THESE CCTV CAMERAS recorded the CHERNOBYL DISASTER

We needed more than half a year to make this episode - so rare this equipment has become. For the first time, this is an in-depth review of historical CCTV systems that were used with nearly all Chernobyl robots back in the 80-s. Even more, in this video you will learn unique insights shared with us by Michael Bukov - the engineer who worked with such cameras since 1987 in Pripyat, Ukraine.
Apart from their historical value, these devices are a brilliant piece of engineering that often literally saved the lives of people, becoming the electronic eyes in the nuclear disaster zone.
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What you will find in this episode:
00:00 - Intro
00:45 - Michael Bukov, our consultant
01:09 - Types of CCTV cameras produced in the USSR
02:08 - A new project announcement
02:38 - KTP-63 robotic CCTV camera
05:02 - Vidicon tube
05:45 - Optical system and lens
06:50 - Video signal processors
07:40 - Assembling a CCTV system
09:04 - Monitor
09:40 - Test-run
11:04 - Inside the robotic manipulator
11:56 - A few stories from the engineer
13:36 - Beloyarsk Project. KTP-64 camera.
15:29 - Outro

[@felenov]

I am a CCTV camera collector with a collection of over 800 cameras. I was born and raised in Russia. In many government buildings those cameras can still be found in somewhat working conditions. But the moment the wall fell, those were usually switched off and a system from a company such as Bosch or Pelco was installed that used the regular RS-485 and CVBS protocol and standardized control and could allow one operator to manage 256 PTZ cameras from one terminal at once. I worked on the old systems and I seen modifications made in-aitue where the tube wqs replaced with a CCD sensor so they could keep using the camera.

[@ChernobylFamily]

I noticed that many times from these cameras left only the enclosure with a modern electronics inside + ун-16.

[@JavoCover]

Those enclosures seem solid.

[@felenov]

@@ChernobylFamily It's common for those cameras to get "Кулибин" type of upgrades (probably built by technicians working for the place the cameras are installed at) with whatever parts are going spare. There is also a НПО type organisation out of Novosibirsk that makes retrofit kits to upgrade the electronics inside the camera for CVBS and 940H with RS485 Pelco-D protocol. They recommend to use RVi DVR with it. I will link it if I find it.

[@ChernobylFamily]

@@felenov wowww! Thank you for such details!

[@xalidhuseynli6402]

Can you show us your collection with a video? I really love security CCTV cameras!

[@zappadow6538]

YES!! build the little scout guy! That would be so cool!

[@ChernobylFamily]

While others will walk their dogs, we will walk a robot!

[@zappadow6538]

@@ChernobylFamily YES AND WE WILL HAVE TO NAME HIM!!!

[@ChernobylFamily]

@@zappadow6538 whoa! Any suggestions?

[@zappadow6538]

​@ChernobylFamily OK, so my Ukrainian is terrible, so correct me if I'm wrong, but I think "Провідник" or "Explorer" would be a great name! It is very simple and gives a good idea of the machine's original purpose.

[@ChernobylFamily]

@@zappadow6538 superb!

[@andreymikhaylovsky1713]

Thanks for the video! My uncle was in Chernobyl 1986-1987, replacing "burned" vidicons in those cameras.

[@ChernobylFamily]

You are welcome!

[@krisraps]

World is so small. Im a victim from Chernobyl im disabled with many heart conditins because of the acxident , It hapened before i was born, All the winds came to Baltic states and rain'ed down here on my mom and dad so jeah.

[@MadScientist267]

That shielding design with the mirror is indeed brilliant. Hardening efforts are fascinating.

[@ChernobylFamily]

Agreed!

[@edgeeffect]

I was watching something about the vidicon tube last night and they were talking about some of the "ghosting" artefacts it can produce. It's nice to see a working tube here where you actually demonstrate those artefacts... I love Soviet heavy-duty over engineering, and this camera is a perfect example. Thanks for the demo.

[@ChernobylFamily]

This summer in action on the robot!

[@zombieregime]

There are still stocks of vidicon tubes out there. I still have my dads old Quasar video camera that runs on a vidicon. They're pretty neat, and have an interesting mechanism of action.

[@Blade-420]

Thank you for this very interesting video about these CCTV Cameras. I used to have two older cameras that had Vidicon tubes. and one had a burnt in image of the former owners driveway, looking through a vent under their house. it was faint, but when you put your hand over the lens, it really was visible on the screen.

[@ChernobylFamily]

Glad that you liked! In fact, we very much like these devices, they are so epic. Thank you for the story!

[@SeanBZA]

@@ChernobylFamily Yes old vidicon tubes would develop a shadow where the screen was illuminated the brightest, and CRT display tubes would do the same, to the point you could read the old menu it had on them even when off. Had a few in CCTV use, and the monitor had eventually a ghost image of the area burnt on it, that you could see even when off as it left a dark inverted image on the grey phosphor screen.

[@jacobsandler438]

When I was in junior college in late 80s the subject was called in the manner of those years, as industrial television (CCTV). Even a textbook was available in the library.

[@betadev4264]

Literally doxxing people from the 80s but on the future

[@AjinkyaMahajan]

I am addicted to your content. Thanks a lot for putting so much effort into discovering old technology and explaining it wonderfully. Cheers

[@ChernobylFamily]

Glad that you liked it, it is very motivating!

