The RCA TK42, Au Natural…
On December 25, 2012
- TV History
The RCA TK42, Au Natural…
This photo is in regard to two post just below and show the TK42 in it’s factory configuration. Notice there is nothing sticking out of the front…that’s because the lens is internal, much like the RCA Iconoscope cameras. The TK42 had an internal zoom lens, but the Iconoscope internal lens was fixed at 75mm. As you’ll read below, the ‘lens’ on the front of a lot of TK42s is actually a wide angle adapter. This is at WEWS in 1971. Notice our friend ‘Ready Kilowatt’ on the podium.
Serge, the TK-43 had an internal relay lens that allowed using an external zoom lens.
“Reddy”
Sorry Serge. I reread your post. I was referring to the 42.
The zoom was actually internal. The lens elements rode on a jack screw rig. Those spinny handles on the back controlled zoom and focus, but were more style than substance. (Translation – sucked) We retrofitted the zoom controls with the Angenieux crank and barrel. The external element was, as mentioned earlier, an extender or a wide angle adapter.
As a result, the light had to travel all the way to a beam splitter in the back, and make a U turn to the rear facing IO and three vidicons. That relatively long path is why the 42s required so much light.
Note the prompter mount.
Academic Challenge?