iris control by means of peak or mean value, whereby, when the mean value is used, the upper third of the picture is afforded less priority.
• Iris spot measurement with the help of a 1 % window.
• Automatic beam current control (ABC).
• Compression of highlights (knee function).
• Picture sharpness is increased by a new type of aperture correction.

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• Camera: KCF 1
• Recorder: Bosch LINEPLEX recording format
  - 1/4" video compact cassette
  - 20 minutes recording time
  - 2 audio tracks and a combined time code control track
  - integrated time code unit
  - auto assemble editing
• No cables between lens, camera, viewfinder, recorder and battery
• Lightweight: including lens, viewfinder, recorder and battery pack only 8.5 kg
• Detachable recorder can be connected to BGF 20 field editor

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• Miniature size 106 x 68 x 12 mm
• Light weight (50 g)
• High-grade professional cassette
• Full 21 minutes playing time (625 line), 20 minutes for 525 line systems
• No transport problems: 10 CVG cassettes for 3 1/2 hours QuarterCam recording need less space than two 1/2" cassettes with only 40 minutes professional recording capacity

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• Bosch LINEPLEX recording format
• 20 minutes recording time
• LINEPLEX, Al, A2 inputs
• Integrated TBC
• Full editing facilities
• Search/jog mode and stills
• Interface to 3/4" and 1" VTR's

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• Bosch LINEPLEX recording format
• 20 minutes recording time
• CCVS, video component signals, LINEPLEX, Al, A2 inputs
• Integrated TBC
• Full editing facilities
• Search/jog mode and stills
• Interface to 74" and 1" VTR's

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• BCF 20 Field Editor
• Head to head dubbing, less quality loss in post production
• Fully automatic editing operation, programming of in and out edit data:
  - automatic cue position
  - edit simulation PPP
  - auto assemble of the master VTR
• Control of 1" BCN VTR's by the integrated BCF editing system
• Can be integrated into existing 3/4" editing systems
• Bosch LINEPLEX recording format
• Twice 20 minutes recording time or continuous with cassette change
• Full editing facilities by employing one or two recorders from the QuarterCam recordercamera
• Compact and lightweight for field use
• Easy to handle - an ENG team can make a pre-edit tape or a final edit:
  - shorter satellite or link time saves money
  - only relevant information and pictures on the tape
• Self-contained VTR/editing set
• CCVS, video component signal, LINEPLEX, Al, A2 inputs
• Integrated TBC
• Search/jog mode and stills
• Interfaces to BCF 9, BCF 10, 3/4" and 1" VTR's

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