USB3 Vision Technology Center

Offering over a hundred USB3 Vision camera models, Machine Vision Store likely has the camera you need. Certainly contact us for help choosing the best camera for your project.

USB 3 Vision Cameras

USB3 Vision is the recognized standard for communicating with USB industrial cameras. This international standard is hosted by the Association for Advancing Automation ("A3") and is supported by major camera manufacturers. The USB3 Vision standard expands upon the USB 3.0 standard. Specifically, the standard:

Defines the computer-to-camera communication protocol.
Standardizes camera connectors.
Draws from the GenICam standard, which is the common programming interface for all modern machine vision interfaces.

You may be familiar with other camera communication standards, such as GigE Vision, Camera Link and IEEE-1394 IIDC (Firewire). Compared to these standards, USB3 Vision:

Offers bandwidth sufficient for high resolution images to be transferred at higher frame rates. Maximum bandwidth is about 350 MB/s, which exceeds both GigE Vision (assuming a single link at gigabit speed) and Camera Link Base.
Builds on the ubiquitous USB standard to drive down component costs.
No expensive frame grabber is needed.
Supports relatively short cable lengths. The longest passive copper USB cable we offer is 7 meters. (Fiber-optic USB extension cables are an option.)

If your computer will be located near the camera, USB3 Vision is the leading candidate. But if you need a long cable length, consider one of our GigE Vision cameras.

Universal Serial Bus (USB) is an open standard originally developed in 1994. It defines the cables, connectors and communication protocols used in a bus for connection, communication and power between electronic devices. With the advent of version 3.0 with "SuperSpeed", this bus now has more than enough bandwidth for typical machine vision projects.

The USB3 Vision standard blends together USB with the GenICam standard. GenICam defines a generic programming interface common to GigE Vision, Camera Link, and some Firewire cameras. Software developers can therefore write code that communicates with any USB3 Vision camera, without paying much attention to which camera model is connected at the other end of the cable. Because of this standard, companies can create near universal drivers for all USB3 Vision cameras. And these drivers can be much the same as drivers for GigE Vision, Camera Link, and Firewire cameras.

One word of caution. There are some companies selling cameras that are USB 3.0 compliant, but are not USB3 Vision compliant. To use these cameras, you must use proprietary software. If you develop software around such a camera's API, your software may be of little use if you change to a different camera manufacturer in the future.

USB3 Vision beats IEEE-1394 IIDC ("Firewire") in nearly all regards. USB3 Vision cameras offer:

Much greater bandwidth (350 MB/s vs. 64 MB/s for 1394B)
Support for modern components (new image sensors, more powerful computers, more current operating systems)
Standardized GenICam API (many Firewire cameras still use proprietary drivers and APIs)

Like Firewire, USB3 Vision offers efficient image transfer to host memory. And, like Firewire, cable lengths are limited.

Here's Basler's white paper comparing USB3 Vision with Firewire.

We occasionally hear from customers having problems achieving a camera's maximum frame rate. Images may be dropped. Or, even worse, communication with the camera may stop, necessitating cycling power to the computer and camera. This is most common with high-resolution and high-frame-rate cameras that need to transfer more than around 200 MB/s.

The issue is not the Basler or SVS-Vistek camera. It has been factory tested and will perform to specifications. The problem is:

The USB Cable

We always recommend using a high-quality shielded USB cable. Even shielded cables over five meters in length may have problems in electrically noisy environments. In such cases, we recommend one of our fiber-optic extenders.

The USB Controller

The most common problem is the computer's USB controller. Many controllers fail to handle anywhere near the data load specified by USB 3.0, even though they are marketed as USB 3.0 devices. Basler's white paper provides some rather disconcerting test results. This issue is typical of the USB controllers built in to many computers today, especially notebooks and embedded computers. To avoid this problem, see our USB 3.0 PCIe cards that have been tested under full data load.

Furthermore, most computers and USB cards have multiple ports connected to a single USB controller, requiring a camera to share bandwidth with other devices. Some of our USB cards have a USB controller dedicated to each port so that each camera receives the full bandwidth, without interference from other devices.

Power Settings

The computer's power settings can cause intermittent bandwidth issues. Please review the recommended USB power settings.

The Computer

And finally, the problem may be the computer itself. Not all computers are created equal. Some just are not up to the task, especially when multiple cameras are grabbing simultaneously. For your convenience, we offer several industrial computers designed especially for imaging.

Ordered by horizontal resolution, then frame rate. Contact us for information on additional models.