[@KeritechElectronics]

Whoa. I still can't stop marveling at the fact that they used typical M42 lenses for Zenit cameras and a mirror assembly. Mighty friggin' clever! A thing of beauty and a joy for ever. I've got a vidicon camera in my collection (Unitra Polkolor TP-K162), but the tube seems to be dead. I'll have to take a closer look at it. It uses C-mount CCTV lenses. Next step? Soyuz comms!

[@ChernobylFamily]

:))))

[@samaelturcios_1986]

I am an electronic security integrator that includes CCTV systems, I am amazed to see this beauty of old Soviet electronics. Just by watching him disassemble the camera case I can already smell the electronic components. Gracias por mostrar el funcionamiento

[@ChernobylFamily]

Thank you! Well, that is the case of professional electronics. Today get ready for a new episode, and you will see a very different class of camera.

[@emilschw8924]

Interesting to note that the Cold War actually pushed the Soviets to produce solutions of their own, which also worked. Just incredible, given the fact that they did not had free access to any of the more modern CCTV technology. The idea with the mirror to protect the camera from radiation is very good.

[@MarkMcCluney]

That's certainly a very beefy camera! I especially like the 'demister' for the visor, that's especially clever. The builders of these camera units can still be proud of these units. The orientation gearing and motors could take up a nice video on their own! Thanks so much for this very interesting vid and I look forward to seeing the rebuilt scout very much!

[@ChernobylFamily]

I have to say this are one of a few pieces of ussr tech I really love

[@kjamison5951]

My new favourite channel! Since 1986, I have been fascinated with all things relating to Chornobyl and Pripyat. My interest is more to do with how the danger was dealt with and the ongoing efforts to reduce the danger. These videos of equipment used with Ukraine during and after the disaster are fascinating. I hope they never have to repeat these actions in Zaporizhzhia.

[@ChernobylFamily]

Thank you! Check out our Patreon. We even translate rare books there!

[@togowack]

People are going to become more fascinated as we still don't know the truth most people still believe the cover story we were given. USSR was expert with lies. I am beginning to think they plugged the reactor into something experimental and overloaded it. There are all kinds of bizarre science experiments, strange looking radar towers, all over the USSR.

[@REPOMAN24722]

My dad bought a Zenit camera from Yugoslavia before he moved to Australia, said it was better than his Leica in many ways, he was a photographic journalist and had many cameras, some very rare now. Ironically his Leica doesn't work anymore but the Zenit never missed a beat and still works. He also bought Orwo film as he claimed it was better. But in Australia he used agfa and kodak most the time as they were easier to find, he hated Fuji. Maybe it's that eastern bloc reliability, Yugoslav appliances lasted allot longer than western goods. No planned obsolescence.

[@ChernobylFamily]

Unfortunately, I am not a photographer, so I trust you here... and thank you for the story!

[@william_ok]

I also have a Zenit-E camera and I use it for photography sometimes. It's a work of art and really pretty. The only bit triggered me a bit was getting the footage out, since everything is mechanical.

[@REPOMAN24722]

@@william_ok I have no Idea about photography and my dad gave it up after Digital came in as he doesn't understand computers, you can't even get slow exposure film anymore only 400 so my dad gave up analogue photography now. Can vaguely remember the Zenit he mostly used a dual lense Mamiya have no idea what model, he occasionally used the zenit and a Nikon. They were all mechanical, cant even get film for the Mamiya anymore completely different size.

[@TigeroL42]

​@@REPOMAN24722 There's plenty of options for high grade color film at least in the west. The old recipes are also being taken into use as film is getting popular again. Kodak ektar 100 is pure magic in my opinion. Also there are plenty of crappy SLR models out there with poor shutter speeds and bad metering that would survive a bomb but that doesn't make them good cameras for professional use..

[@REPOMAN24722]

@@TigeroL42 In Australia all I can find is 400 Fuji and Kodak, His Zenit actually produced pics on par with his Nikon but the Mamiya was the best. All his cameras cost over $500 for sure back in the 90's except the Zenit.

[@BradR86]

Soviet tech tips! ❤😅 Love these bits of tech from Soviet times. It's always interesting seeing how it all worked, and even things like how they used connectors that are completely unheard of in the west! Definitely a good review! ❤

[@ChernobylFamily]

Thank you!

[@dingdong2103]

Imagine how many millions of people were being oppressed and watched through these things 😂

[@ChernobylFamily]

True and not really funny in reality...

[@dingdong2103]

@@ChernobylFamily I visited Soviet Union back in the days, freaky experience...

[@ChernobylFamily]

Exactly.

[@foxyfan1336]

I want one so bad. I like these types of video surveillance/monitoring systems, and I really like the way you switch and control the different cameras with this one.

