Fujix PR-1 (1991)

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I had this one online already, in the still video category, but decided to take it offline to rewrite the text. The first text was based on rumours and speculations. Now I have facts and gladly to say, the only website to feature this camera. You know me, if it's rare then I'm all game!

It's name is Fujix PR-1. Officially entitled still video pro system. That's exactly what it is. A camera head and a still video recorder tethered to a camera control unit as featured in the pictures. The camera head accepted c-mount TV lenses, like a Fujinon TV zoom lens. Same as the Sony DKC-5000 for instance.

I came by a 1991 chinese abstract where the Fujix PR-1 was mentioned in a reference note as being a "test system". So I take it that the system was available in 1991. Since I have no other information, I use this as the year the system was first mentioned. It was a professional system and consisted of a CCD video head that was tethered to a camera control unit. The unit itself was then tethered to a dedicated Fujix still video recorder/player. The recorder/player could be operated with a remote control RM-5000. In the pictures you can also see a dismantled camera head.

The system I have was missing the camera connection cable so I took a regular 15-pin D-SUB cable and tethered the camera head to the control unit. The control unit, according to it's serial number, must be a very early unit. The control unit is fanless and therefore very quiet, it only consumes 26 Watts. After having connected a video monitor I was stunned that the entire system was still operational and produced a clear and crisp image.

I probably am the only person in the western hemisphere who not only owns this system but also it's successors. That's right. There were at least 3 more of them and they can be seen later on in the digital camera category for the very first time ever. Until now nobody knew about their existence. Time to change that.