Another option to check out is they have a camera and monitor system for=20 people with poor eye sight to read books. A person I knew some time ago=20 had one that would cover a 12 by 18 inch area table that would move on=20 slides. It had varible magnification so you could get down to 1 letter=20 magnified to fit the complete screen. check out http://www.freedomscientific.com/Products/LowVision?utm_source=3DGoogle&utm= _medium=3DSearch&utm_campaign=3DConsumer&gclid=3DCP-PkMax5NACFYO1wAodqd8EvA Just my 2 cents worth here. Bob On 12/7/2016 7:47 PM, Sean Breheny wrote: > Almost all of the microfiche readers I've used were purely optical - ligh= ts > and lenses but no camera or crt. What's the advantage of using a camera? > On Dec 5, 2016 12:54 PM, "Dwayne Reid" wrote: > >> Good day to all. >> >> I have a very old B&W video-based microfiche viewer that I >> affectionately refer to as my "Black & White Microscope". Although >> the intended use was as a microfiche reader, it has served me well >> over the years for doing SMD assembly. Even though the image is only >> black and white, it has gorgeous resolution and the movable X-Y table >> allows for easy pcb movement during assembly. >> >> But it is ancient and it now needs work. The obvious thing to do is >> to convert it to modern technology: a modern camera that can feed a >> standard LCD monitor. >> >> This unit has an incredibly gorgeous lens assembly that sits >> horizontally above the movable table and below the 12" B&W >> monitor. There is a 1/2" Vidicon at the rear of the lens assembly >> and an angled mirror at the front that allows the front of the lens >> to see the work surface below. >> >> The Zoom and Focus are mechanical controls that are part of the lens >> assembly. >> >> Really and truly - all that I think that I need to do is to find a >> modern video camera that will take the place of the original 1/2" >> vidicon. I would also need some form of interposing electronics that >> will allow the camera to be displayed on a modern LCD >> monitor. Although I'm partial to standard VGA resolution, I would >> happily consider a HDMI connection. >> >> But I don't know where to start looking for appropriate devices. I >> know just enough about video to be dangerous and I have absolutely no >> idea where to start looking for a suitable camera and interface >> electronics. >> >> One requirement in particular is low latency. I have used >> inexpensive USB microscopes in the past but I find the video lag to >> be almost unusable for assembly purposes. >> >> I'm in Canada, so if the camera needs to match a TV Broadcast >> standard, it would have to be NTSC. But I'm hoping that I don't need >> to worry about that - all I want is a camera that is able to feed a >> LCD monitor with VGA or HDMI input connector. >> >> I was going to post this question in electronics.stackexchange but >> because this is more of a shopping question rather than design, it >> probably wouldn't get very far before being closed. >> >> Guidance and suggestions gratefully accepted. >> >> Many thanks! >> >> dwayne >> >> -- >> Dwayne Reid >> Trinity Electronics Systems Ltd Edmonton, AB, CANADA >> 780-489-3199 voice 780-487-6397 fax 888-489-3199 Toll Free >> www.trinity-electronics.com >> Custom Electronics Design and Manufacturing >> >> -- >> http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive >> View/change your membership options at >> http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist >> --=20 http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .