Exposure Time

The Exposure Time camera feature specifies how long the image sensor is exposed to light during image acquisition.

To automatically set the exposure time, use the Exposure Auto feature.

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Using the Feature

Prerequisites

Setting the Exposure Time

To set the exposure time in microseconds, use the ExposureTimeAbsExposureTime parameter.

The minimum exposure time, the maximum exposure time, and the increments in which the parameter can be changed vary by camera model.

Determining the Exposure Time

To determine the current exposure time in microseconds, get the value of the ExposureTimeAbsExposureTime parameter.

This can be useful, for example, if the Exposure Auto auto function is enabled and you want to retrieve the automatically adjusted exposure time.

Exposure Time Mode

On some camera models, the ExposureTimeMode (or BslExposureTimeMode) parameter is available. It allows you to choose between the Standard and the Ultra Short exposure time mode. Using the Ultra Short exposure time mode lowers the value range of the ExposureTimeAbsExposureTime parameter. It allows you to set very short exposure times.

You can set the ExposureTimeMode parameter to one of the following values:

Specifics

On some camera models, you can use the Remove Parameter Limits feature to increase the exposure time parameter limits.

Camera Model Minimum Exposure Time [μs] Maximum Exposure Time [μs] Increment [μs] ExposureTimeMode Parameter Available
a2A1920-51gmBAS
  • Standard exposure time mode: 19
  • Ultra Short exposure time mode: 1
  • Standard exposure time mode: 10000000
  • Ultra Short exposure time mode: 14
1 Yes (parameter name: BslExposureTimeMode)
a2A1920-51gcBAS
  • Standard exposure time mode: 19
  • Ultra Short exposure time mode: 1
  • Standard exposure time mode: 10000000
  • Ultra Short exposure time mode: 14
1 Yes (parameter name: BslExposureTimeMode)
a2A1920-160umBAS
  • Standard exposure time mode: 19
  • Ultra Short exposure time mode: 1
  • Standard exposure time mode: 10000000
  • Ultra Short exposure time mode: 14
1 Yes (parameter name: BslExposureTimeMode)
a2A1920-160ucBAS
  • Standard exposure time mode: 19
  • Ultra Short exposure time mode: 1
  • Standard exposure time mode: 10000000
  • Ultra Short exposure time mode: 14
1 Yes (parameter name: BslExposureTimeMode)
acA640-90gm 17 1000000 1 No
acA640-90gc 17 1000000 1 No
acA640-120gm 4 1000000 1 No
acA640-120gc 4 1000000 1 No
acA640-121gm
  • Standard exposure time mode: 22 / 23b
  • Ultra Short exposure time mode: 1
  • Standard exposure time mode: 10000000
  • Ultra Short exposure time mode: 13
1 Yes
acA640-300gm 80 10000000 1 No
acA640-300gc 80 10000000 1 No
acA720-290gm
  • Standard exposure time mode: 22 / 20b
  • Ultra Short exposure time mode: 1
  • Standard exposure time mode: 10000000
  • Ultra Short exposure time mode: 13
1 Yes
acA720-290gc
  • Standard exposure time mode: 22 / 20b
  • Ultra Short exposure time mode: 1
  • Standard exposure time mode: 10000000
  • Ultra Short exposure time mode: 13
1 Yes
acA780-75gm 20 10000000 1 No
acA780-75gc 20 10000000 1 No
acA800-200gm 80 10000000 1 No
acA800-200gc 80 10000000 1 No
acA1280-60gm 15 896000 1 No
acA1280-60gc 15 896000 1 No
acA1300-22gm 16 10000000 1 No
acA1300-22gc 16 10000000 1 No
acA1300-30gm 16 10000000 1 No
acA1300-30gc 16 10000000 1 No
acA1300-60gm 10 / 15a 916000 / 896000a 1 No
acA1300-60gc 10 / 15a 916000 / 896000a 1 No
acA1300-60gmNIR 10 / 15a 916000 / 896000a 1 No
acA1300-75gm 80 1000000 1 No
