MVisionPro — official Hikrobot distributor
Hikrobot area scan camera series: how they differ
Hikrobot has seven series of area scan cameras, and the model name alone does not tell CS from CT, or CU from CE. Below is a comparison built from our catalog data: how many models each series has, which resolutions and interfaces, what shutter type and what tasks the series is chosen for. There is also a section on migrating from the discontinued CA and CE series. All numbers are computed from 477 area scan and board-level camera pages in the catalog.
Series at a glance
| Series | Models | Resolution | Interfaces | Shutter | Key point |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MV-CS | 76 | 0.4–20 MP | GigE, USB3 | global (57 of 76) | baseline general-purpose series; most replacements for discontinued CA point here |
| MV-CT | 101 | 0.4–20 MP | GigE, USB3 | global (76 of 101) | new generation on Stacked BSI: speed grades, liquid-lens variants |
| MV-CU | 45 | 0.4–19.7 MP | GigE, USB3 | global and rolling evenly | cost-efficient line; replacements for discontinued CE point here |
| MV-CH | 161 | 4.2–604 MP | CoaXPress, 10GigE, GigE, USB3 | global (127 of 161) | high resolution and speed: measurements, displays, electronics |
| MV-CB | 44 | 0.4–12.2 MP | USB3 (35 of 44) | global and rolling | board-level — for building into devices |
| MV-CE | 14 | 1.3–20 MP | GigE, USB3 | mostly rolling | legacy budget series, 5 of 14 models discontinued — replacements in CU and CS |
| MV-CA | 36 | 0.3–6.3 MP | GigE, USB3 | global | series being phased out: 27 of 36 models discontinued — replacements in CS and CU |
Line scan cameras MV-CL (48 models, line-by-line capture for web materials and rolled products) are a separate class and are compared on their own terms: line scan cameras in the catalog.
MV-CS — where selection starts
The baseline series: C-mount, GigE or USB3, global shutter on most models, Sony IMX and Stacked BSI sensors. If the task has no special demands for speed, resolution above 20 MP or embedding, selection starts here. The 0.4–20 MP range covers routine quality inspection, completeness checks, positioning and measurements on regular lines.
MV-CT — speed and the liquid lens
The largest series in the catalog — 101 models on Stacked BSI sensors. The key difference from CS is speed grades within the same resolution: at 5 MP, CT cameras come in 24.5 fps and 59.2 fps versions, while CS at the same resolution delivers about 24 fps. If the line is fast and frames are the bottleneck — look here. Nine models come with a liquid lens: focus is adjusted programmatically, with no mechanics — convenient when objects of different heights arrive mixed.
MV-CH — when you need more
The high-resolution series: from 4.2 to 604 MP, with CoaXPress, 10GigE, GigE and USB3 interfaces. Chosen when the field of view is large and the defect is small: measurements, display inspection, electronics, printing. The fastest interfaces live here too: 52 models on CoaXPress and 32 on 10GigE for when GigE can no longer carry the stream.
MV-CU and MV-CB — economy and embedding
CU is the cost-efficient line: 45 models, 0.4–19.7 MP, half on global shutter and half on rolling. For static objects and unhurried lines the rolling models bring real savings; moving objects need a global shutter — this gets confirmed during selection. CB offers the same cameras in board-level form: the bare board goes inside a device where a housed camera does not fit; 35 of 44 models are USB3.
Discontinued series: where to migrate
Two series are winding down, and the catalog shows it: MV-CA has 27 of 36 models discontinued, MV-CE — 5 of 14. For most discontinued models the vendor names the replacement directly: for discontinued CA cameras it is most often a CS model (15 pointers) or a CU model (6); CE replacements lead to CU and CS. Discontinued model pages in our catalog show the replacement in the lifecycle block — if you come with a CA or CE part number from an old specification, the catalog itself leads you to the current model.
If a page has no replacement listed, the vendor data does not contain one; write to us and an engineer will select a current model by resolution, interface and mount.
Frequently asked questions
How is MV-CT different from MV-CS if the resolution range is the same?
Speed and sensor generation. CT is built on Stacked BSI sensors and comes in speed grades: at 5 MP, CT cameras deliver up to 59.2 fps versus ~24 fps for CS. CT also offers liquid-lens variants where focus is adjusted programmatically. CS is the baseline general-purpose series on Sony IMX and Stacked BSI sensors.
My CA-series camera has been discontinued. What replaces it?
In most cases the replacement is a CS-series model with the same resolution and interface: for discontinued CA cameras the vendor most often names a CS model (15 pointers) or a CU model (6). Our catalog shows the replacement right on the discontinued model's page; if it is missing, an engineer will select one.
When do I need the CH series instead of CS or CT?
When resolution or bandwidth runs out: CH starts at 4.2 MP and goes up to 604 MP, with CoaXPress, 10GigE, GigE and USB3 interfaces. Typical tasks are measurements, display and electronics inspection, and large fields of view with high detail.
What should I choose when the camera goes inside a device?
The board-level CB series: 44 models from 0.4 to 12.2 MP, mostly USB3. A bare board fits into a confined volume; mounting and heat dissipation are designed around your device.
Prefer not to pick the series yourself?
Describe the task — an engineer will name the series, the exact model and the full setup: lens, lighting, cables. You can also write to us directly: rea@mvisionpro.com.