The camera is what's known as a "chassis camera", and is a common form-factor in the surveillance industry. The big players in this segment are Sony, Hitachi and Panasonic. If you search for "HD chassis camera 16x" you will see the top candidates for this capability.
Nearly all of these cameras connect with a standardized 6-conductor flex cable that provides +12V + GND, analog video + ground, and an RS-232 pair. Most cameras also have a second flex connector for 8-10-bit-parallel clocked digital video suitable for feeding to an encoder.
Neither the protocol over the serial link nor the clocking of the digital data are standardized, but none are difficult to use.
Unlike most consumer high-zoom pocket cameras, the front element in chassis cameras doesn't move, meaning the focus range depends on the zoom position. These lenses typically focus closest at the widest zoom setting, many of them getting down to 1 cm! Try bringing the head down while the zoom is full wide, and I think you will be very surprised at how much effective zoom you will get.
For best results, use 2 light sources, one on each side of the camera, separated far enough apart so each can be aimed down at an angle of 45 degrees relative to the center of the camera's field of view. That will give you maximum intensity and contrast with minimum glare.