acA1300-75gc 80 1000000 1 No
acA1440-73gm
  • Standard exposure time mode: 22 / 23b
  • Ultra Short exposure time mode: 1
  • Standard exposure time mode: 10000000
  • Ultra Short exposure time mode: 13
1 Yes
acA1440-73gc
  • Standard exposure time mode: 22 / 23b
  • Ultra Short exposure time mode: 1
  • Standard exposure time mode: 10000000
  • Ultra Short exposure time mode: 13
1 Yes
acA1600-20gm 25 1000000 1 No
acA1600-20gc 25 1000000 1 No
acA1600-60gm 10 / 35a 840000 1 No
acA1600-60gc 10 / 35a 840000 1 No
acA1920-25gm 35 999985 35 No
acA1920-25gc 35 999985 35 No
acA1920-40gm 34 / 40b 10000000 1 No
acA1920-40gc 34 / 40b 10000000 1 No
acA1920-48gm 137 1000000 1 No
acA1920-48gc 137 1000000 1 No
acA1920-50gm 24 / 27b 10000000 1 No
acA1920-50gc 24 / 27b 10000000 1 No
acA2000-50gm 24 10000000 1 No
acA2000-50gc 24 10000000 1 No
acA2000-50gmNIR 24 10000000 1 No
acA2040-25gm 24 10000000 1 No
acA2040-25gc 24 10000000 1 No
acA2040-25gmNIR 24 10000000 1 No
acA2040-35gm 26 10000000 1 No
acA2040-35gc 26 10000000 1 No
acA2440-20gm 28 10000000 1 No
acA2440-20gc 28 10000000 1 No
acA2500-14gm 35 999985 35 No
acA2500-14gc 35 999985 35 No
acA2500-20gm 137 1000000 1 No
acA2500-20gc 137 1000000 1 No
acA2500-20gmMED 137 1000000 1 No
acA2500-20gcMED 137 1000000 1 No
acA3088-16gm
  • Rolling shutter mode: 25
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 625
  • Rolling shutter mode: 10000000
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 1000000
25 No
acA3088-16gc
  • Rolling shutter mode: 25
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 625
  • Rolling shutter mode: 10000000
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 1000000
25 No
acA3800-10gm 35 1600000 35 No
acA3800-10gc 35 1600000 35 No
acA4024-8gm
  • Rolling shutter mode: 35
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 1260
10000000 35 No
acA4024-8gc
  • Rolling shutter mode: 35
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 1260
10000000 35 No
acA4096-11gm 38 10000000 1 No
acA4096-11gc 38 10000000 1 No
acA4112-8gm 38 10000000 1 No
acA4112-8gc 38 10000000 1 No
acA4600-7gc 35 1460000 35 No
acA5472-5gm
  • Rolling shutter mode: 49 / 55b
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 1764 / 1980b
10000018 49 No
acA5472-5gc
  • Rolling shutter mode: 49 / 55b
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 1764 / 1980b
10000018 49 No
acA640-750um 59 1000000 1 No
acA640-750uc 59 1000000 1 No
acA640-90um 17 10000000 1 No
acA640-90uc 17 10000000 1 No
acA640-120um 4 10000000 1 No
acA640-120uc 4 10000000 1 No
acA720-520um
  • Standard exposure time mode: 30 / 24b
  • Ultra Short exposure time mode: 1
  • Standard exposure time mode: 10000000
  • Ultra Short exposure time mode: 13
1 Yes
acA720-520uc
  • Standard exposure time mode: 30 / 24b
  • Ultra Short exposure time mode: 1
  • Standard exposure time mode: 10000000
  • Ultra Short exposure time mode: 13
1 Yes
acA800-510um 59 1000000 1 No
acA800-510uc 59 1000000 1 No
acA1300-200um 59 1000000 1 No
acA1300-200uc 59 1000000 1 No
acA1300-30um 16 10000000 1 No
acA1300-30uc 16 10000000 1 No
acA1440-220um
  • Standard exposure time mode: 21 / 20b
  • Ultra Short exposure time mode: 1
  • Standard exposure time mode: 10000000
  • Ultra Short exposure time mode: 13
1 Yes
acA1440-220uc
  • Standard exposure time mode: 21 / 20b
  • Ultra Short exposure time mode: 1
  • Standard exposure time mode: 10000000
  • Ultra Short exposure time mode: 13
1 Yes
acA1600-20um 25 10000000 1 No
acA1600-20uc 25 10000000 1 No
acA1920-25um 35 9999990 35 No
