Help needed with old camera and zoom lens

[w0un 0]

Although I am technical (physicist and EE) I am NEW to OLD video equipment. I acquired three Magnavox MC3510 cameras and a monitor and would like to install them in my ham station.

 

1) Does this camera use a C mount lens (or is it a CS mount)?

 

2) Where do I find the video connector that looks like something between

a phone jack and an F connector. A push on--I need the males for some cables. What is this connector called?

 

3) The really tough question. One camera has an electric zoom lens and all I have are some wires from each motor. I would like to find out what voltage is needed for remote controlling the two motors (zoom and iris).

The lens is a Cosmicar ES Zoom lens with the motors outboard of the lens. Model C6Z1218M2ES-2 12.5-75mm 1:1.8

 

4) One camera is missing a lens. Where can I find a cheap, fixed lens for this camera? I have seen some on eBay for $10 but I am not sure of this mount. Any other ideas?

 

I have tried google and Pentax with no luck. I just have four wires for each motor (green, red, white, black).

 

ANY help would be appreciated. If someone wants to see the camera and lens I can email a jpg.

 

Thanks--John W0UN

shr@swtexas.net

[AVCONSULTING 0]

You have a difficult if not impossible task ahead of you, but give Richardson Electronics a try since they have carried that system a long time ago and maybe someone will have an old manual around. Here is a link for them. Good luck.

 

73

 

http://www.cctvnet.com/houston.asp

[Cooperman 0]

Hi wOun,

 

I must admit. I'd never heard of Magnavox till you mentioned them, and now I know why. Had a quick look up of some old information, and there was a small company called Magnavox listed for an address in Fort Wayne, Indiana, which is probably why we never managed to see their product this side of the pond.

 

Anyhow, first guess is the lens is almost certainly (99% sure) 'C' mount. 'ES' probably refers to an auto iris lens (video iris); if it is, you should see two small externally accessible 'pots', one marked ALC and the other Level. If that is the case, it would be safer sticking to auto iris operation, rather than trying to manually overide it (some you can, some you can't!).

 

I used to use a lot of Cosmicar (Pentax) lenses, but haven't had to deal with the catalogue numbers for many many years.

 

Just from memory, the 'C' refers to 2/3" format, '6' is the zoom ratio, 'Z' can't remember!, '12' the shortest focal length, '18' is the iris (f1.8 ), 'M2' I think refers to motorised zoom and focus, and ES-2 was the later series built in auto iris amp. I'll have to get back to you on the wiring scheme for the zoom and focus (it's buried deep in the bowels of the building (and my mind!), although I can say with reasonable certainty that for the 'iris' red was always +ve voltage, black -ve, white 'video' from the lens connector on the camera; green (and also yellow) were used (on a few lenses) as manual overides on the iris control, but are generally redundant conductors to be cut back and insulated. If you have two cables, I'm guessing that one is for the iris, and the other is for zoom and focus.

 

As to the lens voltage, therein lies a small problem; if I remember correctly, these lenses were available both as 12v DC (standard) and also 6v DC to special order. If you look at the motors it may give you a clue. If in doubt start with 6v DC and if the motor speed is painfully slow, you know it's probably 12v.

 

I don't recognise the description for the connectors your trying to locate - does the socket have a screw thread around the outside?

 

If you need to buy additional lenses, stick to 2/3" 'C' mount and you should be o.k. Just for future reference, if you buy a 'C' lens and the camera turns out to be 'CS', you only need to screw on a 5mm spacer ring (C:CS mount adaptor) to make it work.

 

If I can find the wiring scheme in the next day or so, I'll get back to you.

[rory 0]

maybe easier and not that expensive just to buy a new camera/lens, it will be a better camera also, new technology.

[Cooperman 0]

It's a very good lens though rory, shame to waste it

[rory 0]

So buy a new camera and just use the lens. If the lens has not got the proper wiring, chuck it and buy a new one, they cant be that expensive?

[Cooperman 0]

I didn't know you were in to recycling, rory

 

Anyhow w0un, I've dug out some old sheets on a UK standard lens (there may be slight differences for other countries).

 

The C6Z1218M2ESA (1>3) had two cables fitted (we knew that already), the auto iris lead could have five or six conductors.

Just to confirm, Red = +ve (DC 8 - 12v), Black = 0v ground, White = Video, Green = Level overide (R/C circuit required; better to leave taped back), Yellow = ALC overide (probably not fitted on a lens of this age).

 

The Zoom and Focus drives were available in 3 versions:-

 

Type 1 - 6v DC, (but I think it may also have been available as 12v DC) uses a four core cable, Red and Green for Zoom, Blue and White for Focus,

 

Type 2 - 12v DC, White = Common, Blue = Focus, Green = Zoom, (yellow and black are for remote operation of ALC, but are not normally used).

 

Type 3 - 6v DC, same colour coding as type 2.

 

If you manage to get the zoom working, don't forget you'll probably need to adjust the back focus, to get a sharp picture.

 

Best of luck!