Exposure Time#
To automatically set the exposure time, use the Exposure Auto feature.
Using the Feature#
Prerequisites#
- If the camera is configured for hardware triggering, the ExposureMode parameter must be set to Timed. Otherwise, the ExposureTime parameter is not available.
- The Exposure Auto auto function must be set to Off. Otherwise, setting the exposure time has no effect.
Setting the Exposure Time#
To set the exposure time in microseconds, use the ExposureTime 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 ExposureTime 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 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 ExposureTime parameter. It allows you to set very short exposure times.
Info
- The ExposureTimeMode parameter can only be used if the prerequisites listed above are met.
- Depending on the exposure time mode, the exposure start delay changes.
- If the Ultra Short exposure time mode is enabled, the Sequencer feature is not available.
You can set the ExposureTimeMode parameter to one of the following values:
- Standard: Enables the Standard exposure time mode. This is the default setting. When you enable this mode, the exposure time is set to the minimum value available in this exposure time mode.
- UltraShort: Allows you to set an ultra short exposure time within the value range available. When you enable this mode, the exposure time is set to the maximum value available in this exposure time mode.
Specifics#
Info
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
a2A1920-51gcBAS | Standard exposure time mode: 19 Ultra Short exposure time mode: 1 | Standard exposure time mode: 10000000 Ultra Short exposure time mode: 14 | 1 | Yes |
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 |
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 |
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 |
acA640-90gc | 17 | 1000000 | 1 | No |
acA640-90gm | 17 | 1000000 | 1 | No |
acA640-90uc | 17 | 1000000 | 1 | No |
acA640-90um | 17 | 1000000 | 1 | No |
acA640-120gc | 4 | 1000000 | 1 | No |
acA640-120gm | 4 | 1000000 | 1 | No |
acA640-120uc | 4 | 1000000 | 1 | No |
acA640-120um | 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 |
acA640-300gc | 80 | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA640-300gm | 80 | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA640-750uc | 59 | 1000000 | 1 | No |
acA640-750um | 59 | 1000000 | 1 | No |
acA720-290gc | Standard exposure time mode: 22/20b Ultra Shot exposure time mode: 1 | Standard exposure time mode: 10000000 Ultra Shot exposure time mode: 13 | 1 | Yes |
acA720-290gm | Standard exposure time mode: 22/20b Ultra Shot exposure time mode: 1 | Standard exposure time mode: 10000000 Ultra Shot 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 |
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 |
acA780-75gc | 20 | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA780-75gm | 20 | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA800-200gc | 80 | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA800-200gm | 80 | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA800-510uc | 59 | 1000000 | 1 | No |
acA800-510um | 59 | 1000000 | 1 | No |
acA1280-60gc | 15 | 896000 | 1 | No |
acA1280-60gm | 15 | 896000 | 1 | No |
acA1300-22gc | 16 | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA1300-22gm | 16 | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA1300-30gc | 16 | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA1300-30gm | 16 | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA1300-30uc | 16 | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA1300-30um | 16 | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA1300-60gc | 10 / 15a | 916000 / 896000a | 1 | No |
acA1300-60gm | 10 / 15a | 916000 / 896000a | 1 | No |
acA1300-60gmNIR | 10 / 15a | 916000 / 896000a | 1 | No |
acA1300-75gc | 80 | 1000000 | 1 | No |
acA1300-75gm | 80 | 1000000 | 1 | No |
acA1300-200uc | 59 | 1000000 | 1 | No |
acA1300-200um | 59 | 1000000 | 1 | No |
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 |
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 |
acA1440-220uc | 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 |
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 |
acA1600-20gc | 25 | 1000000 | 1 | No |
acA1600-20gm | 25 | 1000000 | 1 | No |
acA1600-20uc | 25 | 10000000 | 2 | No |
acA1600-20um | 25 | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA1600-60gc | 10/35a | 840000 | 1 | No |
acA1600-60gm | 10/35a | 840000 | 1 | No |
acA1920-25gc | 35 | 999985 | 35 | No |
acA1920-25gm | 35 | 999985 | 35 | No |
acA1920-25uc | 35 | 9999990 | 35 | No |
acA1920-25um | 35 | 9999990 | 35 | No |
acA1920-40gc | 34/40b | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA1920-40gm | 34/40b | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA1920-40uc | 34/40b | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA1920-40ucMED | 34/40b | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA1920-40um | 34 / 40b | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA1920-40umMED | 34/40b | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA1920-48gc | 137 | 1000000 | 1 | No |
acA1920-48gm | 137 | 1000000 | 1 | No |
acA1920-50gc | 24/27b | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA1920-50gm | 24/27b | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA1920-150uc | 105 | 1000000 | 1 | No |