acA1920-25uc 35 9999990 35 No
acA1920-40um 34 / 40b 10000000 1 No
acA1920-40uc 34 / 40b 10000000 1 No
acA1920-40umMED 34 / 40b 10000000 1 No
acA1920-40ucMED 34 / 40b 10000000 1 No
acA1920-150um 105 1000000 1 No
acA1920-150uc 105 1000000 1 No
acA1920-155um 20 / 21b 10000000 1 No
acA1920-155uc 20 / 21b 10000000 1 No
acA1920-155umMED 20 / 21b 10000000 1 No
acA1920-155ucMED 20 / 21b 10000000 1 No
acA2040-90um 28c 10000000 1 No
acA2040-90uc 28c 10000000 1 No
acA2040-90umNIR 28c 10000000 1 No
acA2000-165um 28c 10000000 1 No
acA2000-165uc 28c 10000000 1 No
acA2000-165umNIR 28c 10000000 1 No
acA2040-55um 27 10000000 1 No
acA2040-55uc 27 10000000 1 No
acA2040-120um 20 / 21b 10000000 1 No
acA2040-120uc 20 / 21b 10000000 1 No
acA2440-35um 29 10000000 1 No
acA2440-35uc 29 10000000 1 No
acA2440-35umMED 29 10000000 1 No
acA2440-35ucMED 29 10000000 1 No
acA2440-75um 21 / 22b 10000000 1 No
acA2440-75uc 21 / 22b 10000000 1 No
acA2440-75umMED 21 / 22b 10000000 1 No
acA2440-75ucMED 21 / 22b 10000000 1 No
acA2500-14um 35 9999990 35 No
acA2500-14uc 35 9999990 35 No
acA2500-60um 81 1000000 1 No
acA2500-60uc 81 1000000 1 No
acA3088-57um
  • Rolling shutter mode: 8
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 200
  • Rolling shutter mode: 10000000
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 1000000
8 No
acA3088-57uc
  • Rolling shutter mode: 8
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 200
  • Rolling shutter mode: 10000000
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 1000000
8 No
acA3800-14um 35 1600000 35 No
acA3800-14uc 35 1600000 35 No
acA4024-29um
  • Rolling shutter mode: 10 / 12b
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 360 / 432b
10000000 10 / 12b No
acA4024-29uc
  • Rolling shutter mode: 10 / 12b
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 360 / 432b
10000000 10 / 12b No
acA4096-30um 30 10000000 1 No
acA4096-30uc 30 10000000 1 No
acA4096-30umMED 30 10000000 1 No
acA4096-30ucMED 30 10000000 1 No
acA4096-40um 26 / 27b 10000000 1 No
acA4096-40uc 26 / 27b 10000000 1 No
acA4096-40umMED 26 / 27b 10000000 1 No
acA4096-40ucMED 26 / 27b 10000000 1 No
acA4112-20um 30 10000000 1 No
acA4112-20uc 30 10000000 1 No
acA4112-20umMED 30 10000000 1 No
acA4112-20ucMED 30 10000000 1 No
acA4112-30um 26 / 27b 10000000 1 No
acA4112-30uc 26 / 27b 10000000 1 No
acA4112-30umMED 26 / 27b 10000000 1 No
acA4112-30ucMED 26 / 27b 10000000 1 No
acA4600-10uc 35 1460000 35 No
acA5472-17um
  • Rolling shutter mode: 13 / 16b
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 468 / 576b
10000003 / 10000000b 13 / 16b No
acA5472-17uc
  • Rolling shutter mode: 13 / 16b
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 468 / 576b
10000003 / 10000000b 13 / 16b No
boA4096-93cm tbd tbd 1 tbd
boA4096-93cc tbd tbd 1 tbd
boA4112-68cm tbd tbd 1 tbd
boA4112-68cc tbd tbd 1 tbd
daA1280-54lm 10d 1000000 1e No
daA1280-54lc 10d 1000000 1e No
daA1600-60lm 10d 850000 1 No
daA1600-60lc 10d 850000 1 No
daA2500-14lm 10d 1000000 1 No
daA2500-14lc 10d 1000000 1 No
daA2500-60mc (SD820) 15 480000000 1 No
daA1280-54um 10d 1000000 1e No
daA1280-54uc 10d 1000000 1e No
daA1600-60um 10d 850000 1 No
daA1600-60uc 10d 850000 1 No
daA1920-15um 10d 1000000 1 No
daA1920-30um 10d 1000000 1 No
daA1920-30uc 10d 1000000 1 No
daA2500-14um 10d 1000000 1 No
daA2500-14uc 10d 1000000 1 No
puA1280-54um 10d 1000000 1 No
puA1280-54uc 10d 1000000 1 No
puA1600-60um 10d 850000 1 No
puA1600-60uc 10d 850000 1 No
puA1920-30um 10d 1000000 1 No
puA1920-30uc 10d 1000000 1 No
puA2500-14um 10d 1000000 1 No
puA2500-14uc 10d 1000000 1 No

