Trying to locate an Ikegami HL-791 camera

[Kyle Gilchrist]

Hi, I am new to the forum so I don't know if this is the right place to post, but here:

I am trying to find an Ikegami HL-791 3-tube Plumbicon camera from the late 1980s. From what I can gather this camera was introduced in 1987, but didn't sell as well as the CCD models of the time like the HL-55. The reason I am looking for it is because like the HL-95/55, it can be docked to a Betacam SP recorder like the Sony BVV-5.

I've tried a lot of places already like eBay, but I was only able to find listings from a seller who wants ridiculous prices ($3000 USD and above) or missing major parts. I have saved searches so I'll probably be first to know if a working HL-791 came up.

Recently I was able to locate one from a gentleman on Reddit who gave me theirs for the price of shipping, but it was missing the power board and the viewfinder is missing even more parts. And nope, the viewfinder is special (VF15-19) and is not currently on eBay and you probably wouldn't find one without finding another camera body. It also uses a different connector than the viewfinders use on the HL-79E.

So I'm trying to find anyone who may have one of these cameras in storage somewhere or who may know any individuals or production companies they used this camera back when it was new.

I've tried contacting some prop houses, rental houses, and even Ikegami's USA sales department in NJ but no luck. I'm considering writing a professional letter to Ikegami's global headquarters in Japan with the help of a Japanese friend, and seeing what that can do.

Any help would be appreciated. Even finding other models of Plumbicon tube based cameras, such as the HL-79, HL-83, HL-95, and Sony BVP-30 would also be appreciated. The main camera I would like to find is the HL-791, but if I can find other models and accessories I would be happy as well.

Thanks!

[Mark Dunn]

I can't help but may I ask why you want it?

[Christian Flemm]

Hi Kyle,

Don't have that model, but I do have an Ikegami ITC-350 in storage. I last used it in 2021 - it was working without issue then. Doubt much has changed.

Best,

C

[Gerard Dalton]

On 1/22/2026 at 9:27 PM, Kyle Gilchrist said:

Hi, I am new to the forum so I don't know if this is the right place to post, but here:

I am trying to find an Ikegami HL-791 3-tube Plumbicon camera from the late 1980s. From what I can gather this camera was introduced in 1987, but didn't sell as well as the CCD models of the time like the HL-55. The reason I am looking for it is because like the HL-95/55, it can be docked to a Betacam SP recorder like the Sony BVV-5.

I've tried a lot of places already like eBay, but I was only able to find listings from a seller who wants ridiculous prices ($3000 USD and above) or missing major parts. I have saved searches so I'll probably be first to know if a working HL-791 came up.

Recently I was able to locate one from a gentleman on Reddit who gave me theirs for the price of shipping, but it was missing the power board and the viewfinder is missing even more parts. And nope, the viewfinder is special (VF15-19) and is not currently on eBay and you probably wouldn't find one without finding another camera body. It also uses a different connector than the viewfinders use on the HL-79E.

So I'm trying to find anyone who may have one of these cameras in storage somewhere or who may know any individuals or production companies they used this camera back when it was new.

I've tried contacting some prop houses, rental houses, and even Ikegami's USA sales department in NJ but no luck. I'm considering writing a professional letter to Ikegami's global headquarters in Japan with the help of a Japanese friend, and seeing what that can do.

Any help would be appreciated. Even finding other models of Plumbicon tube based cameras, such as the HL-79, HL-83, HL-95, and Sony BVP-30 would also be appreciated. The main camera I would like to find is the HL-791, but if I can find other models and accessories I would be happy as well.

Thanks!

Did you find one yet? 

I’ve recently seen some listed on Japanese websites. But obviously you need to read Japanese or maybe be in Japan to buy. The shipping and extra import tax would be insane if you had it shipped to USA however.

It’s best to keep waiting for something to pop up on eBay or just pay the current high price on one in USA where they can confirm it’s 100% working 

[Kyle Gilchrist]

1 hour ago, Gerard Dalton said:

Did you find one yet? 