Item Model Resolution FPS Price
CABR2920 a2A640-240umSWIR (108807) 640 x 512 240 $ 7,898
CABR131 Ace U acA640-750um 640 x 480 751 $ 469
CABR120 Ace acA640-90um 659 x 494 90 $ 579
CABR179 Ace U acA720-520um 720 x 540 520 $ 379
CABR132 Ace U acA800-510um 800 x 600 510 $ 489
CABR183 Dart daA1280-54um 1280 x 960 54 $ 199
CABR650 Pulse puA1280-54um 1280 x 960 54 $ 209
CABR2921 a2A1280-125umSWIR (108808) 1280 x 1024 125 $ 12,347
CASK3011 exo990MU3 1280 x 1024 125.4 call
CABR133 Ace U acA1300-200um 1280 x 1024 203 $ 509
CABR148 Ace U acA1440-220um 1440 x 1080 227 $ 409
CABR653 Pulse puA1600-60um 1600 x 1200 54 $ 359
CABR184 Dart daA1600-60um 1600 x 1200 60 $ 359
CABR181 Dart daA1920-15um 1920 x 1080 15 $ 139
CABR125 Ace acA1920-25um 1920 x 1080 25 $ 349
CABR182 Dart daA1920-30um 1920 x 1080 30 $ 189
CABR652 Pulse puA1920-30um 1920 x 1080 30 $ 199
CASK151 exo249MU3 1920 x 1200 31 $ 807
CABR137 Ace U acA1920-40um 1920 x 1200 40 $ 579
CABR134 Ace U acA1920-150um 1920 x 1200 150 $ 679
CASK150 exo174MU3 1920 x 1200 155 $ 914
CABR1200 Ace 2 a2A1920-160umBAS 1920 x 1200 160 $ 359
CABR1600 Ace 2 PRO a2A1920-160umPRO 1920 x 1200 160 $ 479
CABR128 Ace U acA1920-155um 1920 x 1200 164 $ 1,039
CABR138 Ace U acA2040-55um 2048 x 1536 55 $ 699
CASK153 exo265MU3 2048 x 1536 55 $ 893
CASK154 exo4000MU3 2048 x 2048 74 $ 1,237
CABR130 Ace acA2040-90um 2048 x 2048 90 $ 1,789
CABR741 Ace acA2040-90umNIR 2048 x 2048 90 $ 2,119
CASK152 exo252MU3 2048 x 1536 115 $ 1,032
CABR139 Ace U acA2040-120um 2048 x 1536 120 $ 979
CABR129 Ace acA2000-165um 2048 x 1088 165 $ 1,459
CABR740 Ace acA2000-165umNIR 2048 x 1088 165 $ 1,789
CABR140 Ace U acA2440-35um 2448 x 2048 35 $ 879
CABR4103 Med Ace acA2440-35umMED 2448 x 2048 35 $ 1,050
CASK197 exo264ZU3 2448 x 2049 35 $ 1,677
CASK156 exo264MU3 2448 x 2048 35 $ 1,032
CASK155 exo250MU3 2448 x 2048 72 $ 1,183
CASK195 exo250ZU3 2448 x 2049 75 $ 2,365
CABR141 Ace U acA2440-75um 2448 x 2048 75 $ 1,479
CABR1206 Ace 2 a2A2448-75umBAS 2448 x 2048 75 $ 739
CABR1606 Ace 2 a2A2448-75umPRO 2448 x 2048 75 $ 879
CABR126 Ace acA2500-14um 2592 x 1944 14 $ 559
CABR651 Pulse puA2500-14um 2592 x 1944 14 $ 209
CABR180 Dart daA2500-14um 2592 x 1944 14 $ 199
CABR135 Ace U acA2500-60um 2592 x 2048 60 $ 1,049
CABR1201 Ace 2 a2A2590-60umBAS 2592 x 1944 60 $ 309
CABR1601 Ace 2 PRO a2A2590-60umPRO 2592 x 1944 60 $ 409
CABR1207 Ace 2 a2A2600-64umBAS 2600 x 2160 64 $ 569
CABR1607 Ace 2 a2A2600-64umPRO 2600 x 2160 64 $ 649
CASK158 exo694MU3 2752 x 2200 25 $ 3,207
CABR1208 Ace 2 a2A2840-48umBAS 2840 x 2840 48 $ 899
CABR1608 Ace 2 a2A2840-48umPRO 2840 x 2840 48 $ 1,129
CABR142 Ace U acA3088-57um 3088 x 2064 59 $ 419
CASK157 exo428MU3 3208 x 2200 51.4 $ 1,591
CASK161 exo814MU3 3360 x 2712 18 $ 3,328
CABR1602 Ace 2 PRO a2A3840-45umPRO 3840 x 2160 45 $ 449
CABR1202 Ace 2 a2A3840-45umBAS 3840 x 2160 45 $ 339
CABR6007 Dart daA3840-45um 3840 x 2160 45 $ 199
CABR144 Ace U acA4024-29um 4024 x 3036 31 $ 499
CABR145 Ace L acA4112-20um 4096 x 3000 23 $ 2,059
CASK164 exo304MU3 4096 x 3000 23 $ 1,495
CASK163 exo253MU3 4096 x 3000 29 $ 2,365
CABR147 Ace L acA4112-30um 4096 x 3000 30 $ 3,509
CASK196 exo253ZU3 4096 x 3000 30 $ 4,064
CABR1209 Ace 2 a2A4096-30umBAS 4096 x 3000 30 $ 1,449
CABR1609 Ace 2 a2A4096-30umPRO 4096 x 3000 30 $ 1,659
CABR143 Ace L acA4096-30um 4096 x 2168 32 $ 1,679
CASK160 exo267MU3 4096 x 2160 32 $ 1,484
CASK159 exo255MU3 4096 x 2160 42 $ 2,107
CABR146 Ace L acA4096-40um 4098 x 2160 42 $ 3,089
CABR1210 Ace 2 a2A4200-40umBAS 4200 x 2160 40 $ 789
CABR1610 Ace 2 a2A4200-40umPRO 4200 x 2160 40 $ 919
CABR1203 Ace 2 a2A4504-18umBAS 4504 x 4504 18 $ 1,939
CABR1603 Ace 2 PRO a2A4504-18umPRO 4504 x 4504 18 $ 2,149
CASK168 exo541MU3 4504 x 4504 18.4 $ 1,968
CABR1204 Ace 2 a2A5320-23umBAS 5320 x 3032 23 $ 1,539
CABR1604 Ace 2 PRO a2A5320-23umPRO 5320 x 3032 23 $ 1,689
CASK167 exo542MU3 5320 x 3032 23 $ 1,774
CASK166 exo540MU3 5328 x 4608 15 $ 2,365
CASK266 exo540CU3 5328 x 4608 15 $ 2,365
CABR1205 Ace 2 a2A5328-15umBAS 5328 x 4608 15 $ 2,359
CABR1605 Ace 2 PRO a2A5328-15umPRO 5328 x 4608 15 $ 2,599
CABR149 Ace U acA5472-17um 5472 x 3648 17 $ 729
CABR4110 Med Ace acA5472-17umMED 5496 x 3672 17 $ 949
CASK165 exo183MU3 5496 x 3672 17 $ 893
CASK169 exo342MU3 6464 x 4852 12 $ 6,235

