SONY Miniature CCD Video Camera Module XC-57 (Analog/B&W)
Historical Significance
The SONY XC-57, along with a few other models from the same era (like the Pulnix TM-500 series), was a revolutionary product. It helped kill off the fragile, maintenance-heavy tube cameras (Plumbicons, Vidicons) in industrial and scientific applications. While its resolution is minuscule by today's standards, the XC-57 was a workhorse that laid the groundwork for the modern digital imaging world.
Specifications and Features
- Imaging Device: A single 1/2-inch interline transfer CCD sensor. This was its defining feature, offering significant advantages over tube cameras.
- Resolution: 510 (H) x 492 (V) effective pixels. This provided a standard EIA (NTSC) video signal of 525 lines, approximately 330-380 lines of horizontal resolution.
- Output: Analog composite video (1.0 Vp-p, 75 ohms).
- Lens Mount: Standard C-mount. This universal thread allowed it to be used with a huge variety of lenses for macro, micro, wide-angle, or telephoto applications. Can be adapted for use with microscopes
- Size and Form Factor: Designed as a compact, lightweight, and rugged module. It was just the camera "head" without a built-in viewfinder or recorder, meant to be integrated into other systems.
- Synchronization: Internal genlock capability, allowing multiple cameras to be synchronized together, which was crucial for machine vision and stereo imaging setups.
- Key Feature - "No Burn-in": This was its biggest selling point. Unlike tube cameras, the CCD sensor was immune to image "burn-in" or damage from pointing at bright lights or the sun.
- Mounting: 1/4-inch-20 threaded sockets located on top and below the camera body to accomodate common mounting brackets and tripod use.
Service Manual
| SONY Miniature CCD Video Camera Module XC-57 - Service Manual.pdf |