Photo-Sonics, Inc.
16mm-1VN
24 to 200 fps
Pin-Registered, Magazine Load

It's compact size, 1.5 lb. body weight, and rugged construction has led to it being used in a wide variety of applications, from nature and sports documentation, to being fitted in an AIM 9 missile pod for military flight testing, to being used in vehicle certification crash test work.

The 16mm-1VN can be equipped with an LED Matrix Recording Head and Film Data Recording System (FDRS) Driver that exposes externally produced data, such as time, azimuth, elevation, and events on each frame of film in seven segment (2x4 and 2x5) format or binary (4x9) format.  Other formats are available per customer requirements.   Smart analysis systems, such as the TrackEye, can decode this data while digitizing the film.

The camera can also be equipped with Fiducial Markers which provide either two or four mechanical reference marks (crows feet) which define the centerline of the frame to determine the location of the subject on each frame of film. The fiducial marks are recorded in the normal photographic frame area with the two fiducials providing horizontal marks on the horizontal centerline of each frame.  The four fiducial option provides vertical and horizontal marks on each frame.  Fiducial illumination intensity is adjustable to match film ASA.

For referencing elapsed time, the 16mm-1VN is equipped with a Timing Light Assembly consisting of two LEDs, one LED pulses continuously while the second is positioned to expose a mark, timing signal or other coded information, on its respective edge of film through a thin slit in a mask plate.  Pulse signals for both timing lights must be supplied from an external signal generator or signal source.

The 16mm-1VN Shutter Correlation Pulse Assembly utilizes the photo-electric system to indicate the instant the midpoint of the shutter opening coincides with the center of the aperture opening.  A reflective marker is placed on the back of the shutter blade and aligned with the sensor so that during operation a constant light source is reflected from the marker each time it passes by.

The 16mm-1VN utilizes state-of-the-art electronics to accurately control its speed between the selectable speeds of 24, 48, 64, 100, 150 and 200 frames per second. The 16mm-1VN adopts leading edge technology to accurately control the film speed. Digital servo technology ensures that the speed selected is the speed used.

This same technology is also used to lock multiple cameras together, ensuring that all the cameras are running perfectly synchronized together, or are running at a predetermined phase delay. This can be effectively used to cover high speed events with 'low' speed cameras.  If four cameras are running at 200 fps, each ninety degrees out of phase, then the effective coverage is 800 fps.

The 16mm-1VN is available with the Apex Automatic Exposure Control (AEC). The Photo-Sonics Apex system is a very reliable means of opening or stopping down a lens  aperture to deal with increased or reduced light levels. A built-in sensor sends a signal to a motor coupled to the lens iris ring.  As the light level increases or decreases, so does the signal to the motor which rotates the iris gear, adjusting the lens.  Sensor are available with 35° (Std), 30°, 25°, 20°, 25°, 10°, 5°.   When using the IMC/Century 5.7 or Schneider 10mm lenses, remote sensors are required.

Note: The Apex can only be used with lenses which do not have 'click stops' (i.e. no 'click' between the aperture f stops on the iris ring) such as the Schneider lens series.

The 16mm-1VN is a magazine load camera, enabling the film to be very quickly changed without having to remove the camera from its mounting position. In tests, operators have been able to change the magazine in under five seconds!

A design characteristic which makes the magazine superior to other magazines is precise control of the lens-to-film dimension by the camera body.  This is accomplished by designing the aperture plate as part of the camera body rather than the magazine. 

© 2008 Photo-Sonics, Inc.