Broadcast & TV

Studio Camera Chains Explained: Camera, CCU, RCP, Triax and Fiber

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A studio camera is never sold alone. In a TV studio or an OB van, each camera is part of a camera chain: a set of devices that powers the camera, carries its video and lets an engineer adjust the picture from the control room. Understanding the chain is the first step before you buy, sell or extend a multi-camera system, new or used.

Contents

The elements of a camera chain

The camera head

The camera head holds the sensors, usually three 2/3″ sensors behind a prism, and the B4 lens mount. It has no recorder: its job is to send a clean live signal to the control room. On a studio pedestal it is fitted with a large box lens and a big viewfinder; in the field it can take a portable ENG lens and a small viewfinder.

The camera control unit (CCU or base station)

The CCU sits in the rack of the control room or OB van. It powers the camera head through the cable, receives its video and outputs SDI (or IP) signals to the vision mixer. It also sends signals back to the camera: return video, intercom, tally and genlock reference, so every camera is synchronised.

The remote control panel (RCP)

The RCP is the panel the vision engineer uses to “shade” the camera: iris, black level, white balance, gain, detail and colour matching. With one RCP per camera, the engineer can make all cameras look identical, which is essential in live multi-camera production.

Viewfinder, lens and support

To complete the chain you need a viewfinder (studio or ENG size), a B4 lens, a lens adapter or zoom and focus demands for studio use, and a pedestal or tripod with a fluid head. Our guide How to choose a fluid head and tripod explains how to size the support.

The cable between camera and CCU defines how far the camera can go and what infrastructure you need.

  • Triax: a robust coaxial cable that carries power, video and control. It can be repaired in the field and runs several hundred metres. Many existing studios and OB vans are wired in triax, which makes triax cameras such as the Grass Valley LDK series attractive on the used market.
  • SMPTE hybrid fiber: carries power on copper and signals on optical fibre. It handles HD, 4K and high frame rates over long distances and is the standard for modern sports and OB production. Connectors must be kept clean.
  • IP: recent systems can send video over IP (SMPTE ST 2110) on standard network infrastructure, sometimes over long distances for remote production. It needs a suitable network and configuration.

When you buy used, choose the link type that matches your existing cables and CCUs. Mixing triax and fiber systems usually means two sets of infrastructure.

Sony, Grass Valley and Panasonic systems

The three main brands each have their own ecosystem. In general, a camera head works with the CCUs and RCPs of the same brand and generation, so check compatibility before buying parts separately.

  • Sony: HDC-1500 and HDC-3100 / HDC-3300 chains for high-end studios and OB vans, HXC-D70 and HXC-100 for smaller studios and education.
  • Grass Valley: LDX 80, LDX 86 and LDX 96 for HD and 4K, and the triax LDK 3000+, LDK 4000 and LDK 6000.
  • Panasonic: AK-UC3000, AK-UC3300 and AK-UC4000 4K cameras and the AK-HC3800 HD fiber camera.

You can see the chains we currently have in our used studio cameras category.

Buying a used studio camera chain: checklist

  1. Complete chains: check that each camera comes with its CCU, RCP and viewfinder, and that all parts are of the same generation.
  2. Operating hours: ask for the hours counter of each camera head.
  3. Licences: on recent cameras, 4K, HDR and high frame rate are often software licences. Check which ones are installed.
  4. Transmission: triax, fiber or IP, and the length and condition of the cables if they are included.
  5. Lens compatibility: B4 2/3″ mount, with the right lens cable for zoom and focus control.
  6. Matching: if you add cameras to an existing studio, buy the same model or a model that matches colourimetry well.
  7. Test: if possible, see the chain working, with picture on a monitor and RCP control.

For more general advice on cameras, see our guide Buying a used broadcast camera: what to check before you buy.

FAQ

Can I use a studio camera without a CCU?

Some system cameras can output video directly from the head, but you lose remote shading, return video, intercom and tally. For multi-camera live production, the CCU is needed.

Is triax still worth buying?

Yes, if your studio or OB van is already wired in triax. Triax cameras are often good value on the used market, and the cables are robust.

Can I sell my old camera chains?

Yes. Broadcast Brokers buys complete studio camera systems. Send us the models, quantities and condition through our sell your equipment page.

Broadcast Brokers has been buying and selling broadcast and cinema equipment since 2007 near Paris. For advice on a studio project, contact us.

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