acA1920-150um | 105 | 1000000 | 1 | No |
acA1920-155uc | 20/21b | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA1920-155ucMED | 20/21b | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA1920-155um | 20/21b | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA1920-155umMED | 20/21b | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA2000-50gc | 24 | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA2000-50gm | 24 | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA2000-50gmNIR | 24 | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA2000-165uc | 28c | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA2000-165um | 28c | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA2000-165umNIR | 28c | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA2040-25gc | 24 | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA2040-25gm | 24 | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA2040-25gmNIR | 24 | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA2040-35gc | 26 | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA2040-35gm | 26 | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA2040-55uc | 27 | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA2040-55um | 27 | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA2040-90uc | 28c | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA2040-90um | 28c | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA2040-90umNIR | 28c | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA2040-120uc | 20/21b | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA2040-120um | 20/21b | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA2440-20gc | 28 | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA2440-20gm | 28 | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA2440-35uc | 29 | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA2440-35ucMED | 29 | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA2440-35um | 29 | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA2440-35umMED | 29 | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA2440-75uc | 21/22b | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA2440-75ucMED | 21/22b | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA2440-75um | 21/22b | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA2440-75umMED | 21/22b | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA2500-14gc | 35 | 999985 | 35 | No |
acA2500-14gm | 35 | 999985 | 35 | No |
acA2500-14uc | 35 | 9999990 | 35 | No |
acA2500-14um | 35 | 9999990 | 35 | No |
acA2500-20gc | ||||
acA2500-20gcMED | 137 | 1000000 | 1 | No |
acA2500-20gm | 137 | 1000000 | 1 | No |
acA2500-20gmMED | 137 | 1000000 | 1 | No |
acA2500-60uc | 81 | 1000000 | 1 | No |
acA2500-60um | 81 | 1000000 | 1 | No |
acA3088-16gc | Rolling shutter mode: 25 Global Reset Release shutter mode: 625 | Rolling shutter mode: 10000000 Global Reset Release shutter mode: 10000000 | 25 | No |
acA3088-16gm | Rolling shutter mode: 25 Global Reset Release shutter mode: 625 | Rolling shutter mode: 10000000 Global Reset Release shutter mode: 10000000 | 25 | No |
acA3088-57uc | Rolling shutter mode: 8 Global Reset Release shutter mode: 200 | Rolling shutter mode: 10000000 Global Reset Release shutter mode: 10000000 | 8 | No |
acA3088-57um | Rolling shutter mode: 8 Global Reset Release shutter mode: 200 | Rolling shutter mode: 10000000 Global Reset Release shutter mode: 10000000 | 8 | No |
acA3800-10gc | 35 | 1600000 | 35 | No |
acA3800-10gm | 35 | 1600000 | 35 | No |
acA3800-14uc | 35 | 1600000 | 35 | No |
acA3800-14um | 35 | 1600000 | 35 | No |
acA4024-8gc | Rolling Shutter mode: 35 Global Reset Release shutter mode: 1260 | 10000000 | 35 | No |
acA4024-8gm | Rolling Shutter mode: 35 Global Reset Release shutter mode: 1260 | 10000000 | 35 | No |
acA4024-29uc | Rolling shutter mode: 10/12b Global Reset Release shutter mode: 360/432b | 10000000 | 10/12b | No |
acA4024-29um | Rolling shutter mode: 10/12b Global Reset Release shutter mode: 360/432b | 10000000 | 10/12b | No |
acA4096-11gc | 38 | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA4096-11gm | 38 | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA4096-30uc | 30 | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA4096-30ucMED | 30 | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA4096-30um | 30 | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA4096-30umMED | 30 | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA4096-40uc | 26/27b | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA4096-40ucMED | 26/27b | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA4096-40um | 26/27b | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA4096-40umMED | 26/27b | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA4112-8gc | 38 | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA4112-8gm | 38 | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA4112-20uc | 30 | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA4112-20ucMED | 30 | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA4112-20um | 30 | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA4112-20umMED | 30 | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA4112-30uc | 26/27b | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA4112-30ucMED | 26/27b | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA4112-30um | 26/27b | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA4112-30umMED | 26/27b | 10000000 | 1 | No |
