Last updated: 30 July 2025

What is GenICam? The Universal Language for Machine Vision

GenICam (Generic Interface for Cameras), is a global standard developed and administered by the European Machine Vision Association (EMVA). Its core mission is to decouple the technology of industrial camera interfaces (like GigE Vision, USB3 Vision, CoaXPress, and Camera Link) from the user application programming interface (API).

In simpler terms, it provides a common framework for interacting with any GenICam-compliant camera, regardless of its manufacturer, specific features, or underlying interface technology.

What is GenICam? The Universal Language for Machine Vision

The problem GenICam solves

Imagine a world where every camera brand requires its own unique software development kit (SDK) and proprietary code for basic operations like setting exposure, acquiring images, or changing resolution. This would lead to immense development overhead, limited flexibility, and costly system integration.

How GenICam works: Core Components

GenICam eliminates this chaos by providing:

This ensures that common camera features (e.g., "ExposureTime," "Gain," "Width," "Height") are named consistently across all compliant cameras.

This module defines an XML-based description file, usually stored within the camera itself. This file "self-describes" the camera's capabilities, allowing any GenICam-compliant software to dynamically understand and access its features.

This module provides a hardware-independent software interface for enumerating cameras, acquiring images, and moving data to the application.

Key Benefits of GenICam

Reduced Development Time and Costs
Enhanced Interoperability
Future-Proofing
Simplified User Experience

Industrial Cameras: Built for the GenICam Ecosystem

Our extensive range of industrial cameras, including popular series like MERCURY2 (GigE Vision) and VENUS (USB3 Vision), are designed with full GenICam compliance.

This commitment to GenICam means that our cameras seamlessly integrate into any machine vision system that adheres to the standard. Whether you're using a common machine vision software like Halcon, LabVIEW, or your own custom application, VA Imaging cameras will "speak the same language," making setup and operation remarkably straightforward.

Using Industrial Cameras with GenICam: A Practical Overview

Integrating our camera into a GenICam-based system typically involves these key steps:

1. Install SDK and Drivers: While GenICam provides the universal interface, you'll still need to install the specific SDK and drivers (see our downloading page). This usually includes the necessary GenTL producer files (.cti files) that allow your system to discover and communicate with the camera.

2. Verify GenTL Provider: After installation, confirm that the GenTL provider is recognized by your system. This often involves checking environment variables (like GENICAM_GENTL32_PATH or GENICAM_GENTL64_PATH) and ensuring the presence of the .cti files.

3. Utilize a GenICam Device Manager or Application: Most machine vision software platforms and GenICam SDKs include a "GenICam Device Manager" or similar tool. This utility allows you to:

Discover Connected Cameras: Automatically detect all GenICam-compliant cameras connected to your system.
Access Device Settings: Browse and modify camera parameters (exposure, gain, resolution, pixel format, etc.) through a standardized interface. These settings are exposed via the camera's GenApi XML file.
Acquire Images: Initiate image streaming and view live feeds from the camera.

4. Programming with GenICam: When developing custom applications, you'll use the GenICam API (often exposed through the camera vendor's SDK or a generic GenICam library) to:

Enumerate Devices: Find and select the desired camera.
Open and Configure the Camera: Access and set various camera parameters based on your application's requirements. Thanks to SFNC, you'll use consistent parameter names.
Start/Stop Acquisition: Control the image grabbing process.
Receive Image Data: Access the raw image buffers from the camera for processing.

GenICam and Industrial cameras: A Powerful Combination

The combination of GenICam's universal standardization and industrial cameras commitment to compliant camera design creates a powerful synergy for machine vision applications. This partnership empowers integrators and developers to:

Spend less time on camera-specific integration and more time on core application logic.

Easily adapt to changing project requirements by interchanging cameras without major overhauls.

Leverage a widely adopted and rigorously tested standard for robust and dependable camera communication.

Conclusion: Why GenICam is essential for Building Robust,Future-Proof Vision Systems

In conclusion, GenICam is the backbone of modern industrial imaging, and industrial cameras, by fully embracing this standard, offer a compelling solution for seamless, high-performance machine vision.

By understanding the principles of GenICam and following best practices for integration, you can unlock the full potential of cameras and build robust, future-proof vision systems.