The acquisition of a camera starts with fully understanding all of the application requirements. This ensures that the camera selected for the project will best match the specifications for the required output– whether it’s a high resolution image with excellent color reproduction or an image with high dynamic range and low noise, to ensure the most accurate results for analysis.
In your search for the ideal camera, one of the questions you may find yourself asking is “Can I use a consumer camera instead of an Industrial-grade one?” Our answer “Sure you can, but should you?”
Consumer cameras are not designed to be as robust as industrial cameras. One of the main design differences is industrial cameras use electronic shutters, while consumer cameras use mechanical shutters that have a much shorter life span, and higher failure rate. Some may think an off-the-shelf digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) will work for their application, but in reality these cameras are not built to withstand intense use. For example, attempting to use a DSLR camera in a manufacturing setting where one needs to capture 1,000 images a day would translate to capturing 350,000 images a year! A feat not possible for a DSLR as its mechanical shutter typically only supports 300,000 shots. DSLR camera companies would also not cover a defective product that was used for industrial applications.
Customers thinking about purchasing a DSLR or webcam for industrial applications should re-consider and ask themselves the following questions:
– Can you get raw images off the camera for image analysis?
– What sort of non-standard integration will be required?
– Do you have the time or the resources to create a solution that ‘might’ be less expensive than a professional industrial camera?
Lumenera is here to help guide customers through these types of questions, ensuring they find the right solution for their imaging needs.
