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SONY XC 555 OR XC 999 “CIGAR” CAMERA
Does anyone have any experience with the above cameras? What are the details? Do you have a selection of lenses? What kind of connector and voltage supply do they need. is there a breakout box?
thanks for your help.
Dick Lague
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9 Replies
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I have several XC999’s in my fleet; they are really “old-school” single chip 1/4 or 1/3″ CCD cameras, origionally intended for instrumentation or machine inspection, but which were often repurposed for POV or even hidden camera applications. They have either a control box or can be wired for power and video to a 26 pin for use with a BVW35/50-type portable VCR. These applications are now more often accomplished with a Toshiba three chip “ice cube” camera that has a “c” mount lens (sorry I don’t know the model number off hand) which are much more accessible and better quality than the miniature lense mount on the XC’s.
When used without the control box, the camera was adjusted/setup with on-board dip switches. One of the more interesting and useful adjustments was a variable shutter setting that served to auto-expose adjust. This way, when used in an unattended application (like POV) the exposure was automatic even in lieu of auto iris control on the lens.
People even built there own underwater and/or hazardous use houseings for this camera out of d-cell sized “Maglite” flashlights!
I often built hidden camera rigs with these cameras by installing them in attache cases, or women’s purses, after I found a leather whole punch the exact size of the lens oriface.
Needless to say, the picture quality was never really that great, and the demand for hidden cameras, especially here in California which is a “two-party-state” has definately diminished, so we mostly use our small DV cameras (like DVX100’s) for POV and car-mount applications.
Needless to say, I’d sell you my two XC999’s real cheap!
JS
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How much is real cheap? you can reply off list to dicklague@jalproductions.com
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The biggest difference is that the XC 555 uses a 1/2 chip insted of a 1/3 chip in the XC 999.
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DAVID,
There seems to be some confusion in this matter. I have heard the same thing from other people and I wonder if Sony made a 999 with the 1/3 in chip. All the Sony literature lists the 999 as a 1/2″ chip. the 777 and 333 is the 1/3″ chip.
Correct me if I am wrong, but Sony lists the following:
XC 999 1/2 chip
XC 777 1/3 chip
xC 555 1/2 chip
XC 333 1/2 chipThe XC 555 is the only 1 ship model still available and replaces them all. the others seem to be obsolete now.
My source is the Sony Site:
https://www.sony.net/Products/ISP/pdf/catalog/XC777_999E.pdf -
I will correct mysself the XC-333 is 1/4″ IT Hyper HAD CCD.
I better be right if I am correcting everyone!!
Dick
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Your right the XC 999 has a 1/2″ Hyper HAD CCD (resolution of 470 TV lines).
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need info regarding my XC 999 [power supply,camera module, application]
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