Sony FCB camera block
Although SONY medical camera blocks (such as the FCB-ER8530) feature 4K/30fps ultra-clear image quality and 20x optical zoom capability, their focusing distance at maximum magnification zoom is approximately 0.8 meters, which is difficult to meet the clinical requirements of 5-50cm close-range operation in medical scenarios such as electronic colposcopes, dermoscopes, and surgical field cameras.
At this point, a seemingly simple Close-up Lens becomes the “optical lever” to break through the bottleneck of medical close-up imaging, shortening the minimum optical focusing distance of the lens to the centimeter level and achieving high-magnification close-up clear imaging.
I. The Meaning and Function of Close-up Lenses
1. The meaning of a close-up lens
A close-up lens is a convex lens accessory installed at the front end of a camera lens. Its core function is to shorten the minimum focusing distance of the lens, thus enabling high-magnification macro shooting without the need to replace a professional macro lens.
2. The core function of the close-up lens
a. Low-cost macro solutions
Compared with macro lenses that often cost several thousand yuan, close-up lenses are more affordable and are a cost-effective choice for the medical industry.
No complex operation is required. Just attach it directly to the front end of the lens and it can be used. It supports auto-focus and aperture control (for some high-end models).
b. Expand the shooting scene
Microscopic World: Clearly present skin texture, vaginal pathology, tooth decay, jewelry details, etc., meeting the needs of close-up capture.
Rephotographing files: High-precision reproduction of flat objects such as stamps, calligraphy and paintings, and receipts to avoid distortion.
Creative shooting: Creating visual impact through close-ups, such as water droplet refraction, texture abstraction and other artistic expressions.
c. Compatibility and flexibility
It is suitable for various camera systems such as single-lens reflex, mirrorless, rangefinder, and camera blocks, and supports 5-50mm prime and telephoto lenses, etc. (the effect of zoom lenses may be limited).
The detachable design facilitates quick switching of shooting modes without the need to frequently change lenses.
Ii. In which scenarios of the medical industry is it necessary to add close-up lenses?
1. Dermoscope
Imaging can be achieved without touching the skin, and the working distance is usually 50 to 80mm. However, for general camera blocks, which are not macro lenses, the focusing distance at maximum magnification zoom is approximately 1 meter, which is far from meeting the working distance requirements of dermoscopes.
For instance, the optical focusing distance of the Sony FCB-EV9520L is 10mm to 1200mm. That is to say, when the optical zoom is 1x, the optical focusing distance of this camera block is 10mm. When the optical zoom is 30x, the optical focusing distance becomes 1200mm, and a 50mm close-up lens needs to be added. Only in this way can a clear image be captured when the maximum zoom is 30x.
2. Electronic colposcope
As an officially authorized dealer of SONY (China) and a provider of high-definition video secondary development solutions, Xuanzhan Technology has independently developed close-up lenses that are compatible with the 300-400mm standard working distance of electronic colposcopes. These lenses can seamlessly integrate camera blocks such as SONY FCB-ER8530, FCB-EV9520L, and VRS-HD5101. Overcoming the bottleneck of extremely close-range tissue texture imaging helps electronic colposcopy achieve a dual leap in lesion recognition rate and diagnostic efficiency.
3. Technical field camera
The working distance of the surgical field camera must strictly match the requirements of the clinical scene:
Dental applications: The working distance is typically 500 to 800mm. Within this range, custom adaptive close-up lenses are required to shorten the focusing distance, enhance the magnification of tissue texture, and achieve imaging accuracy for subgingival plaque or minimally invasive root canal operations.
Ordinary shadowless lamp: The working distance is generally above 800mm. At this distance, most SONY FCB camera blocks (such as FCB-ER8530, FCB-EV9520L) can directly meet the seamless capture of the entire surgical field to local close-ups with their native 20 to 30x optical zoom and wide focusing range, without the need for additional close-up lenses.
4. Pathological section analysis
For the high-precision medical testing requirements of pathological section analysis, it is recommended to adopt a combination solution of a 61-megapixel Sony ILX-LR1 full-frame camera and a microscopic optical system. The back-illuminated image sensor it is equipped with, in collaboration with the BIONZ XR image processor, has achieved a significant leap in the ability to capture details of the lesion.
Summary
In the medical industry, the combination of SONY FCB camera blocks and close-up lenses is essentially a precise balance between optical performance and practicality. Close-up lenses expand the imaging boundaries of cameras through physical means, enabling them to maintain high image quality and stability while delving into the microscopic world, providing irreplaceable technical support for disease diagnosis, surgical navigation, and scientific research analysis. As the medical industry moves towards “precision and non-invasiveness”, this combined solution will continue to drive breakthroughs in the cutting-edge of imaging technology.