There is no image without light. An image comes into existence through the interaction between an object and photons. Despite this fundamental truth, illumination as a technology is far from simple—even in fields beyond industrial, medical, and scientific applications, such as creative or aesthetic ones. Professional photography studios are primarily about lighting—various types of illumination dominate over cameras. The rapid expansion of the machine vision market has allowed some component manufacturers to fully specialize in illumination solutions. These include LED-based light sources available in multiple configurations. Their versatility combined with their cost reflects just how intricate this field can be.

Optics: Customization and Standardization

Cameras used for industrial, medical, or scientific purposes often come without a lens, allowing users to adapt the optical system according to specific needs. Beyond standard lenses, specialized equipment like microscopes, endoscopes, and telescopes may also be integrated depending on application requirements. In machine vision applications specifically, standardized mounts such as C-mount are commonly used. Calculating parameters for these systems requires only three basic operations—an addition, a multiplication, and a division. However, determining the right values can sometimes lead to confusion or mistakes. We will address this topic in detail in upcoming parts of this series.

To be continued…

Last Updated: 2025-09-05 02:19:02