What is the difference between M12 Lenses and CS Lenses?
M12 lenses and CS lenses are two common interface types in machine vision and industrial imaging, each with distinct characteristics suited for different application scenarios. The table below provides a concise comparison of their key differences.
Feature Dimension | M12 Lenses | CS Lenses |
Interface Specification | Nominal thread diameter: 12 mm, Pitch: 0.5 mm | Nominal thread diameter: 1 inch (25.4 mm), 32 threads per inch (32 TPI) |
Flange Focal Distance | Typically shorter, designed for compactness | 12.5 mm (a key difference from the C-mount flange distance of 17.526 mm) |
Size and Weight | Smaller and lighter, ideal for space-constrained devices | Relatively larger and heavier |
Sensor Compatibility | Typically compatible with smaller sensors | Compatible with larger sensors |
Optical Performance | Shorter focal length, relatively smaller maximum aperture | Capable of larger maximum apertures and longer focal lengths |
Typical Applications | Mobile phone cameras, webcams, security cameras, drone camera modules, small machine vision systems, in-vehicle cameras, and other applications sensitive to size and weight | Industrial inspection, large-format industrial cameras, scientific imaging |
About Flange Focal Distance:
The flange focal distance is the distance between the lens interface and the camera sensor imaging plane. This is a critical parameter that must be matched to achieve successful focusing and clear images. The flange distance for CS interface is 12.5 mm. Although there is no unified standard specified for the flange distance of M12 interfaces, their design初衷 is compactness, so they are typically shorter.
Relationship Between C-mount and CS-mount:
CS-mount is closely related to C-mount. Both C-mount and CS-mount share the same thread specification (1 inch-32 TPI), but the flange distance for C-mount is 17.526 mm, while for CS-mount it is 12.5 mm. Therefore:
- CS lenses cannot be directly used on C-mount cameras because they cannot achieve infinity focus.
- C-mount lenses can be used on CS-mount cameras with a 5 mm thick adapter ring.
- Compatibility of M12 lenses with other interfaces requires specific adapter rings, and attention must be paid to matching the flange distance.
How to Choose?
The choice between M12 and CS lenses depends primarily on your specific needs:
Prioritize M12 Lenses If:
- Device space is extremely limited, requiring a small and lightweight solution, such as drones, portable devices, or embedded camera modules.
- The project is cost-sensitive.
- The camera sensor size is small (e.g., 1/2.3 inch or 1/1.8 inch).
- The application prioritizes integration and compactness.
Prioritize CS Lenses If:
- Compatibility with larger sensors (e.g., 2/3 inch or 1 inch) is required.
- A larger aperture (better low-light performance) or longer focal length is needed.
- The lens requires more complex features such as variable aperture or autofocus.
- The application involves industrial inspection, scientific research, or other fields demanding high precision and reliability.
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