1981 Sharp QC-40 Vidicon tube camera unboxing & demo

A great eBay find! It's a "brand new in box" 1981 Sharp color video camera, using a 2/3-inch (17mm) Vidicon tube type image sensor. Its features include 6X optical zoom, autofocus, built-in microphone and external mic jack, and a *huge* black & white viewfinder. Although it does not show well on the monitor in this video, it works fine and produces good video for a camera that's 28 years old, although it doesn't do that well in low light conditions. I've made some test videos with it, which shall be forthcoming soon.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• 1981
• early
• 1980s
• 80s
• sharp
• qc-40
• qc40
• vidicon
• vacuum
• tube
• type
• image
• sensor
• color
• video
• camera
• not
• camcorder
• unboxing
• setup
• test
• demo
• review
• vintage
• classic

[Knoptop]

would you happen to know how to (or know of anyone) that would know about re-wiring a camera like this to work without a deck? I'd like to have a power cord and video out direct

[vwest7ife]

@Knoptop You need a tube camera power supply -- back in the day, simply called "video camera power supply", so by searching for that you can sometimes find them on eBay and other places.

[MrHotpantsImComin]

Do all of these tube cameras require 10 pin connections to portable VCR's? No video out or coaxial connection?

[vwest7ife]

@MrHotpantsImComin Correct. Tube cameras use a single large connector to provide power, video, and audio, all through one cable.

[winerrs]

I herd a baby screaming starting at 3:30 if you listen closley.

[vwest7ife]

@winerrs No babies here.

[gloobicus93]

cool video i like old cameras!!!

[RetroGamerVX]

Wow, that's a huge retro beastie :o)

[thedarkone2134]

@sygo7g Yah, if you don't mess with the settings a bit the image will look terrible.

[SepradistPhantom]

@MrHotpantsImComin I only found out about them today and i've seen cameras that have video out, so i'm going to say no :D

[MattTheSaiyan]

I had a strange recurring daydream about becoming a singer and using old cameras like this to make the music videos. Should I be worried?

[RWL2011]

@vwest7ife lol

[Kbrusky15]

it looks like a rocket launcher.