acA4600-7gc | 35 | 1460000 | 35 | No |
acA4600-10uc | 35 | 1460000 | 35 | No |
acA5472-5gc | Rolling shutter mode: 49/55b Global Reset Release shutter mode: 1764/1980b | 10000018 | 49 | No |
acA5472-5gm | Rolling shutter mode: 49/55b Global Reset Release shutter mode: 1764/1980b | 10000018 | 49 | No |
acA5472-17uc | Rolling shutter mode: 13/16b Global Reset Release shutter mode: 468/576b | 10000003 / 10000000b | 13/16b | No |
acA5472-17um | Rolling shutter mode: 13/16b Global Reset Release shutter mode: 468/576b | 10000003 / 10000000b | 13/16b | No |
boA4096-93cc | Standard exposure time mode: 22 Ultra Short exposure time mode: tbd | Standard exposure time mode: 8000000 Ultra Short exposure time mode: tbd | 1 | Yes |
boA4096-93cm | Standard exposure time mode: 22 Ultra Short exposure time mode: tbd | Standard exposure time mode: 8000000 Ultra Short exposure time mode: tbd | 1 | Yes |
boA4112-68cc | Standard exposure time mode: 22 Ultra Short exposure time mode: tbd | Standard exposure time mode: 8000000 Ultra Short exposure time mode: tbd | 1 | Yes |
boA4112-68cm | Standard exposure time mode: 22 Ultra Short exposure time mode: tbd | Standard exposure time mode: 8000000 Ultra Short exposure time mode: tbd | 1 | Yes |
daA1280-54lc | 10d | 1000000 | 1 | No |
daA1280-54lm | 10d | 1000000 | 1 | No |
daA1280-54uc | 10d | 1000000 | 1 | No |
daA1280-54um | 10d | 1000000 | 1 | No |
daA1600-60lc | 10d | 850000 | 1 | No |
daA1600-60lm | 10d | 850000 | 1 | No |
daA1600-60uc | 10d | 850000 | 1 | No |
daA1600-60um | 10d | 850000 | 1 | No |
daA1920-15um | 10d | 1000000 | 1 | No |
daA1920-30uc | 10d | 1000000 | 1 | No |
daA1920-30um | 10d | 1000000 | 1 | No |
daA2500-14lc | 10d | 1000000 | 1 | No |
daA2500-14lm | 10d | 1000000 | 1 | No |
daA2500-14uc | 10d | 1000000 | 1 | No |
daA2500-14um | 10d | 1000000 | 1 | No |
daA2500-60mc | 15 | 480000000 | 1 | No |
puA1280-54uc | 10d | 1000000 | 1 | No |
puA1280-54um | 10d | 1000000 | 1 | No |
puA1600-60uc | 10d | 850000 | 1 | No |
puA1600-60um | 10d | 850000 | 1 | No |
puA1920-30uc | 10d | 1000000 | 1 | No |
puA1920-30um | 10d | 1000000 | 1 | No |
puA2500-14uc | 10d | 1000000 | 1 | No |
puA2500-14um | 10d | 1000000 | 1 | No |
-
Global shutter mode / Rolling shutter mode
-
8-bit pixel format / 12-bit pixel format
-
Valid 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.
-
Depending 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.
-
Due 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.
Additional Information for acA2040-90u and acA2000-165u Cameras
Available USB Bandwidth (Device Link Throughput) | Minimum Exposure Time (8-bit Pixel Formats) |
---|---|
≤ 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 |
Sample Code#
ace classic/U/L GigE cameras#
// Determine the current exposure time double d = camera.ExposureTimeAbs.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.ExposureTimeAbs.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 CEnumerationPtr(nodemap.GetNode("ExposureTimeMode"))->FromString("Standard"); // Set the exposure time to 3500 microseconds CFloatPtr(nodemap.GetNode("ExposureTimeAbs"))->SetValue(3500.0);
INodeMap& nodemap = camera.GetNodeMap(); // Determine the current exposure time double d = CFloatParameter(nodemap, "ExposureTimeAbs").GetValue(); // Set the exposure time mode to Standard // Note: Available on selected camera models only CEnumParameter(nodemap, "ExposureTimeMode").SetValue("Standard"); // Set the exposure time to 3500 microseconds CFloatParameter(nodemap, "ExposureTimeAbs").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 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 = Pylon.DeviceGetFloatFeature(hdev, "ExposureTimeAbs"); // 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, "ExposureTimeAbs", 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 */ errRes = PylonDeviceFeatureFromString(hdev, "ExposureTimeMode", "Standard"); CHECK(errRes); /* Set the exposure time to 3500 microseconds */ errRes = PylonDeviceSetFloatFeature(hdev, "ExposureTimeAbs", 3500.0); CHECK(errRes);
Other Cameras#
// Determine the current exposure time double d = camera.ExposureTime.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.ExposureTime.SetValue(3500.0);
INodeMap& nodemap = camera.GetNodeMap(); // 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 // 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("ExposureTime"))->SetValue(3500.0);
INodeMap& nodemap = camera.GetNodeMap(); // Determine the current exposure time double d = CFloatParameter(nodemap, "ExposureTime").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 CEnumParameter(nodemap, "ExposureTimeMode").SetValue("Standard"); // Set the exposure time to 3500 microseconds CFloatParameter(nodemap, "ExposureTime").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 // 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.ExposureTime].SetValue(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 // 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, "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, "ExposureTime", &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, "ExposureTime", 3500.0); CHECK(errRes);
You can also use the pylon Viewer to easily set the parameters.