Ordered by horizontal resolution, then frame rate. Contact us for information on additional models.

Item Model Resolution FPS Price
CABR232 Ace U acA640-750uc 640 x 480 750 $ 489
CABR220 Ace acA640-90uc 659 x 494 90 $ 649
CABR279 Ace U acA720-520uc 720 x 540 520 $ 399
CABR233 Ace U acA800-510uc 800 x 600 510 $ 509
CASK258 exo694CU3 1280 x 720 25 $ 3,207
CABR670 Pulse puA1280-54uc 1280 x 960 54 $ 239
CABR282 Dart daA1280-54uc 1280 x 960 54 $ 219
CABR234 Ace U acA1300-200uc 1280 x 1024 200 $ 549
CABR248 Ace U acA1440-220uc 1440 x 1080 220 $ 429
CABR673 Pulse puA1600-60uc 1600 x 1200 54 $ 379
CABR284 Dart daA1600-60uc 1600 x 1200 60 $ 379
CABR223 Ace acA1600-20uc 1620 x 1220 20 $ 1,179
CABR225 Ace acA1920-25uc 1920 x 1080 25 $ 399
CABR281 Dart daA1920-30uc 1920 x 1080 30 $ 199
CABR672 Pulse puA1920-30uc 1920 x 1080 30 $ 209
CASK251 exo249CU3 1920 x 1200 31 $ 807
CABR237 Ace U acA1920-40uc 1920 x 1200 40 $ 609
CABR235 Ace U acA1920-150uc 1920 x 1200 150 $ 699
CASK250 exo174CU3 1920 x 1200 155 $ 914
CABR2200 Ace 2 a2A1920-160ucBAS 1920 x 1200 160 $ 389
CABR2600 Ace 2 PRO a2A1920-160ucPRO 1920 x 1200 160 $ 509
CABR229 Ace U acA1920-155uc 1920 x 1200 164 $ 1,069
CABR238 Ace U acA2040-55uc 2048 x 1536 55 $ 719
CASK253 exo265CU3 2048 x 1536 55 $ 893
CASK254 exo4000CU3 2048 x 2048 74 $ 1,237
CASA221 STC-MCCM401U3V 2048 x 2048 89 call
CABR231 Ace acA2040-90uc 2048 x 2048 90 $ 1,829
CASK252 exo252CU3 2048 x 1536 115 $ 1,032
CABR239 Ace U acA2040-120uc 2048 x 1536 120 $ 999
CABR230 Ace acA2000-165uc 2048 x 1088 165 $ 1,489
CABR240 Ace U acA2440-35uc 2448 x 2048 35 $ 899
CABR4203 Med Ace acA2440-35ucMED 2448 x 2048 35 $ 1,080
CASK256 exo264CU3 2448 x 2048 35 $ 1,032
CASK255 exo250CU3 2448 x 2048 72 $ 1,172
CABR2206 Ace 2 a2A2448-75ucBAS 2448 x 2048 75 $ 759
CABR241 Ace U acA2440-75uc 2448 x 2048 75 $ 1,499
CABR2606 Ace 2 a2A2448-75ucPRO 2448 x 2048 75 $ 899
CABR226 Ace acA2500-14uc 2592 x 1944 14 $ 589
CABR671 Pulse puA2500-14uc 2592 x 1944 14 $ 239
CABR280 Dart daA2500-14uc 2592 x 1944 14 $ 219
CABR236 Ace U acA2500-60uc 2592 x 2048 60 $ 1,079
CABR2201 Ace 2 a2A2590-60ucBAS 2592 x 1944 60 $ 329
CABR2601 Ace 2 PRO a2A2590-60ucPRO 2592 x 1944 60 $ 429
CABR2207 Ace 2 a2A2600-64ucBAS 2600 x 2160 64 $ 589
CABR2607 Ace 2 a2A2600-64ucPRO 2600 x 2160 64 $ 679
CABR2208 Ace 2 a2A2840-48ucBAS 2840 x 2840 48 $ 919
CABR2608 Ace 2 a2A2840-48ucPRO 2840 x 2840 48 $ 1,149
CABR242 Ace U acA3088-57uc 3088 x 2064 59 $ 439
CASK257 exo428CU3 3208 x 2200 51.4 $ 1,591
CASK261 exo814CU3 3360 x 2712 18 $ 3,328
CABR6207 Dart daA3840-45uc 3840 x 2160 45 $ 199
CABR2202 Ace 2 a2A3840-45ucBAS 3840 x 2160 45 $ 359
CABR2602 Ace 2 PRO a2A3840-45ucPRO 3840 x 2160 45 $ 469
CABR227 Ace acA3800-14uc 3856 x 2764 14 $ 719
CABR244 Ace U acA4024-29uc 4024 x 3036 31 $ 529
CABR245 Ace L acA4112-20uc 4096 x 3000 23 $ 2,079
CASK264 exo304CU3 4096 x 3000 23 $ 1,495
CASK263 exo253CU3 4096 x 3000 29 $ 2,365
CABR247 Ace L acA4112-30uc 4096 x 3000 30 $ 3,549
CABR2209 Ace 2 a2A4096-30ucBAS 4096 x 3000 30 $ 1,479
CABR2609 Ace 2 a2A4096-30ucPRO 4096 x 3000 30 $ 1,679
CASK260 exo267CU3 4096 x 2160 32 $ 1,484
CABR243 Ace L acA4096-30uc 4096 x 2168 32 $ 1,699
CASK259 exo255CU3 4096 x 2160 42 $ 2,107
CABR246 Ace L acA4096-40uc 4098 x 2160 42 $ 3,129
CABR2210 Ace 2 a2A4200-40ucBAS 4200 x 2160 40 $ 809
CABR2610 Ace 2 a2A4200-40ucPRO 4200 x 2160 40 $ 949
CABR2203 Ace 2 a2A4504-18ucBAS 4504 x 4504 18 $ 1,969
CABR2603 Ace 2 PRO a2A4504-18ucPRO 4504 x 4504 18 $ 2,169
CASK268 exo541CU3 4504 x 4504 18.4 $ 1,968
CABR2204 Ace 2 a2A5320-23ucBAS 5320 x 3032 23 $ 1,559
CASK267 exo542CU3 5320 x 3032 23 $ 1,774
CABR2604 Ace 2 PRO a2A5320-23ucPRO 5320 x 3032 23 $ 1,719
CABR2205 Ace 2 a2A5328-15ucBAS 5328 x 4608 15 $ 2,379
CABR2605 Ace 2 PRO a2A5328-15ucPRO 5328 x 4608 15 $ 2,619
CABR249 Ace U acA5472-17uc 5472 x 3648 17 $ 749
CASK265 exo183CU3 5496 x 3672 17 $ 882
CABR4210 Med Ace acA5472-17ucMED 5496 x 3672 17 $ 1,069
CASK269 exo342CU3 6464 x 4852 12 $ 6,235

Need help? Contact us now. Our experienced, A3 Certified Vision Professionals are ready.