C-mount lens for machine vision cameras
C-mount lenses for machine vision cameras are industrial lens camera components used for stable image capture, precise focusing, and reliable performance in automated vision systems. With a standardized C-mount thread, they are widely used in inspection, measurement, robotics, automation, and production monitoring.
VA Imaging Inc. offers C-mount lenses for your vision application, including fixed focal length, macro, varifocal, and ruggedized options. With our office in Charlotte, VA Imaging Inc. supports customers across the United States with the right C-mount lens, camera component, and machine vision setup.
C-mount lens products
Choose a C-mount lens by focal length, sensor size, and resolution
To choose a C-mount lens, match the focal length, sensor size, resolution, aperture, and working distance to the field of view required by your machine vision camera. These factors determine how much of the object or scene the camera can capture and how much detail is visible in the final image.
Focal length defines the field of view together with the working distance. A shorter focal length gives a wider field of view, while a longer focal length gives a narrower field of view and more magnification. You can use the lens calculator to calculate the right focal length for your application.
Sensor size must also match the lens image circle. If the lens does not cover the camera sensor properly, the image can show dark corners, reduced sharpness, or lower optical performance.
Lens resolution should match the camera sensor and pixel size. For more detail, read our article about how to select the best lens resolution for the pixel size of your camera. Aperture influences exposure, light sensitivity, and depth of field. This is important when working with fast-moving objects, limited lighting, or applications that require sharp focus across a specific depth range.
C-mount lens products from VA Imaging Inc.
VA Imaging Inc. offers more than 50 C-mount lenses for machine vision cameras, with options for 5MP, 10MP, 12MP, 20MP, 25MP, and 45MP resolution classes. The portfolio includes different focal lengths, sensor formats, apertures, macro lenses, varifocal lenses, and ruggedized options.
For many machine vision projects, C Series Fixed Focal Length Lenses are a strong choice because they provide stable magnification, a consistent field of view, and reliable performance in repeatable industrial setups. These lenses are especially useful when the camera position, working distance, and inspection area stay fixed.
If your application requires a lens that is not available directly in the online portfolio, VA Imaging Inc. can support custom C-mount lens requests for specific optical or mechanical requirements. You can also contact our team for help selecting the right lens.
How to choose a C-mount lens for machine vision
Choosing the right C-mount lens for machine vision starts with the application requirements. The most important factors are field of view, working distance, camera sensor size, required detail, focal length, aperture, and the environment in which the system will operate.
For fixed industrial setups, a fixed focal length C-mount lens is often preferred because it provides stable image geometry and repeatable results. This is useful for quality inspection, measurement, positioning, robotics, code reading, and production monitoring.
For close-up inspection, a macro C-mount lens may be the better choice. Macro lenses are designed for short working distances and can capture fine details on small parts, surfaces, labels, or components.
For applications with vibration, movement, or harsh conditions, ruggedized lenses can help maintain optical stability. These lenses are designed for industrial use and can support reliable performance in demanding production environments.
VA Imaging Inc. can help you compare C-mount lenses for your vision application and select the right lens for your camera, sensor size, field of view, and working distance.
Advantages of C-mount lenses for industrial cameras
C-mount lenses are widely used in machine vision because they combine a standardized mount with a broad range of optical options. They are suitable for many industrial cameras and can support applications that require sharp images, stable focus, and repeatable results.
Stable mounting for industrial camera systems
Manual aperture adjustment for exposure and depth of field control
Manual focus setting for fixed machine vision setups
Secure locking screws for focus and iris position
Options for different sensor sizes and resolution classes
Fixed focal length, macro, varifocal, and ruggedized versions
High light sensitivity options with apertures up to F1.4
A broad range of focal lengths for different fields of view
Types of C-mount lenses
C-mount lenses are available in several types, depending on the application, working distance, field of view, and optical requirements.
C-mount lens applications
C-mount lenses are used in machine vision applications where the camera needs a stable field of view, sharp image capture, and repeatable optical performance. They are suitable for a wide range of industries and automation tasks across the United States. Common applications include:
- Quality control and inspection, where sharp images are needed for defect detection, surface inspection, and product verification.
