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Junichi YAMAZAKI Masayuki MIYAZAKI Tsuneo IHARA Itaru MIZUNO Kazuo YOSHIKAWA Shigehiro KANAYAMA Nobuo MATSUI Takayoshi HIRUMA Masaharu NISHIMURA
An ultra-high-sensitivity HDTV color camcorder (camera with VTR) has been developed featuring image intensifiers with GaAsP photocathodes, which provide very high quantum efficiency. To achieve superior performance and a compact camera body, we combined three 1-inch image intensifiers with a 2/3-inch taking lens and three 2/3-inch CCDs by means of a new optical system capable of enlarging and reducing images. The camcorder provides excellent color reproducibility even under low light level conditions (0.2 lx) at an iris setting of f/2, with a signal-to-noise ratio of 55 dB at pedestal level. Its sensitivity is about 400 times greater than that of current HDTV CCD camcorders, making it particularly well suited for capturing images of faint objects in space, aurora, etc., filming the nocturnal activities of animals in their natural settings, and reporting breaking news at night.