VA Imaging MER2-503-36U3C-VA 2/3" Color CMOS (Sony IMX264) Camera, 5 Megapixels, 2448 x 2048, 36 fps, Global Shutter, C-Mount, USB 3.0 Output

Industrial USB 3.0 Vision Camera Featuring IMX264

The Mercury 2 USB 3.0 camera is designed for industrial vision applications and utilizes a USB 3.0 interface. This connection supports high-resolution and high-speed data transfer, making it ideal for embedded systems such as Raspberry Pi (version 4 or newer), NVIDIA platforms, as well as standard PC environments.
This model is particularly suited for applications with the following requirements:
- Industrial-grade camera
- Cable length up to 4.5 meters (extendable to 10 meters with optical USB3 cable)
- Single-cable connectivity
- Compact form factor (29x29x29mm)
- Compatibility with x86 computers and embedded ARM V7 & ARM V8 platforms
- Hardware trigger capability (requires I/O cable)

For comprehensive information on our industrial USB 3.0 vision cameras, please refer to our manual.

MTBF, Warranty, and Product Longevity

Daheng Imaging manufactures over 100,000 industrial cameras annually, adhering to stringent quality controls. The mean time between failures (MTBF) exceeds 400,000 hours (equivalent to 45 years of continuous operation). These industrial cameras carry TÜV Rheinland certification and include a 3-year warranty. Each camera model remains available for a minimum of 7 years following market release, with many models supported for significantly longer periods. Additional details on our product life cycle management can be found in this article.

Industrial Color Imaging Camera

This color camera employs a Bayer filter array to generate color images. The RGB values for each pixel are computed by analyzing the pixel s intensity along with those of adjacent pixels. Consequently, color images tend to be less sharp compared to monochrome counterparts. Because of the RGB filtering, each pixel captures approximately 66% fewer photons under white light than a monochrome sensor, resulting in reduced light sensitivity. To address this, the following options are available:
- Increase illumination levels
- Raise gain settings
- Extend shutter speed or exposure time
- Choose a sensor with higher light sensitivity
- Use a lens optimized for increased light capture
Compared to typical security cameras and webcams, industrial color cameras feature larger, more sensitive pixels, delivering superior image quality.

I/O Interface for Hardware Trigger, Strobe Control, or PLC Integration

The USB camera s I/O port uses an 8-pin HR25 Hirose connector, a common standard in industrial machine vision. This camera includes an input for hardware triggering. Its output can activate external devices such as industrial lighting systems. Additionally, two GPIO (General Purpose Input/Output) pins are available and can be programmed via our SDK. Electrical wiring diagrams for the I/O connector are provided in the user manual. For more information, see our article on hardware triggering multiple industrial cameras.

If the I/O port is not required, the camera can be ordered without it. For bulk orders, this option reduces the camera s cost by 10. The minimum order quantity for cameras without I/O is 10 units. Please contact us if you wish to purchase the industrial USB3 camera without the I/O interface.