RCA TK 60 and the Angenieux Zoom Lens
RCA TK 60 and the Angenieux Zoom Lens
Nice shot of TK60s at work at Texas Tech’s KTXT in Lubock TX back in the 60s. These were good looking cameras in every way…their physical appearance and the top quality pictures they made. This was the end of the line for monochrome cameras.
The lens on both cameras is the Angenieux Zoom, Model lOX40C, and is custom made for the TK60 and have a geared iris ring for operation by the iris drive mechanism of an RCA TK60. The lens is also ortal based. Ortal base lenses, like on the TK60s are held in place by clamps on the turret instead of screwing in like the Ektanon lenses.
These cameras are using an outside focus control kit but there is also an internal port for the focus rod to pass through in the lower right corner of the camera. On the older models, the zoom rod went through the center of the lens selection handle on the back and out through the center of the lens turret. The addition of the geared iris drive in the center of the TK60 turret stopped up that hole. Rank Taylor Hobson had a similar lens for the TK60 but theirs used the mechanical cables instead of the push rod.
I’m sure the price tag had something to do with the TK-60 being devleloped. Remember that there were a lot of TK-10, 30, 11 and 31’s out there with 10 to 15 years of service and stations needed cameras that looked better, but did not have the budget for all color. The Marconi Mark IV would have been a runaway in the US if not for the TK-60 and the solid relationship that RCA had with US broadcasters. As Bobby E. says, that 4.5″ IO looked great.
Obviously, “set design” was not a major at Texas Tech.
Nothing against the quality of the TK 60, but still surprised RCA invested the time and effort for making a new monochrome camera when they knew full well that color was the future.