- Measurement and positioning, where a stable field of view helps deliver repeatable results.
- Robotics and automation, where the camera and lens help locate, guide, or track objects.
- Code reading and label verification, where lens resolution and contrast are important for reading small details.
- Production monitoring, where cameras support process control and visual documentation.
- Macro and close-up inspection, where small components or fine surface details must be captured clearly.
- Scientific and laboratory imaging, where consistent optical performance supports detailed visual analysis.
C-mount lens filters, adapters, and focal extenders
C-mount lens filters can improve contrast, reduce unwanted wavelengths, and support specific imaging requirements. VA Imaging Inc. offers filters such as bandpass filters, long pass filters, UV filters, NIR filters, and polarizing filters for machine vision applications.
If you use a CS-mount camera, a C-mount lens can often be used with a 5 mm C-CS adapter or extension ring. This makes it easier to integrate C-mount lenses into systems where the camera has a CS-mount interface.
Focal extenders can also be used to increase the focal length of a C-mount lens. A 2x or 4x focal extender can help create a smaller field of view and higher magnification, which may be useful for close-up inspection or microscope-based machine vision setups.
C-mount lens production, stock, and quality control
VA Imaging Inc. supplies C-mount lenses designed for industrial machine vision applications. These lenses are built with glass elements and metal housings to support reliable performance in demanding environments.
Quality control is an important part of the production process. C-mount lenses are inspected to help ensure consistent optical performance, stable mechanical construction, and a strong price-performance ratio.
For customers in the US, VA Imaging Inc. provides local support through our office in Charlotte. This helps US companies receive technical guidance when selecting C-mount lenses, industrial cameras, machine vision lighting, filters, and other machine vision components.
Shock and vibration testing for industrial C-mount lenses
Industrial C-mount lenses may be used in environments with vibration, movement, or mechanical stress. For machine vision applications where the lens may vibrate, focus and aperture locking screws help keep the setup stable.
For additional security, blue Loctite® can be used on the locking screws to help prevent loosening caused by vibration. This is a common best practice for industrial C-mount lens setups.
Shocka nd vibration testing for ruggedized C-mount lenses
Ruggedized C-mount lenses are designed for machine vision applications that involve movement, vibration, shock, or harsh industrial conditions.
These lenses are a strong option when standard lenses may not provide enough mechanical stability.
FAQ about C-mount lenses
Reviews C-mount lens
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10Absolutely thrilled
I am absolutely thrilled with the MER2-160-227U3M camera I purchased from VA-Imaging. The camera exceeds my expectations in every way. The image quality is sharp and clear, even with fast movements... I am absolutely thrilled with the MER2-160-227U3M camera I purchased from VA-Imaging. The camera exceeds my expectations in every way. The image quality is sharp and clear, even with fast movements. Installation was straightforward. VA-Imaging's customer service was also outstanding. They were very helpful in answering my questions and delivered the camera quickly and securely.
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8Cameras are a great value for money
The cameras are a great value for money and the lenses also. The software is outdated and needs refreshing. It took me considerable amount of time to discover how to access the camera features. The cameras are a great value for money and the lenses also. The software is outdated and needs refreshing. It took me considerable amount of time to discover how to access the camera features.
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10Easy to deal with
Its a pleasure to contact with the sales department. They are very polite and always ready to help. Our orders are always delivered on time and the communication is easy and simple. High quality pr... Its a pleasure to contact with the sales department. They are very polite and always ready to help. Our orders are always delivered on time and the communication is easy and simple. High quality products.
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10embedded camera
We initially explored several embedded vision camera and USB3 camera options for our application. Our main priorities were compact dimensions and keeping the required software development to a mini... We initially explored several embedded vision camera and USB3 camera options for our application. Our main priorities were compact dimensions and keeping the required software development to a minimum. We selected a VEN-161 boardlevel camera. It was easy to integrate and USB3 Vision interface allowed our software team to get started quickly. The sales guy was very helpful with selecting the hardware for us. We are happy that we selected the USB3 board-level camera instead of a Mipi embedded vision camera as we didn't require now the additional driver development.
