Film Chain - The Camera

The Camera

A film chain usually used a video camera tube as this reduced flicker. Vidicon image pick up tube were the preferred pick up for film chains as these gave the least amount of flicker. When CCD-charge-coupled device cameras were introduced these were also used in a film chain. CCD cameras often gave a sharper picture, but with more flicker.

Early film chains had black and white (B&W) cameras and many were later replaced with color. The camera could be a standard professional video camera, but most often was a camera designed for the purpose of film transfer.

Originally only print positive film was used. Later cameras that could invert and color correct color negative film were used.

Professional video cameras made for film chains were used for broadcast use.

A scene-by-scene color correction option was later added to film chains. This was first done by notching the edge of the film where a color change was wanted. Later, machines that counted the sprocket holes were used. At the mark (the notch or the electronic sprocket-count number) the next stored color correction would occur. See color grading for more information.