[@ChernobylFamily]

It is possible to find these in Ukraine on local marketplaces of vintage electronics, but they are freaking expensive (not the last reason is that these mounts are often used for e.g. amateur antennas positioning)... just checked - camera+mount = $500 with 'looks good, working condition unknown'

[@jacobsandler438]

I just recalled what I'm still keeping two vidicon tubes with different geometry (dimensions), but the same Hitachi brand from spare parts stock for our CCTV cameras. I took home some spare vacuum tubes for collection, when we moved our maintenance shop to a different room back in 2004. Those vacuum tubes were intended for some ancient obsolete machines, which were retired and scrapped. All our analog cameras were scrapped after upgrade to solid-state ones on every piece of process equipment with the vision or PRS [pattern recognition system].

[@mikes78]

This randomly popped up on my feed tonight and I found it quite interesting despite it being absolutely unrelated to 99% of anything else I've ever watched on KZbin before. Thankyou.

[@ChernobylFamily]

Thank YOU! We have a good documentary on robots that used these cameras. And on SKALA computer - that is a fresh one, check those, it is worth it. And get ready for more epic stuff!

[@frankschmied3637]

I especially like the raised, pink ICs. They look gorgeous and emanate that special 80ties-feeling.

[@ChernobylFamily]

There are bigger ICs like that. Those look even more epic.

[@jasmenter]

Amazing work, Well done. So glad that i've subscribed !

[@ChernobylFamily]

Welcome here!

[@kemi242]

This is Soviet-era overengineering took to an artistic level.

[@ChernobylFamily]

To be honest, I can't call it an overengineering. All things inside pretty match the purpose, just the size is a bit too big.

[@assembler1]

Эти камеры выпускались на НПО "Волна" в Новгороде. Я даже нашел группу завода, там много интересных фотографий, даже Как эти камеры изготавливали)

[@ChernobylFamily]

Yes, M. Bukov mentiones that in his book. Cool!

[@sleeplessindefatigable6385]

I'm honestly pretty impressed by the 625 lines of resolution. That's a really high resolution for the time, and a reasonable improvement over the PAL standard. I'm curious, Is the image inertia a flaw common to the type, or is it the result of age and wear? I'd be fascinated to see a short video recorded with this camera just to see what it looks like digitised and displayed on a modern screen.

[@ChernobylFamily]

I think both. We'll record a video before and after changing the vidicon and then will post it on Patreon supposedly.

[@retinaquester]

The 625 lines at 25 FPS interlaced, is exacly the PAL standard. Although in Europe 576 imagelines were used, because of transmission bandwidth. The remaining lines were later used to transmit Teletext/CeeFax.

[@sleeplessindefatigable6385]

@@retinaquester Well, I stand corrected. Thanks for the information.

[@janovlk]

​@@retinaquester Those 24/25 lines of so called vertical blanking interval were necessary to allow voltage change in vertical deflection coils in camera and picture tube as well. BTW the 625i50 standard was developed in former USSR during WWII. After some years all the Europe settled on this standard.

[@retinaquester]

@@janovlk I am aware of how it works yet, you are wrong about the development. PAL was developed by Walter Bruch at Telefunken in Hanover, West Germany. And as far as I know very little technology from the USSR has made it to the western Countries, because it was either "borowd" western designed or inferior to the Western standards. Although russian space industrie has shown it's capabilities. It lags now far behind.

[@loligesgame]

Wonderful video, as always!

[@ChernobylFamily]

Thank you!

[@PatriceTorguet]

Thanks a lot for your very interesting videos. A friend introduced your channel to me a few days ago. Wishing you the best.

[@ChernobylFamily]

Thank you my friend!

[@SeanBZA]

Linkage you are asking about is a universal joint. Cameras would have failed in high radiation mostly because the radiation damaged the semiconductors in the amplifiers for the vidicon tube, the actual tube itself would degrade slower, simply because of the larger mass of the photocathode meaning it would take much more to damage it. You would get ghost images from radiation off the video entering through the housing gap by the lens, but mostly for radiation all you would get was noise as the amplifier transistors got cooked. Same for the digital logic making the video signal, where ironically a few generation older cameras, all tube based, would have survived for hundreds of hours more, till the radiation finally changed the values of the components enough. Those would have been seriously radioactive then, as you would had made a lot of highly radioactive isotopes of all the metal parts, and would have a lot of noise on the video from the radiation interfering with the actual electrode structures. But they would survive short term, a few days, looking into the most radioactive parts of the reactor, provided you kept them cool enough. But the failed cameras, once removed and cleaned externally, would decay back to background levels in a few months, as the isotopes created from the gamma radiation and neutron bombardment all have relatively short half lives.

[@ChernobylFamily]

Thank you for sharing these thoughts!

[@wombatperson]

I have read in product information from Japanese lens manufacturers (like Canon and Fujinon) that their normal photographic lenses cannot be used around radiation, as the clear lens material rapidly fades to a semi-opaque yellow colour, spoiling the pictures projected on to the vidicon tube. Specially-made lenses have to be used in nuclear facilities. Assuming this applied equally to the Soviet lenses, I wonder what in these cameras failed first from the radiation: the lens glass, the vidicon tube or the electronic components? I also wonder if the mirror optics in the upright camera were intended to keep radiation off the lens itself, reflecting only visible light to the tube surface. I've got some Japanese pan-tilt-zoom mounts from the late 1980s, and the electronics and connectors are far more modern and miniature than the Soviet equivalents shown here. The Soviet connectors look like western connectors from the 1940s to 1970s. Oddly enough, the Japanese equipment exported to the west used all the latest connectors, but quite a lot of equipment intended for their local market still had these unique old-fashioned bakelite and chrome metal connectors. It was also very surprising to see the use of flat-head slotted screw heads in the mechanisms, instead of Phillips and Pozi crossed heads, seen in most of the metricated world, except of course, the USA and UK.