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10Excellent
It was easy and quick process from ordering to receiving. One personal message from the team is making it even better. Thanks It was easy and quick process from ordering to receiving. One personal message from the team is making it even better. Thanks
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10Excellent quality material and attentive and reliable supplier
In the commercial phase we had maximum support and delivery times were respected. The material is quite good with low and competitive costs. In the commercial phase we had maximum support and delivery times were respected. The material is quite good with low and competitive costs.
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10Fast cable delivery
I had ordered a camera but forgotten to include the required cable. the cable was ordered and delivered very fast. I had ordered a camera but forgotten to include the required cable. the cable was ordered and delivered very fast.
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8Fast delivery
Fast delivery even without paying the speed premium Fast delivery even without paying the speed premium
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9Fast Delivery and good quality!
A very good company, I will continue to cooperate next time! A very good company, I will continue to cooperate next time!
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10Fast service
Extremely fast service. I got the camera next day. Highly recommend the seller! Thank you! Extremely fast service. I got the camera next day. Highly recommend the seller! Thank you!
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8.5Good Experience
Top, good experience. Very attentive and quick to respond. Product arrived in good condition. Top, good experience. Very attentive and quick to respond. Product arrived in good condition.
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10Good products and services
Lead time are a bit long but they VA imaging is a reliable provider that simply does what it says. Each time we needed to talk to someone, we had a proper client service with real listening and the... Lead time are a bit long but they VA imaging is a reliable provider that simply does what it says. Each time we needed to talk to someone, we had a proper client service with real listening and the will to find solutions.
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8Good quality and fast delivery
So far, all components meet expectation, it would be great, though, if 3d models for all components were available. So far, all components meet expectation, it would be great, though, if 3d models for all components were available.
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10Great
These people know their subject. Thanks to their help, I was able to successfully complete my machine vision project. They are competent in optics and that makes the difference. Delivery and post-d... These people know their subject. Thanks to their help, I was able to successfully complete my machine vision project. They are competent in optics and that makes the difference. Delivery and post-delivery service at the highest level.
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9Great customer service, fast delivery.
Unfortunately they could not help me finding a suitable camera+lens combination for a specific application, but they even assigned a physicist to my query. Unfortunately they could not help me finding a suitable camera+lens combination for a specific application, but they even assigned a physicist to my query.
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10Great customer support, products and prices
I contacted GeT Cameras to help out with selecting the best camera and lens solution for me. They provided great support. I ordered with express and received the products 2 days later :) I contacted GeT Cameras to help out with selecting the best camera and lens solution for me. They provided great support. I ordered with express and received the products 2 days later :)
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9Great prices, great service, everything great
Bought quite a few cameras from these guys, prices are great, service is great, delivery times of the hardware is also very nice. Bought quite a few cameras from these guys, prices are great, service is great, delivery times of the hardware is also very nice.
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10Great products. Excellent support.
GeT Cameras in Germany made some photo's of our products to show the performance of their cameras and they looked perfect. Recently we purchased a camera with lens, and LED lights. We are not exper... GeT Cameras in Germany made some photo's of our products to show the performance of their cameras and they looked perfect. Recently we purchased a camera with lens, and LED lights. We are not experienced with machine vision but the installation worked out fine. After installation on our laboratory we were surprised again of the high quality of the photos and the versatility of this system. (options in Galaxy viewer and integration in Python. Recently we had an issue with the software and the customer support was able to give us the relevant information to fix it within one day. The next time we need a camera we will not be looking to other suppliers but contact GeT Cameras immediately.
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10Great service
I needed a replacement part for a camera - not only was it delivered almost two weeks earlier than expected, but it also arrived well packaged. I needed a replacement part for a camera - not only was it delivered almost two weeks earlier than expected, but it also arrived well packaged.
