# Swapping CS-mount lenses between old and new cameras - how? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 15, 2006, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swapping-cs-mount-lenses-between-old-and-new-cameras-how/344657 "2006-02-15T17:50:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Emilio\_Lizardo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Emilio\_Lizardo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emilio_Lizardo)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swapping-cs-mount-lenses-between-old-and-new-cameras-how/344657/1 "2006-02-15T17:50:11Z")
My lab has, and still uses, a number of pretty old black and white video cameras. [This is one of the models we have.](http://www.labguysworld.com/Museum008_026.htm) These camera use a standard CS-mount lens, of which we have a broad collection. These cameras are getting a little long in the tooth (they’re tube-based) so I picked up [one of these guys](http://www.sanyo.com/industrial/security/cameras/half_black_white/downloads/VCB-3524_prod.pdf) (caution: PDF) to play with. It uses the same lens mount, but the lens from the old cameras will not produce anything close to a focused image with the new camera. What gives? Is the focal plane of a CCD different from that of the vidicon? Is there any sort of adapter that will allow me to upgrade my camera stock without having to spring for new lenses? ---
**Author:** ![Emilio\_Lizardo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Emilio\_Lizardo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emilio_Lizardo)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swapping-cs-mount-lenses-between-old-and-new-cameras-how/344657/2 "2006-02-15T18:31:27Z")
Ha! Just figured it out. The old lens are C-mount, not CS. They use the same thread, but have a slightly different focal length. An adapter was included with the camera. Cool! I beat the collective dope to my own answer.