[@SeanBZA]

@@wombatperson Soviets used that narrow width flat screw for decades, as they had standardised on it, and it is a lot narrower than the Western version. Same for the connectors, old patterns with the focus on interchange between wildly different age equipment, as they tended to keep equipment in operation for many decades, and not upgrade at all, so long as it still could be serviced and worked. After all this was a central economy, where even getting a light bulb involved a lot of paperwork, leading to the black market being big in selling blown light bulbs, especially those with visible blackening on the glass, as selling the faulty ones was not frowned on, but they were difficult to get as a consumer new. So buy blown ones on the black market, and simply swap them at the factory, wait a day, then report them as blown, and the factory would change them, of course the electrician or store keeper keeping the blown ones, to sell as used.

[@SeanBZA]

@@wombatperson Radiation damage mostly to the AR coatings, and to the optical glues used to make compound lenses. Simple lens with no AR coating will survive a lot of radiation, a lot more than needed to totally wipe out the semiconductors and destroy the heavy metal phosphor coating on the target. Exactly the same as what you get with those lenses when exposed to plain sunlight, and the high UV level, without a UV block filter in front of them, typically integrated into the front ND filter that is coated to be both UV block and IR blocking as well, at least for modern CMOS sensors, which are really sensitive to IR as well.

[@LasCosasRetro]

Great video!! It's very interesting to know this devices 😊

[@ChernobylFamily]

Thank you!

[@DriZ01]

4:00 My educated guess would be that the heated glass is used to prevent condensation, not to prevent freezing. If the glass is colder than the ambient temperature and the air is humid, the glass will fog up. Just like a bathroom mirror during a warm shower.

[@ChernobylFamily]

This is actually what I meant. Additio ally, the documentation explicitly mentions how to use it when temperatures are low, so in the case of frost that heater has to be on.

[@cobrag0318]

I recognized the lens immediately. Purchased one off of eBay for my Konica 35mm camera. I also had to get the adapter from the m.42 screw base, to the AR base my camera uses. I'm sure there's more modern lenses out, with better image quality. But with my skill level, and shooting on film on a camera made in 1979 instead on simething like an 8k high definition one, I think the Helios lens is far from the weakest element in my setup. In fact, it's the main lens I use with my camera. At 50mm, it's good for general purpose. And the Helios lens is known for it's signature bokeh effect, or in other words how the blurring in the background of the pictures looks. The Helios' blur pattern is circular. I also have a soviet made Industar lens a friend told me I should check out, it's a tiny little pancake lens. I like the Helios much better. And what you said matches what I remember reading when researching it. It was a Zeiss lens design from Germany. At the end of World War II, when the soviets took control of what eventually became East Germany, also known as the German Democratic Republic, they dismantled many factories and brought much of the equipment and designs back to the Soviet Union. This included the Ziess factory. So a Soviet lens, based on a German design, on a Japanese camera, being used in America. Incidentally, I have bought several rolls of Svema 125 iso b/w film, that prob has been expired since before the union dissolved, for my 120 format camera. It's quite fun to use. I have to rate it at 25 iso due to loss of sensitivity due to age, and of course, the resulting images are a bit faded and hazy looking. But it has this awesome vintage effect. If there's nothing obviously modern in the picture, it can look like a picture from 80yrs ago.

[@ChernobylFamily]

Thank you so much for sharing all this!

[@ukaszz.3747]

I can literally smell this video. Keep it up guys, great content!

[@ChernobylFamily]

Thank you! Check the newer episode!

[@steves7973]

Quality cameras, they are beautifully built, reminds me of the circuit boards on the old electric forklift trucks I used to repair.

[@Nitidus]

The image from the (apparently) degraded tube is absolutely beautiful! Incredible! As a photographer, I'd love to creatae something with it. You cannot get similar results with modern tech at all. I can see it used in art projects or arthouse films no problem.

[@ChernobylFamily]

You are so right. We have been experimenting with it a lot, and even usual objects look really interesting.

[@alexzaslavskis4623]

2:53 Remided me an old joke about sovet IC`s and hadle to carry them ))) Hello from Riga ))

[@ChernobylFamily]

Hahahha Cheers!

[@adumont]

Thank you, this was super interesting!

[@ChernobylFamily]

Glad that you liked!

[@kailashbtw9103]

SUPER cool thank you for making these Chernobyl historical videos.

[@ChernobylFamily]

Thank you! In the context of these cameras, we have a cool documentary about robots that used those cameras.... and get ready for more!

[@xyla4874]

amazing video.. i love these old devices so much

[@ChernobylFamily]

Glad that you liked!

[@DmytroKovalchuk-pg5zc]

Very cool! I have such camera, but I havent still run it, or disasseble it, so it was very ineresting to see it in your video. In soviet institutes and universities this type of cameras was also often used in educational process. There were a special classes with a lot of monitors and some cameras, and image from cameras was translated to the monitors. When I came to my university this system was mostly destroyed, but some parts of it is still there.