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10Great support and inhouse knowledge of the cameras
First I was a little bit sceptic about buying online industrial cameras. It’s a critical part for our machine. For a new product development there was a lot of price pressure. We needed a cheap cam... First I was a little bit sceptic about buying online industrial cameras. It’s a critical part for our machine. For a new product development there was a lot of price pressure. We needed a cheap camera. I called them and Caspar was providing great support. He even advised a cheaper camera than I had in mind. I was just surprised by the inhouse knowledge of get cameras about machine vision. Never expected this from a webshop. The image an built quality of the camera is also great. The camera feels and operates the same as our Basler cameras.
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10Great support by email
I ordered a 20MP USB3 camera including a lens 2 months ago for a datamatrix code reading application. In the beginning I was sceptic because of the low prices, but support by email was great. They ... I ordered a 20MP USB3 camera including a lens 2 months ago for a datamatrix code reading application. In the beginning I was sceptic because of the low prices, but support by email was great. They advise a lens and provided additional technical information. Unfortunately they don't offer a loan service, but I decided to try it. I had the cameras in house within 2 weeks and connection was easy. The SDK looks like the SDK from Basler so I felt directly comfortable with it. The camera and lens was a perfect match and now I'm able to read small DMC codes on large products with just a single camera.
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10Great support while selecting a lens
We have bought a 20MP camera and lens with extension tubes to use it as a digital microscope in our lab. The support with selecting a lens was great. Connecting the USB3 camera was easy. We receive... We have bought a 20MP camera and lens with extension tubes to use it as a digital microscope in our lab. The support with selecting a lens was great. Connecting the USB3 camera was easy. We received everything on time.
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10High quality
High quality components and service! My order was handled quickly and arrived ahead of schedule. Would recommend. High quality components and service! My order was handled quickly and arrived ahead of schedule. Would recommend.
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10I like the quality and price of the camera
I bought a camera and lens. It was delivered fast. Connecting was easy using their quickstep article. The image quality is really great. I bought a camera and lens. It was delivered fast. Connecting was easy using their quickstep article. The image quality is really great.
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10It is important to have a skilled and efficient team of workers to get the goods efficiently.
Maintained a good relationship and very good communication from start to finish to purchase the item. Maintained a good relationship and very good communication from start to finish to purchase the item.
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10Just great
Needed a customized lens with fixed iris and I just needed 10 pieces. They where able to do it for just a few euro's extra per lens. Great service Needed a customized lens with fixed iris and I just needed 10 pieces. They where able to do it for just a few euro's extra per lens. Great service
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9Outstanding products and customer service
The customer service staff was friendly, easy to approach and helped us select the appropriate products which fit our use case perfectly. The customer service staff was friendly, easy to approach and helped us select the appropriate products which fit our use case perfectly.
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10Outstanding products and customer service
Get Cameras were extremely kind to sponsor us with some amazing equipment for our RoboCup student team, Delft Mercurians. We had no issues with the cameras, they perform as advertised and enabled u... Get Cameras were extremely kind to sponsor us with some amazing equipment for our RoboCup student team, Delft Mercurians. We had no issues with the cameras, they perform as advertised and enabled us to continue with the project and the company was extremely supportive of us overall. The customer service staff was friendly, easy to approach and helped us select the appropriate products which fit our use case perfectly.
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8Perfect customer interaction
Good site and perfect customer interaction. Good site and perfect customer interaction.
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10Products delivered sooner than promised
Ordered products were delivered sooner than promised, all ordered items were included in the package and we had no problems to make them work (cameras work with the attached software and with Matlab). Ordered products were delivered sooner than promised, all ordered items were included in the package and we had no problems to make them work (cameras work with the attached software and with Matlab).
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10Professional support, fast delivery and good product.
I liked that your team helped me chose the needed equipment by my description. The items that i have ordered are exactly what i have looked for. I liked that your team helped me chose the needed equipment by my description. The items that i have ordered are exactly what i have looked for.
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10Prompt responses to many questions
Prompt responses to our many questions. A good selection of cameras despite shortages elsewhere in the industry and we have been able to specify some of these cameras to keep projects moving forwar... Prompt responses to our many questions. A good selection of cameras despite shortages elsewhere in the industry and we have been able to specify some of these cameras to keep projects moving forward. We continue to buy regularly.
