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Another project item that wasn't used. Excellent Fujinon 12x zoom lens - 8-96mm f/2 C-mount. Auto-iris. Motorised zoom and focus. Used with Watec (or Mintron or equivalent integrating video camera) makes a superb video finder, especially useful for remote operations. The cost of this lens was very high - US$800 when we started this project - and we were going to need 5 of them, so the project went for 2 fixed focus lenses and 2 cameras as a cheaper option. $300 plus postage (about $15-20 depending on where you are). Model D12x8A-YE2. (I've just checked and note that the price has come down to about US$550 (AU$800) or so, plus postage from a couple of US retailers.)

For remote control operation I built the "black box" controller also pictured. This has a serial port connection to a PC and allows remote control of the lens zoom and focus functions. This is available if desired for an additional $150, complete with PC control program. The lens could also be set up to be controlled from a set of 2 toggle switches if local-only control were wanted. I can show how to do this if you just want the lens alone.

Contact me if you want more details. I have (somewhere) some images taken through this lens showing what it can do.

- Steve