aGlobal shutter mode / Rolling shutter mode

b8-bit pixel format / 12-bit pixel format

cValid when the pixel format is set to a 12-bit format. For 8-bit formats, the value depends on the USB 3.0 bandwidth available. See table below.

dDepending on the camera’s sensor and frame rate, the effective exposure time may vary from the exposure time set. The variation is normally in the range of microseconds, but if a very low exposure time is set, this should be taken into account.

eDue to sensor specific properties, on exposure times below ≈70 µs, the increment may vary and may be higher than 1 µs. Therefore, not all exposure time values can be reached. This behavior also depends on the Image ROI settings and the overlap mode.

Available USB Bandwidth (Device Link Throughput)

Minimum Exposure Time

≤ 108.000 42
108.001-140.000 32
140.001-160.020 28
140.001-160.020 25
180.001-192.112 24
192.113-216.000 42
216.001-280.000 32
280.001-320.040 28
320.041-360.000 25
360.001-384.224 24
Minimum Exposure Time Depending on Device Link Throughput

Sample Code

// Determine the current exposure time
double d = camera.ExposureTimeAbs.GetValue();
// Set the exposure time mode to Standard
// Note: Available on selected camera models only
// Note 2: On ace 2 and boost cameras, the parameter is named BslExposureTimeMode
camera.ExposureTimeMode.SetValue(ExposureTimeMode_Standard);
// Set the exposure time to 3500 microseconds
camera.ExposureTimeAbs.SetValue(3500.0);
// Determine the current exposure time
double d = camera.ExposureTime.GetValue();
// Set the exposure time mode to Standard
// Note: Available on selected camera models only
camera.ExposureTimeMode.SetValue(ExposureTimeMode_Standard);
// Set the exposure time to 3500 microseconds
camera.ExposureTime.SetValue(3500.0);
INodeMap& nodemap = camera.GetNodeMap();
// Determine the current exposure time
double d = CFloatPtr(nodemap.GetNode("ExposureTimeAbs"))->GetValue();
// Set the exposure time mode to Standard
// Note: Available on selected camera models only
// Note 2: On ace 2 and boost cameras, the parameter is named BslExposureTimeMode
CEnumerationPtr(nodemap.GetNode("ExposureTimeMode"))->FromString("Standard");
// Set the exposure time to 3500 microseconds
CFloatPtr(nodemap.GetNode("ExposureTimeAbs"))->SetValue(3500.0);
// Determine the current exposure time
double d = CFloatPtr(nodemap.GetNode("ExposureTime"))->GetValue();
// Set the exposure time mode to Standard
// Note: Available on selected camera models only
CEnumerationPtr(nodemap.GetNode("ExposureTimeMode"))->FromString("Standard");
// Set the exposure time to 3500 microseconds
CFloatPtr(nodemap.GetNode("ExposureTime"))->SetValue(3500.0);
// Determine the current exposure time
double d = camera.Parameters[PLCamera.ExposureTimeAbs].GetValue();