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10Prompt shipment
Reachable by phone and smooth cooperation. Invoice provided without the need for extra requesting for it. Reachable by phone and smooth cooperation. Invoice provided without the need for extra requesting for it.
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10Quick responses and good selection of cameras
Prompt responses to our many questions. A good selection of cameras despite shortages elsewhere in the industry and we have been able to specify some of these cameras to keep projects moving forwar... Prompt responses to our many questions. A good selection of cameras despite shortages elsewhere in the industry and we have been able to specify some of these cameras to keep projects moving forward. We continue to buy from Get-Cameras regularly.
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10Quick shipping and excellent customer service
The customer service is quick, friendly and helpful, shipping takes place fast and the quality of cameras and accessoires is excellent. Very useful is also the provided software, including coding e... The customer service is quick, friendly and helpful, shipping takes place fast and the quality of cameras and accessoires is excellent. Very useful is also the provided software, including coding examples to implement the cameras in our systems.
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10Quick shipping and excellent customer service
The customer service is quick, friendly and helpful, shipping takes place fast and the quality of cameras and accessoires is excellent. Very useful is also the provided software, including coding e... The customer service is quick, friendly and helpful, shipping takes place fast and the quality of cameras and accessoires is excellent. Very useful is also the provided software, including coding examples to implement the cameras in our systems.
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10Really nice products
i called them and they proposed the camera, lens and light setup. I received everything 2 days later. Tested it and it works. I didn't expect such a good image quality for the total set price. They... i called them and they proposed the camera, lens and light setup. I received everything 2 days later. Tested it and it works. I didn't expect such a good image quality for the total set price. They recommended the cheapest camera they had, but it's perfect for detecting the defects on my products.
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9Suitable product for us
We already have several of your cameras. These are for stock only. Since we are taking them into stock, that means we are happy with them. Only lead time is little bit longer. We already have several of your cameras. These are for stock only. Since we are taking them into stock, that means we are happy with them. Only lead time is little bit longer.
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10The German-speaking customer service team is very attentive to our needs.
We greatly value our collaboration with VA Imaging. The German-speaking account managers always address our individual requirements and consistently find suitable solutions, even for last-minute ch... We greatly value our collaboration with VA Imaging. The German-speaking account managers always address our individual requirements and consistently find suitable solutions, even for last-minute changes. Thanks to their support and flexibility, we have always been able to implement our projects quickly and smoothly. Thank you for the excellent collaboration!
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8Very good service
We are very happy with the quality of goods and services. We are very happy with the quality of goods and services.
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10Very good value for money
The camera arrived on schedule and gives excellent images. Very good value for money. The SDK makes it very easy to acquire images into a program of my own written using C++Builder (about 2 hours p... The camera arrived on schedule and gives excellent images. Very good value for money. The SDK makes it very easy to acquire images into a program of my own written using C++Builder (about 2 hours programming).
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10Very happy with the support
I was using cameras from a German competitor, but I was not happy with the support. They contacted me and we where able to select a camera with the same sensor. I received the camera within 2 days.... I was using cameras from a German competitor, but I was not happy with the support. They contacted me and we where able to select a camera with the same sensor. I received the camera within 2 days. It took me half a day to implement their SDK into my software so it was relative easy.
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10Very helpful customer service
We needed a vision camera for our project very urgently. They where able to deliver it in a few days time. They responded quick to my emails also when I needed support. They send me an article how ... We needed a vision camera for our project very urgently. They where able to deliver it in a few days time. They responded quick to my emails also when I needed support. They send me an article how to quickly install the camera and set the most important parameters. it was very helpfull and within half an hour we had a good live view image. We have also ordered the lens they advised. It provides a nice and sharp image.
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10Very pleasant contact, quick response
My questions were answered very quickly. The right camera was determined quickly and the order placed immediately. Camera delivered within two days. I hope to do business again in the future! My questions were answered very quickly. The right camera was determined quickly and the order placed immediately. Camera delivered within two days. I hope to do business again in the future!
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10Very smooth transaction
Great seller, good comunication, ship very fast. Great seller, good comunication, ship very fast.
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