I’ve recently seen some listed on Japanese websites. But obviously you need to read Japanese or maybe be in Japan to buy. The shipping and extra import tax would be insane if you had it shipped to USA however.

It’s best to keep waiting for something to pop up on eBay or just pay the current high price on one in USA where they can confirm it’s 100% working 

Not yet; I have saved searches on Buyee though for all the HL series cameras. 

I did see some ITC-730s go for auction on Yahoo Auctions Japan, are those the ones you were talking about? However I'm not really interested in the ITC series as I have more of the accessories for the HL series, like cables that are really hard to find. The ITC series also mostly used Saticons while I prefer the look of the Plumbicon tubes used in most of the HL cameras. Lots of people though like the ITC-730 for some reason, it was even used as a reference for a miniature fake prop in "Fantastic Mr. Fox". There was an HL-79E that went for auction a few months ago on there and it went pretty high like 131,000 yen or something like that. It wasn't even in the best condition and was sold as "junk", and I already have two 79Es, so I didn't bother bidding on that one. 

I have imported an HL-77 from Yahoo Auctions via Buyee, it sold for 65,000 yen or $461 USD when the exchange was done. I paid about another 10,000 yen in "customs duty" and the actual shipping was another 20,000 yen. So in total I paid about 30,000 yen or $212 for shipping. That's not terrible for something international, and it did arrive pretty quickly via FedEx. I wouldn't say it's ideal, but not as bad as some people make it out to be.

Edited February 3 by Kyle Gilchrist

[Gerard Dalton]

19 hours ago, Kyle Gilchrist said:

Not yet; I have saved searches on Buyee though for all the HL series cameras. 

I did see some ITC-730s go for auction on Yahoo Auctions Japan, are those the ones you were talking about? However I'm not really interested in the ITC series as I have more of the accessories for the HL series, like cables that are really hard to find. The ITC series also mostly used Saticons while I prefer the look of the Plumbicon tubes used in most of the HL cameras. Lots of people though like the ITC-730 for some reason, it was even used as a reference for a miniature fake prop in "Fantastic Mr. Fox". There was an HL-79E that went for auction a few months ago on there and it went pretty high like 131,000 yen or something like that. It wasn't even in the best condition and was sold as "junk", and I already have two 79Es, so I didn't bother bidding on that one. 

I have imported an HL-77 from Yahoo Auctions via Buyee, it sold for 65,000 yen or $461 USD when the exchange was done. I paid about another 10,000 yen in "customs duty" and the actual shipping was another 20,000 yen. So in total I paid about 30,000 yen or $212 for shipping. That's not terrible for something international, and it did arrive pretty quickly via FedEx. I wouldn't say it's ideal, but not as bad as some people make it out to be.

So what happened with your HL-77? That’s a good tube camera. Why do you prefer only a HL 791? 
 

What type of image quality does it give? And also what type of recording device do you use with your old cameras? 

[Max Field]

Cloesest I got is an Ikegami 730A and an Ikegami HL-79E

[Kyle Gilchrist]

On 2/4/2026 at 11:30 AM, Gerard Dalton said:

So what happened with your HL-77? That’s a good tube camera. Why do you prefer only a HL 791? 
 

What type of image quality does it give? And also what type of recording device do you use with your old cameras? 

Sorry for the late reply.

The HL-77 I have I am not sure if it works. Unlike the HL-79 series, the 77 uses +6 and -6V instead of 12V and the OEM power supply and battery belt is sadly extremely rare. So powering it will require some kind of homebrew setup using two batteries. I've thought about using two v-mount batteries paired with two DC-DC converters to bring the 14.8V down to 6V.. It might work when powered on, I don't know. It's really old though, the date on the inside is November 1976! My original RCA TK-76A from c. spring 1976 is older though, and still works, so it's possible the HL-77 could work too!