// Set the exposure time mode to Standard
// Note: Available on selected camera models only
// Note 2: On ace 2 and boost cameras, the parameter is named BslExposureTimeMode
camera.Parameters[PLCamera.ExposureTimeMode].SetValue(PLCamera.ExposureTimeMode.Standard);
// Set the exposure time to 3500 microseconds
camera.Parameters[PLCamera.ExposureTimeAbs].SetValue(3500.0);
// Determine the current exposure time
double d = camera.Parameters[PLCamera.ExposureTime].GetValue();
// Set the exposure time mode to Standard
// Note: Available on selected camera models only
camera.Parameters[PLCamera.ExposureTimeMode].SetValue(PLCamera.ExposureTimeMode.Standard);
// Set the exposure time to 3500 microseconds
camera.Parameters[PLCamera.ExposureTime].SetValue(3500.0);
// Determine the current exposure time
double d = Pylon.DeviceGetFloatFeature(hdev, "ExposureTimeAbs");
// Set the exposure time mode to Standard
// Note: Available on selected camera models only
// Note 2: On ace 2 and boost cameras, the parameter is named BslExposureTimeMode
Pylon.DeviceFeatureFromString(hdev, "ExposureTimeMode", "Standard");
// Set the exposure time to 3500 microseconds
Pylon.DeviceSetFloatFeature(hdev, "ExposureTimeAbs", 3500.0);
// Determine the current exposure time
double d = Pylon.DeviceGetFloatFeature(hdev, "ExposureTime");
// Set the exposure time mode to Standard
// Note: Available on selected camera models only
Pylon.DeviceFeatureFromString(hdev, "ExposureTimeMode", "Standard");
// Set the exposure time to 3500 microseconds
Pylon.DeviceSetFloatFeature(hdev, "ExposureTime", 3500.0);
/* Macro to check for errors */
#define CHECK(errc) if (GENAPI_E_OK != errc) printErrorAndExit(errc)
GENAPIC_RESULT errRes = GENAPI_E_OK;  /* Return value of pylon methods */
double d = 0;
/* Determine the current exposure time */
errRes = PylonDeviceGetFloatFeature(hdev, "ExposureTimeAbs", &d);
CHECK(errRes);
/* Set the exposure time mode to Standard */
/* Note: Available on selected camera models only */
/* Note 2: On ace 2 and boost cameras, the parameter is named BslExposureTimeMode */
errRes = PylonDeviceFeatureFromString(hdev, "ExposureTimeMode", "Standard");
CHECK(errRes);
/* Set the exposure time to 3500 microseconds */
errRes = PylonDeviceSetFloatFeature(hdev, "ExposureTimeAbs", 3500.0);
CHECK(errRes);
double d = 0;
/* Determine the current exposure time */
errRes = PylonDeviceGetFloatFeature(hdev, "ExposureTime", &d);
CHECK(errRes);
/* Set the exposure time mode to Standard */
/* Note: Available on selected camera models only */
errRes = PylonDeviceFeatureFromString(hdev, "ExposureTimeMode", "Standard");
CHECK(errRes);
/* Set the exposure time to 3500 microseconds */
errRes = PylonDeviceSetFloatFeature(hdev, "ExposureTime", 3500.0);
CHECK(errRes);

You can also use the pylon Viewer to easily set the parameters.