Were "prosumer" 3ccd camcorders equivalent to broadcast cameras?

[yoda313]

Ok I got to wondering after watching Groundhog day again if "prosumer" 3ccd camcorders were equivalent to the broadcast video cameras of the era?

betacam 3ccd groundhog day.jpg

As you can see here by this still from Groundhog Day the camera being used in the right of the picture is a Betamax 3ccd camera. If you had a 3ccd "prosumer" camera was it equivalent to this industrial strength camera?

I've read often that 3ccd was what you shoot for (no pun intended ).

Is 3ccd still relevant with modern flash based cameras? Are they still rated the same or has h264 and other proprietary high def formats changed how the digital video image is actually captured?

Edit - Also this movie was in 1991 I believe - well after vhs "won" the war if I'm not mistaken. How long did Betamax last in other industries?

[intracube]

That's a Betacam camera.

Betacam != Betamax.
EDIT: significantly different (incompatible) formats. Betacam was professional while Betamax was consumer. But the physical tape format was the same.

I don't know enough to properly answer your questions on sensor configuration, other than it was almost certainly done to achieve the highest quality picture. Maybe at that time it was difficult to manufacture high resolution colour sensors, so 3 monochrome devices together could yield better results.

The consumer level Panasonic HDC-TM700 uses 3 x 'MOS' sensors, so this method is still used for some consumer cams.

[yoda313]

Thanks for the response intracube. I didn't know whether ccd was still relevant or not. Apparently it is. Thanks.

[DB83]

Well from where I sit Betacam is def NOT the same as Betamax.

For it to be the same, a recording on a Betacam camera could be played back on a Betamax player and as far as I know that was simply not possible.

[intracube]

Well from where I sit Betacam is def NOT the same as Betamax.

Isn't that what I said?

Serves me right for using shorthand, I guess

[DB83]

Well from where I sit Betacam is def NOT the same as Betamax.

Isn't that what I said?

Serves me right for using shorthand, I guess

I guess so. I do forget that != actually means not-equal-to. My apologies.

[NJRoadfan]

Prosumer 3CCD cameras generally had smaller CCDs and inferior optics. They also lacked features like XLR Mic inputs and audio level adjustment.

[yoda313]

Prosumer 3CCD cameras generally had smaller CCDs and inferior optics. They also lacked features like XLR Mic inputs and audio level adjustment.

So like anything the trade off in price was less features than what the big boys had.

Not surprising.

But I'm sure the quality would have been better then lower end vhs-c or hi8 camcorders of the era.

[intracube]

I guess so. I do forget that != actually means not-equal-to. My apologies.

To be honest, I've only known the meaning of != for the last year or two

Note to self: Spend 2 seconds more and write in plain English

[yoda313]

2 seconds more and write in plain English

You just broke your own rule.

That should be "two seconds more" not "2 seconds more" in plain english

(just teasing )


Edit - though at least that was fully understandable but it wasn't longhand so to speak

[lordsmurf]

In short: no.

[intracube]

That should be "two seconds more" not "2 seconds more" in plain english

Now your being 2 picky.

[yoda313]

@intracube - sorry couldn't resist

@lordsmurf - thanks. I guess that is to be expected. Any consumer stuff wouldn't be a 1:1 relation to the industrial strength stuff it is compared to. Though I guess the top of the line "home use" stuff should be at least approaching the same league as the big boy toys. One would think.