[@ChernobylFamily]

We can borrow you a control panel, it is simple device, I bet you'll clone ot in one evening (which could be a cool project)

[@warleyncs]

Very nice to see the amazing Helios 44-2 lens embedded on it!

[@ChernobylFamily]

Glad that you liked!

[@pstonard]

Thanks for a look inside these CCCP video cameras and Pan/Tilt head. Interesting stuff! The components and construction are typical of CCCP engineering and reflect what the west (I'm originally from the UK) were doing in the 1950s. (Through hole single side PCB and internal wiring loom construction which is very labor intensive) The Vidicon pick up tube was used for non-broadcast service from the 1950s until around the late 1970s as an affordable industrial solution. It was only then that consumer cameras from Japan made improvements with Newvicon and SATicon photo target materials. Vidicon defects include smearing, sticking, and easy image burn-in. CCCP color broadcast standards followed the French SECAM encoding, mainly to avoid NTSC and PAL methods, and operated at 625/50 scan rates. This is a monochrome camera. The total scan lines are 625 per frame, two fields of 312.5 lines 2:1 interlaced, and for analog systems only 576 lines were active. With 4:3 Aspect ratio the horizontal resolution is about 750 lines max, more likely half that in this design. We have an equivalent digital format of 576 x 768 today. The lens system was probably selected for cost and availability and doesn't contribute to improving the image "quality" or perceived "film look". As already mentioned it was standard practice to loop-through video signals in monitors and other system components, and have only one termination resistor of 75 ohms, usually at the end of the line. A simple check with a continuity tester, or visual inspection, will confirm the two connectors are linked by a wire.

[@ChernobylFamily]

Super. Thanks. For all those details!

[@ElectronicaSovietica]

I love your channel and what you are doing here. In a much more humble and amateur way I am doing what I can to curate and demonstrate my small but growing collection of Soviet school and home computers on this new channel :-)

[@ChernobylFamily]

Great! Good luck then...)

[@jacobsandler438]

I noticed a couple of a some sort of an u-joints (universal joints, couplings) on the shaft of the tilt mechanism. There are might be a shear pins for anti-jam feature to save the motor and components on PCBs.

[@swokatsamsiyu3590]

Another wonderful video! And you know what that KTP-63 camera reminds me of? The 80's movie "Short Circuit". If you place two side-by-side, they look exactly like Johny No. 5's eyes. And yes, please build that little scout camera. I, for one, would love to see it in action. Great work, as always!

[@ChernobylFamily]

Hm, need to check that! Thank you!

[@andreyansimov5442]

I havent watched this. So for me these are eyes of WALL-E robot.

[@swokatsamsiyu3590]

@@andreyansimov5442 Wall-E is a good choice as well. But if you can get a hold of it, you'll really like the 80's feel-good movie "Short Circuit" if you liked Wall-E. I have both on my DVD shelves.

[@NaoPb]

This is so fascinating to see what equipment was used for recording video image in the 80s.

[@ChernobylFamily]

Yes! And we are goint to have more in action!

[@meepmcfart8935]

The joint is a universal joint, also the example of quality was so adorable lmao (10:25)

[@ChernobylFamily]

...except the way how gears are attached to rotors. It was very easy to break (though I fixed later)

[@haroldishoy2113]

The electronics are beautifully assembled and show how good the technicians were. Placing and soldering each component by hand.

[@ChernobylFamily]

Yes, because it is industrial-grade equipment. Consumer tech was not even close to this.

[@GroovyVideo2]

Looks Well made - Thanks

[@ChernobylFamily]

Glad that you liked!

[@matneu27]

The idea of the periscope camera with a mirror is still alive in many smartphones for the telescope lens unit. Anyway, in Germany we would say "to shoot with canons on sparrows" for using this Helios high quality lens for a 650 line picture 😉. I think it was rather because it was available and had a good light pass quality.

[@wisteela]

Fantastic. I love that they use the classic Helios lens. Subscribed. And yes, please rebuild that robot.

[@ChernobylFamily]

We have some progress on it - you can find that on Patreon - got some important parts and archive data. However, there are a few technical things yet to figure out to start actual assembly work.

[@doctorwhofan6340]

And to think these things were waching the horrors unfold in real time and are still around today and working is incredible! Such a cool video.

[@ChernobylFamily]

So true. Like with many Chornobyl devices.

[@doctorwhofan6340]

@@ChernobylFamily and that they still can be handled without killing someone is crazy!

[@ChernobylFamily]

@@doctorwhofan6340 ....unless dropped from a few meters height.

[@doctorwhofan6340]

@@ChernobylFamily I guess so! Being right up close to the danger and not being one of the most radioactive things there is wild

[@joppepeelen]

Nice tech !! and nice video !

[@ChernobylFamily]

And nice comment !!

[@sheep1ewe]

Awesome! Thank You!

[@ChernobylFamily]

You are welcome!

[@eyeessee]

Thank you. This was very Interesting.

[@ChernobylFamily]

Thank you! Please check our other videos, e.g. there is a documentary about the robots those types of cameras of robots were used in.