However, the HL-791 is much more modern (c. 1987 vs c. 1976) and most likely performs much better than a HL-77, and has more features that were added to tube cameras near the end of tube era, like auto centering and more. The main reason I want one is that they can be docked to a Betacam SP recorder (BVV-5) for easy field acquisition. If I were to use my HL-77 or even an HL-79E, I would have to carry around a separate recording deck, like my BVU-150 (U-matic) or BVW-35 (Betacam SP).

I did get lucky though, recently another HL-791 showed up on Yahoo Auctions. I was lucky to find it and win it, as it wasn't even listed as an HL-791, just a "Ikegami camera". I'm still waiting for it to be shipped though. Hopefully I can use parts from it on my other HL-791 to make a working unit. I'm really hoping it works out. 

As for recording, I try to use the original VTRs like the BVV-5 when possible, or the external "portapaks" like the BVU-150/BVW-35 like I mentioned. I even just bought a DVW-250 which is a portable DigiBeta recorder, hopefully I can get it working. For conversion, I have a HDW-M2000 studio deck which can playback Betacam/SP, DigiBeta, and even HDCAM and output the video over digital SDI, then it can be captured easily to a file on a computer for editing.

I am going to attempt to experience with "tapeless" recorders eventually, I think I'm to try a Blackmagic or AJA analog to SDI converter, then some kind of SDI capture device with a built in LCD screen and a solid state recorder. I would hope all of this can run off a single v-mount battery.

Edited Friday at 08:42 PM by Kyle Gilchrist

[Gerard Dalton]

On 2/13/2026 at 3:41 PM, Kyle Gilchrist said:

Sorry for the late reply.

The HL-77 I have I am not sure if it works. Unlike the HL-79 series, the 77 uses +6 and -6V instead of 12V and the OEM power supply and battery belt is sadly extremely rare. So powering it will require some kind of homebrew setup using two batteries. I've thought about using two v-mount batteries paired with two DC-DC converters to bring the 14.8V down to 6V.. It might work when powered on, I don't know. It's really old though, the date on the inside is November 1976! My original RCA TK-76A from c. spring 1976 is older though, and still works, so it's possible the HL-77 could work too!

However, the HL-791 is much more modern (c. 1987 vs c. 1976) and most likely performs much better than a HL-77, and has more features that were added to tube cameras near the end of tube era, like auto centering and more. The main reason I want one is that they can be docked to a Betacam SP recorder (BVV-5) for easy field acquisition. If I were to use my HL-77 or even an HL-79E, I would have to carry around a separate recording deck, like my BVU-150 (U-matic) or BVW-35 (Betacam SP).

I did get lucky though, recently another HL-791 showed up on Yahoo Auctions. I was lucky to find it and win it, as it wasn't even listed as an HL-791, just a "Ikegami camera". I'm still waiting for it to be shipped though. Hopefully I can use parts from it on my other HL-791 to make a working unit. I'm really hoping it works out. 

As for recording, I try to use the original VTRs like the BVV-5 when possible, or the external "portapaks" like the BVU-150/BVW-35 like I mentioned. I even just bought a DVW-250 which is a portable DigiBeta recorder, hopefully I can get it working. For conversion, I have a HDW-M2000 studio deck which can playback Betacam/SP, DigiBeta, and even HDCAM and output the video over digital SDI, then it can be captured easily to a file on a computer for editing.

I am going to attempt to experience with "tapeless" recorders eventually, I think I'm to try a Blackmagic or AJA analog to SDI converter, then some kind of SDI capture device with a built in LCD screen and a solid state recorder. I would hope all of this can run off a single v-mount battery.

Oh, I see. You’re just looking for the most reliable and newest Tube camera that will last long and provide the best image/technology.

and also that will be easily compatible with Sony Betacam recorders.

Anyways, seems like you have good camera repair knowledge.

I have some Sony Betacam decks I might need your advice on. I’ll message you. 
 

Also I’ve used the black magic converter and monitor for screen recording/transferring analog video. It’s a pretty cheap and simple solution if you want to avoid Betacam tapes. It would fit nice with a 791 and be compact. All you’d need is a good portable power source