Overview of Common Lens Mount Types

Key Features and Applications of M12 Board Lens

The M12 mount is a popular way to attach lenses in digital cameras. It’s super tiny, which makes it perfect for small gadgets like webcams, compact cameras, or devices where you can swap lenses. The M12 board lens has a 12mm flange focal distance. This keeps it light and small. That’s why it’s awesome for things like drones, handheld inspection tools, or little CCTV cameras where space is tight.

One great thing about the M12 board lens is how it works with all kinds of lenses. Lots of companies make M12 lenses with different focal lengths and aperture sizes to fit what you need. These lenses are built for small sensors, like those in security cameras or built-in vision systems. Also, their threaded design is really easy to screw in. You don’t need fancy locks or extra parts to make it work.

Characteristics of C Mount Lenses

The C-mount lens has a flange focal distance of 17.526mm. That’s the space between the lens mount and the camera’s sensor or film. This bigger gap gives designers more room to create different lenses, like fixed or zoom ones. So, it’s a really flexible choice.

  • mount lenses use a 1-inch wide thread to connect to the camera. You’ll find them in industrial setups, science tools, or even old film cameras. A big plus is that C-mounts can handle many lens types, like 16mm film lenses, 1-inch format lenses, or smaller ones for compact cameras. It’s like a do-it-all mount for lenses.

Distinctive Aspects of CS Mount Lenses

CS-mount lens is made for security and surveillance cameras. They have the same flange focal distance as C-mounts, which is 17.526mm. But here’s the thing: CS-mount cameras have a shorter back distance. If you want to use a C-mount lens on a CS-mount camera, you need an CS to C mount lens adapter to keep the picture sharp.

The CS-mount gives extra space between the lens and the sensor. This makes it good for small camera bodies with tiny sensors. These lenses are light and simple to put in. They’re often used in CCTV systems that need wide views or adjustable focal lengths.

 

Comparing M12 Mount (S Mount), C Mount, and CS Mount

Differences in Mechanical Design and Thread Specifications

All three mounts—M12 (S-mount), C-mount, and CS-mount—use threads to stick to cameras. But they’re different in size and how the threads are made. Every camera lens uses threaded mounts. For CCD cameras, C-mount and CS-mount are the two main standards in the industry.

M12: It has a 12mm wide thread and no special locking system.

C-mount / CS-mount: It uses a 1-inch (25.4mm) wide thread.

Variations in Image Sensor Compatibility

Matching the lens to the sensor is really important. If the lens doesn’t fit the CCD size, your pictures might show the wrong view or come out blurry.

M12 Lenses: They’re great for small sensors, like 1/3” or smaller.

C-Mount Lenses: They work with bigger sensors, like 2/3” or up to 1”.

CS-Mount Lenses: They’re made for mid-size sensors, around 1/2” to 2/3”.

If you pick the wrong lens for your sensor, you might get dark corners (called vignetting) or fuzzy images.

Impact on Field of View and Image Quality

How much you can see in a picture, called the field of view, depends on the sensor size and the lens’s focal length. The focal length sets how wide or narrow the view is. Short focal lengths give a wide view, but you lose some detail far away. Longer focal lengths give a narrow view but show more detail at a distance.

M12 board lenses usually have short focal lengths, so they show a wide area. But if they’re not made well, the picture might not be super clear. Here’s how the others compare:

C-Mount Lenses: They give sharper images because they use better glass.

CS-Mount Lenses: They’re a middle option, balancing size and decent picture quality.

Performance in Compact Versus Industrial Camera Systems

In tight spaces, like robots or small built-in systems, M12 board lenses are the best. Their tiny size makes them easy to fit in small spots.

For big machines in factories or science tools that need really clear images:

C-mounts: They’re awesome for top-quality pictures.

CS-mounts: They’re a cheaper choice but still give pretty good images.

 

When to Choose C Mount or CS Mount Lenses from Hangzhou AICO Electronics Co., Ltd.

Use Cases Requiring High Precision and Larger Sensors

If you need really clear images over a big area—like in machine vision or science tools—C-mount lenses from Hangzhou AICO Electronics Co., Ltd. are a great pick. Like the 1.1″ 6mm / 8mm / 12mm / 16mm / 25mm / 35mm / 50mm 20mp C mount industrial vision fa lens, with very low distortion. These work well with big sensors. Since they make sharper pictures with fewer flaws, C-mount lenses are perfect when you need the best image quality.

Benefits for Surveillance, Machine Vision, and Industrial Systems

For security cameras that need to cover a wide area without taking up much room, CS-mount lenses are a good choice. They come in lots of focal lengths and are built from strong materials to last a long time.

Hangzhou AICO Electronics Co., Ltd. makes manual iris fixed-focus lenses for different CCD sizes. These are great for both regular security cameras and advanced machine vision tasks.

 

Factors to Consider When Selecting the Right Lens Mount Type

Application Requirements and System Constraints

Before you choose a lens, think about these things:

What’s the size of your sensor?

How wide of a view do you want?

How much space do you have in your device?

What’s the lighting like where you’ll use it?

If the light keeps changing, pick an automatic iris lens. If the light stays the same, a manual iris lens is fine.

Budget Considerations and Production Scalability

Cost matters a lot:

M12 board lenses: They’re cheap, so they’re great for big projects.

C/CS mounts: They cost more but give better picture quality.

If you’re making lots of devices, like for consumer gadgets, M12 lenses are awesome because they’re affordable and reliable.

Optical Performance Expectations Across Different Environments

Some high-quality lenses need bigger glass, which M12 lenses can’t always handle. In dusty or shaky places, like factories:

Strong mounts like C or CS keep the lens steady and lined up.

Lens resolution is about how many black-and-white lines per millimeter the lens can show clearly. Higher resolution means sharper pictures. Choose a lens based on whether you need clear images for deep or shallow scenes.

 

Custom Lens Solutions by Hangzhou AICO Electronics Co., Ltd.

Tailored Support for Specialized Imaging Needs

Hangzhou AICO Electronics Co., Ltd. offers custom lenses made just for your project. You can get lenses designed for special filters or specific view angles, depending on what you need.

R&D Capabilities for Unique Optical System Designs

With over 20 years of experience and high-tech tools—like ZYGO interferometers and Optikos testers—AICO makes reliable lenses for fields like robotics and medical imaging. They’re ready to tackle tough projects.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is an M12 board lens used for?

An M12 board lens is used in small devices like webcams, drones, CCTV cameras, or built-in vision systems. Its tiny size saves space but still gives pretty good picture quality.

Can I use a C mount lens on a CS mount camera?

You can, but you need an adapter ring. C-mount lenses have a longer flange distance than CS-mounts need.

What’s the difference between M12 vs C vs CS mounts?

They’re different in size (thread width), flange focal distance, sensor fit, and picture quality. M12 is for small gadgets, while C-mounts are for heavy-duty industrial imaging.

Which type provides better image quality?

C-mount lenses usually give the best pictures because they can use bigger glass. But modern M12 board lenses, like those from Hangzhou AICO Electronics Co., Ltd., can reach up to 10MP resolution, which is really good too.

Are these mounts interchangeable?

Nope, not directly. Each needs the right thread size and flange distance. You can use adapters, C Mount to M12 Mount Lens Adapter  / CS to M12 Mount lens Adapter , to make some combinations work.

To find out more about how Hangzhou AICO Electronics Co., Ltd. creates cool optical solutions with strong research and strict quality checks, reach out to them today!