[@Shipfixer]

Instant LIKE and SUBSCRIBE! Great video. Those cameras look like they would withstand an extreme amount of abuse.

[@ChernobylFamily]

These cameras can abuse someone as well. While filming this I had 63th on the floor and kicked my foot really badly with it. Well...it did not even move.

[@argoneum]

Those Vidicon tubes are still available as new-old stock, and for not a lot of money from Poland. Soviet export ones, ЛИ415-1 in a styrofoam package and with a data card (including the voltage that needs to be set when installed). That ghosting effect is the usual thing with Vidicons.

[@ChernobylFamily]

Yes, those also are availble in Kyiv at Kardachi market (see the video about it) for very funny money... seems there was an overproduction of them.

[@contrastloudspeakers]

Awesome job! ❤

[@ChernobylFamily]

Thank you!

[@marinedalek]

11:30 I'd probably call it a Cardan Shaft, or Drive Shaft, although the joints for each axis are offset so I'm not sure if they're technically universal joints. Same principle though!

[@ChernobylFamily]

Yes, I also thought about Cardan coupling, just was not sure about offset.

[@alielabdimarras7965]

@@ChernobylFamily Kardan or Kreuzgelenkkupplung in German

[@jacobsandler438]

Another definition of Cardan (drive)shaft is CV shaft, where CV stands for constant velocity.

[@Alchemik100500]

This cardan transmission, probably, is just only the result of an egineering design bug, nothing more.

[@christophero1969]

Cool video, lots of information that I always wondered about when I was younger. I was told these cameras lasted maybe 10-30 minutes each.

[@ChernobylFamily]

It depended very much. In some cases they really blacked out that fast. Often, however, not.

[@retinaquester]

@@ChernobylFamily Can you give a insight at what does radiation do to the Camera's (or technology in general) that makes them break down?

[@ChernobylFamily]

@@retinaquester generally, semiconductors burn. As for vidicons, effect is similar to a strong light - they basically become black.

[@louisimission2153]

I would never have a chance to see inside these units if You didn't show Us - thanks for Your exellent video, Chernobylfamily. I wish You all the best in life.

[@ChernobylFamily]

Thank you! Please check our newer episodes as well. While we yet did not finish the Scout robot these cameras were used on, we completed a smaller one...)

[@louisimission2153]

Well done, its great work. I dissasemble broken electronics to collect the valuable parts. Some of them are so complex and I'm impressed by those who once put them together.

[@dukenukem8381]

Tis is very cool facts and insights!

[@ChernobylFamily]

Thank you!

[@peterbustin2683]

Really great! Thank you. Yes, build the little robot.

[@ChernobylFamily]

Already researching it... gonna have a few meetings after the 20th May

[@MetalTiger88]

This is pretty interesting, i didn't knew that videocameras also had some kind of crt tech inside them🙂

[@ChernobylFamily]

Yes, especially iconoscope cameras looked totally insane.

[@bjoernphotography]

Very interesting technology - thank you!

[@ChernobylFamily]

You are more than welcome!

[@Nikitafrom233]

thanks for the content)

[@ChernobylFamily]

Glad that you liked! Check the previous episodes...)

[@GRUMPY656799]

amazing video.. thank you i have learned a bit into cccp video tech

[@ChernobylFamily]

Glad that you liked it :)

[@SilverSpoon_]

I own a Zenit lens, they are pretty solid, and have really particular mood to the photos, in terms of light and sharpness. it's nice to play with, same with shooting video, I should find a subjet of interest and made a vid using my A77 and one of those glasses.

[@danielmorris6523]

I don't know if it is a good video idea but maybe you could do one on how the other reactors continued to function after the disaster and where the crew lived when off duty and how they were protected from radiation while working the other three reactors?

[@ChernobylFamily]

It is surely a good idea for a video, just it is a massive subject that involves also a lot of events of 1986-88, when a massive decontamination was made. For now, you can find some pretty rare documents about this translated on our Patreon.

[@Jappmannen]

Actually still today the most radiation tolerant cameras use Chalnicon/Vidicon tubes for applications where CCD-chips would not last for a long time. Usually they are used to look for fuel assembly damages, lost items and more in the core (or underneath it ) of a BWR/PWR reactor.

[@ChernobylFamily]

Thank you for sharing!

[@jacobsandler438]

The shell of its remote controller reminded me a some model of an old soviet accounting calculator, for sure those calculators were clones of Casio or Sharp original.

[@MarvinHartmann452]

It looks alot like soviet area communication equipment from the military. I used to repair and restore alot of these from older tanks and communication posts. Very well made. Very heavy. All the components are military grade. Kind of "heavy duty" electronics parts. I was working in Revda at the time it was in the early 2000s. We had these equipment in a copper refining plan.

[@ChernobylFamily]

Thank you for sharing!

[@nixietubes]

Such a gorgeous device, I love that it happens to use the Helios 44-2, I wish I could have one of these

[@ChernobylFamily]

We can get you one, but they are not cheap even now (i checked - kinda $400 for a camera alone if it is in a good condition) + shipping...

