{"id":7704,"date":"2014-02-04T13:34:26","date_gmt":"2014-02-04T18:34:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bigheadamusements.com\/wordpress\/?p=1160"},"modified":"2014-02-04T13:34:26","modified_gmt":"2014-02-04T18:34:26","slug":"camera-test-102-gbc-ctc-5x-flesh-tones","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kqek.com\/mobile\/?p=7704","title":{"rendered":"Camera Test #102: GBC-CTC-5X + Flesh Tones"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"IMG_1942_m\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The GBC CTC-5X photographing some colourful fruit in a colour test.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Since the basic details of the GBC CTC-5X video camera are covered in Camera Test #102<\/strong>,\u00a0I\u2019ll keep things a bit more brisk that in the prior Camera Test blog. If the facts start reading a wee bit dry, just skip down to the end where the YouTube + Vimeo links are located.<\/p>\n

Now then.<\/p>\n

From what I\u2019ve managed to find in print and picture online, GBC was a U.S. company specializing in industrial-level video cameras during the late sixties and mid-seventies before switching to surveillance cameras for commercial use, including remote security cameras, ceiling \u2018globe\u2019 cameras, and B&W security monitors.<\/p>\n

These components do show up on Ebay from time to time, as do some of the lenses used for both their surveillance and broadcast cameras, of which the later were reportedly made by other companies with GBC branding \u2013 a not uncommon practice on the consumer level.\u00a0Spanning the 70s to the 80s, RCA\u2019s consumer grade (and early prosumer level) cameras were made by JVC, Panasonic, and later Hitachi, with many components made in Japan.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"GBC<\/a><\/p>\n

The GBC VF-302 camera, recently seen on Ebay.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

One auction on Ebay stated the GBC VF-302 unit sported a CRT viewfinder made by Ikegami, whereas LabGuy\u2019s World<\/a> states the CTC-5X was a re-badged Concord PCC-49.<\/p>\n

Where the decision to colour their cameras blue emanated isn\u2019t detailed, but I like it<\/em>; not unlike very red JVC KY-1900 ENG camera, the GBC blue also sports a certain ‘attitude,’ and it helps distinguish it from other more functional designs, like Sony\u2019s boxy AVC-3000 series. (If you lose grip of that matte metal finish casing, better hope your foot is far away from the impact zone.)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"JVC<\/a><\/p>\n

A JVC KY-1900 – a classic ENG camera featuring 3 Saticon tubes, and a bold red casing that says ‘Piss off, and give me some goddamn room!’<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"AVC-3250_26\"<\/a><\/p>\n

A B&W Sony AVC-3250 Vidicon tube camera.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

What these early to mid-70s cameras certainly share is functional design; the idea cameras should have carrying handles or zoom levers that don’t get in the way of the viewfinder was a lesser consideration until the late seventies ENG and early eighties consumer models.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"01\"<\/a><\/p>\n

A RCA CC-002 colour Vidicon tube camera as seen on Ebay. Weighs more than a Ford Escort.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"Panasonic<\/a><\/p>\n

A Panasonic PK-200 colour Vidicon tube camera, its blood relative.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

The GBC\u2019s detachable slide & clamp B&W viewfinder is actually well designed because it\u2019s simple, whereas RCA\u2019s \u00a0CC-002 model (basically a re-badged Panasonic PK-200 camera) relied on a large screw-in wheel with small teeth on the ring, making dangerously impossible to remove the viewfinder if you screwed it on too tightly. (The RCA \/ Panasonic cameras look gorgeous and impressive, though. Chunky yet elegant industrial design.)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"IMG_1959_m\"<\/a><\/p>\n

My GBC CTC-5X colour Vidicon tube camera.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

The GBC\u2019s handgrip is a lean, clean industrial design and screws on \/ off very easily, and although that zoom lens looks impressive, it\u2019s of meh quality when it comes to detail and usability. Zooming takes longer because it\u2019s a wider and thicker-greased ring, but since the camera\u2019s outfitted with a standard C-mount, you can use other lenses and exploit the GBC\u2019s decent picture reproduction.<\/p>\n

In one of the tests you’ll see in the video, you\u2019ll see footage of fruits taken with a wide angle lens made by Cosmicar (later Pentax) for Sony\u2019s AVC-3000 line; and I used a Canon zoom lens originally designed for the aforementioned RCA \/ Panasonic cameras. I love the fact you can change lenses \u2013 prime, zoom, whatever \u2013 as it seems certain manufacturers were consistent as to where they place their tubes and focal planes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"JVC<\/a><\/p>\n

A JVC KY-1900 ENG \u00a0camera featuring 3 Saticon tubes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"Panasonic<\/a><\/p>\n

A Panasonic WV-3230 Newvicon tube camera.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

When I bought the GBC camera from Ebay, it was being advertised as part of three cameras – including a JVC KY-1900 3-tube Saticon camera, and a Panasonic WV-3230 Newvicon camera \u2013 that were used as props in jOBS, the meh biopic of Apple\u2019s co-founder Steve Jobs, made fast & released in 2013.<\/p>\n

The GBC was in good shape cosmetically, but a few things were wonky. The DIN plug casing for the viewfinder on the camera was cracked (someone had tried to force insertion instead of lining up the pins); and the outer rings of the lens housing were loose, making it impossible to focus.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"IMG_1934_m\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The GBC’s TV zoom lens.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"IMG_1930_m\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The GBC CTC-5X outfitted with a Cosmicar wide angle prime lens.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"IMG_1962_m\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The GBC CTC-5X outfitted with a Canon TV zoom lens originally designed for the aforementioned RCA \/ Panasonic cameras.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

After scraping away the busted plug fragments, it\u2019s still possible to insert the plug and power the viewfinder, but the viewfinder\u2019s B&W 1.5\u201d CRT\u2019s quite dim, and has some of the thin vertical lines I showed in a video of a wonky Toshiba IK-1850 camera.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n