[@nixietubes]

@Chernobyl Family 🇺🇦 I appreciate the offer haha, but yeah, I don't think I could even afford the shipping, not surprising they're worth a lot, if they have a comparable amount of gold to the scale you showed off

[@paolbackman651]

I really like this type Helios 44-2, makes nice photos.

[@derangedsynthesizer7598]

At (11:34) I believe that assembly would be considered some form of 'worm-screw'. They are common in the motors of professional grade circular-saws used for carpentry in the US and maybe make more torque or something.. but they are more expensive.

[@ChernobylFamily]

Thank you! Many commenters suggested to call it Universal Joint, as it combines a cardan and a worm one.

[@solideshalbwissen]

great stuff

[@jakubkrcma]

Absolutely amazing!

[@ChernobylFamily]

Glad that you liked!

[@filter4now]

That's quite a hardy design for a CCTV camera. The CRT scan tube is like the original TV camera. Everything is shielded in a heavy metal case - which I imagine allowed it to operate in a high radiation environment. Since a geiger counter works by measuring the counts of the arcs inside the tube - it doesn't show any bright or dark flickering in the picture. The semiconductor electronics (even more sensitive) must have survived by the camera operating via a lens going into the shielded case. Modern CCTV and IP cameras would probably not have worked at all

[@denislavdenchev2572]

Very interesting examination! I feel like these triangle-headed screws are also used for electrical and pneumatic cabinets in older Russian metro trains. I think the same screw heads are used for the window locks on these trains.

[@ChernobylFamily]

Thank you! No, those on thains are different and way easier to open. This one was not only asymmetrical but also rounded.

[@Jhihmoac]

Nice! Much of the equipment like this was also made with the subzero temperatures of the typical Russian Winter in mind... Very sealed to begin with, so I could see where the sensitive equipment would survive the intense radioactive exposure! These cameras definitely caught what was going on as it took place!

[@ChernobylFamily]

Glad that you liked!

[@thomasfx3190]

I had no idea that something of 1986. Intake would use a cathode ray tube, my parents TV at the time (in the US) was essentially analog as well and had a mechanical tuner & potentiometer for sound volume, etc.

[@ChernobylFamily]

In some cases even in the beginning of the 90s as well...

[@RudiW1510]

0:43 KMZ HELIOS 44-2 58MM. What a versatile lens. I own two of them. The one from 67 with the zebra look (my pride and joy) and the 44m version that came with the Zenit 12XP. I tell you, this is my niftz fifty of choice, no matter where I go.

[@ChernobylFamily]

Thank you for sharing!

[@franciscov.9644]

Hi, greetings, great content! And one question: As I understand, equipment like trucks and so on, that were used to work in reactor 4/what is now the exclusion zone, were left abandoned because they were radiated. Is it safe for you to play with this equipment? I'm catching up, so I haven't watched all your content (Yet), but have you measured the equipment you have with a geiger counter?

[@ChernobylFamily]

Things are more complex. Not all devices worked in/near Unit 4. Not all were abandoned. Not all are contaminated or not all are contaminated in a way that it does not allow to use them. Thousands of people work in the Zone now, and we use here tech. However, while we spend a substantial amount of time in the zone, we strictly use it as a reference and a research base; our devices we find elsewhere - what you will find in this condition would be never abandoned. Abandoned stuff is rusty junk. So radioactivity is not an issue.

[@50shadesofbeige88]

The motorized parts of the camera mount are so robust. Wow. They don't make them like that anymore... literally.

[@ChernobylFamily]

They are, but there are weak gears. Needed to change some.

[@SilverSpoon_]

watching this after I found out my SECOND Carl Zeiss lens's autofocus mechanics ( made of plastic circa 2010) was damaged like a previous one makes me kind of runtrous.

[@zAlaska]

11:45. up and down back and forth: Pan and Scan. to Pan, is Panning, has panned...same with Scan.

[@bundzmykhailo3733]

Oh! Helios 44-2. I have one and sometimes use on my Nikon. Not best vintage lens (Nikkor from 1970-80s much better) but good enough and has his own advantages including extremely low cost today.

[@JohnMartin-cd1qm]

Your videos are so damn cool!

[@ChernobylFamily]

Thank you so much!

[@Radiointeractive]

The HBO miniseries really nailed it in terms of using technology from the Soviet era. Watching this video makes me wonder if they reconstructed entire robots using these types of cameras.

[@ChernobylFamily]

I am not sure. From my experience, movie props rarely use actual hardware.

[@swokatsamsiyu3590]

They actually fully rebuilt "Joker" for the series. They first CGI-ed it, but the result was less than satisfactory. Craig Mazin then decided to fully build it according to the original specs. So, when you see it up on the roof, it is physically there. The rest may be CGI, but the robot is real. Oh, and the footage you see displayed on the monitors in the room is actual footage from the cleanup, as is the footage the prospect liquidators watch before they get sent out on "Masha". This series went above and beyond when it comes to getting it as close to the real thing as it gets.

[@ChernobylFamily]

I meant yes, but inside of the physical model itbwas not really the Joker.

[@swokatsamsiyu3590]

@@ChernobylFamily Wasn't quite sure if they did the full internals as well, but apparently they didn't. Thanks for clearing that up for me👍 And the whine of that TV monitor when you first fired it up is something I haven't heard in a loooong time. Oh, how the times have changed...

[@betadev4264]

Is there any footage of the waste disposal place of the video online that i could find? That place really got my interest

[@ChernobylFamily]

If you mean a temporary storage with robots, that small fragment is actually all where you can see it; we are going to post more fragments like this with our comments, as there are much more interesting things, but they need to be explained.

[@tristan6509]

I knew that CRT TVs can burn in when left on the same image for too long (usually text on computers) but I didn't know that the same could happen to a vidicon tube, interesting.

[@ChernobylFamily]

Well.. we are happy to give new facts to people!

[@jacobsandler438]

In junior college I remember a textbook about industrial television, where was info covered such cameras.

[@ChernobylFamily]

Cool!

[@abecoulter8550]

I'm just watching a video about an AN 24 flying out from Lavrentiya Airport. They had a couple of these cmeras on the outside of the building on the air side as you leave to board the plane

[@ChernobylFamily]

Thank you for the story!

[@Neflyte49]

Cool video thanks

[@ChernobylFamily]

Glad that you liked!

[@robertmonroe9728]

Have various of similar vidikon cameras, its indeed provides trails in moving object - that is not a big but feature of this cool tube

[@ChernobylFamily]

Thank you for the hint.

[@robinwells8879]

Most interesting. I think that your shy lady technician in the video footage is charming!😊 The heavy duty analog circuitry will have been much more robust in high radiation zones presumably.

[@ChernobylFamily]

Thank you so much!

[@jonasmarucha]

It is an interesting video! It is interesting to know how the kept track of everything in chernobyl and other places in prypjat!

[@ChernobylFamily]

Thank you! Stay tuned, we gonna have very interesting stuff up to the end of the year!

[@jonasmarucha]

@@ChernobylFamily I'm really excited!

[@GenerationAI2024]

Thats a Helios 44 Lens. Used in the new Batman Movie, its a great little lens and using it myself for black and white Photo :) Thanks for sharing, just love your content.

[@ChernobylFamily]

Wow, did not know that..! Thank you!

[@thomaskositzki9424]

Interesting video! 13:50 The KTP-64 looks like a mast mounted camera used on top of periscope masts of submarines. Am a military nerd, have seen similar designs on western submarines. And it looks like a periscope... 🙃

[@ChernobylFamily]

I think the truth is in the middle. The camera indeed uses a periscope principle but to protect its gentle vidicon.

[@seananon4893]

Yes build the robot! That would be cool! Great video by the way.

[@ChernobylFamily]

Thank you so much!

[@50shadesofbeige88]

Please build the scout!

[@ChernobylFamily]

We will! Stay tuned!

[@zAlaska]

The digital errors of digital video, I saw at Fukushima during a typhoon years after the accident. A camera above the plant on a corner with a traffic light recorded the scene as the typhoon passed, CCD errors mirrored the errors of Chernobyl during the climax of The Storm passing by Fukushima. The ghostly ghastly films developed were exposed to the light passing through the camera exposing the roll of film. Photos of the May Day celebrations as the reactor was fully involved and the mayor said nothing at all. Even Gorbachev didn't know what was happening, thinking everything was under control.

[@ChernobylFamily]

Recently declassified documents of KGB, published by SB of Ukraine in >2000 pages 2 volumes show that everyone in high management knew everything. Everyone. And that makes things far more horrible.

[@samuelsullivan1574]

The name in English for the tilt mechanism is a "worm drive" They are great for making fine adjustments without compromising strength in the mechanism. You can find them in places like elevation adjustments on artillery pieces, and steering gearboxes on cars. Considering the weight of that camera, and soviet design philosophy... Using a worm drive makes sense. it's not really that surprising that it still works either. What a unit.

[@ChernobylFamily]

Yes, but it is not just a worm coupling. Many suggested that it is an U-joint

[@jacobsandler438]

Such CCTV cameras widely used in various fields, especially on railroads, in heavy industries and of course in penitentiaries.

[@ChernobylFamily]

Exactly! Thank you for the note!

[@MirandaLorraineToft-Cher-lz7sh]

I woke up a few minutes before the explosion in my flat but I didn't know why because I was too young to understand intuition and how strong my danger sense is, I remember seeing the tower of fire that shot out and then the blue beam of charenkov radiation. I thought it was a search light at first. And then the feeling of the shock wave from the blast. Forever you can remember how that feels. The most unforgettable 4 days of my life.

[@furiouzzzz]

stop making it up you were never there heh

[@ChernobylFamily]

I wonder what your address in Pripyat was then.

[@ptrekboxbreaks5198]

Why is it unbelievable someone said they were there ? It was only 30 years ago...

[@ChernobylFamily]

We (personally) have doubts because none of >100 inhabitants of Pripyat we know personally ever said about tower of fire or any Cherenkov effect. There was SOME glow in the sky, like from a fire, it is true. Many things were when the city was already evacuated, but most of witnesses of the very first night recall a pop-like sound only. Once more, we do not blame anyone, just operate with own statistical selection.

[@furiouzzzz]

@@ptrekboxbreaks5198 read that statement again. Only widely available information from movies, no emotional engagement. That person is a troll