The Basler ace 2 a2A4504-18um is a high-resolution USB3 Vision area scan camera using a 1.1-inch Sony IMX541 global shutter CMOS sensor with 4504 x 4504 pixels (20.2 MP) and 2.74 um square pixels. It delivers 18 frames per second at full resolution with selectable 8, 10, or 12-bit pixel depth over a SuperSpeed USB 3.0 interface that also supplies camera power. The monochrome camera uses a C-mount, draws about 3.4 W, and ships in a rugged 42.8 x 29 x 29 mm box housing rated IP30. It supports the USB3 Vision and GenICam standards for plug-and-play integration in machine vision systems.
Brand
Basler
Camera type
Area scan
Interface
USB 3.0 (SuperSpeed, USB3 Vision)
Resolution
20.2 MP
Horizontal resolution
4504 x 4504 px
Mono / color
Monochrome
Sensor manufacturer
sony_pregius_s (Sony Pregius S / IMX541 BSI global shutter)
The Basler ace 2 a2A4504-18um pairs a 1.1-inch Sony IMX541 Pregius S BSI CMOS sensor with a true global shutter, delivering a 4504 x 4504 square format at 20.2 MP. Global shutter is the decisive trait here: every pixel is exposed and read simultaneously, so parts moving past the camera, or a camera mounted on a moving axis, are captured without the skew and smear a rolling shutter would introduce. That makes this camera a fit for inspecting moving product rather than only static, indexed stations. With 2.74 um square pixels on a 17.45 mm diagonal sensor (12.34 x 12.34 mm active area), the 20.2 MP grid resolves fine detail across a wide field, and the square aspect ratio simplifies layout when the inspected feature is itself roughly square, such as wafers, panels, or printed sheets.
Connectivity is SuperSpeed USB 3.0 implementing the USB3 Vision and GenICam standards, which means plug-and-play discovery and a single cable that carries both data and the camera's roughly 3.4 W of power, with no separate supply to wire. That single-cable simplicity comes with USB3's practical cable-length limit, so the host PC or an active extension needs to sit near the camera. At full 4504 x 4504 resolution the camera runs 18 fps; an installer should treat that as the ceiling for full-frame throughput and plan cycle time around it, or use a region of interest to push frame rate higher when only part of the field is needed. Selectable 8, 10, or 12-bit output lets you trade bandwidth against tonal depth: 8-bit for fast throughput and simple thresholding, 10 or 12-bit when subtle grayscale gradients matter for surface or contrast-limited inspection.
This is a monochrome camera, so it captures luminance only and excels where contrast, edges, geometry, and code or character legibility matter more than color, and it pairs naturally with selectable monochromatic lighting to emphasize specific features. The C-mount and 1.1-inch sensor format require lenses with an image circle large enough to cover the 17.45 mm diagonal without vignetting and resolving power matched to the 2.74 um pixels, so a high-resolution lens is essential to actually realize the 20.2 MP. Physically it is a compact 42.8 x 29 x 29 mm box weighing 85 g, which eases integration into tight enclosures, gantries, and multi-camera arrays. The IP30 rating means it is protected against small solid objects but offers no liquid ingress protection, so dusty or wet lines call for a protective enclosure.
Best for
High-resolution defect and surface inspection of electronics, semiconductor wafers, and printed sheets where the 20.2 MP square field captures fine, distributed detail in one frame
OCR/OCV and code traceability tasks where monochrome contrast and 4504 x 4504 resolution make small characters and 2D codes legible
Inspecting parts in motion on a conveyor or moving stage, where the IMX541 global shutter prevents distortion at the 18 fps full-frame rate
Dimensional and geometric measurement of square or rectangular components, using the high pixel count for tight per-pixel metrology
Compact or multi-camera setups (gantries, tight enclosures) that benefit from the 85 g, 42.8 x 29 x 29 mm box housing and single USB3 power-plus-data cable
Selection notes
Budget for a high-resolution C-mount lens with an image circle covering the 1.1-inch (17.45 mm diagonal) sensor and resolving power matched to the 2.74 um pixels; an undersized or low-MTF lens will throw away the 20.2 MP.
Plan around the 18 fps full-resolution ceiling: if your cycle time needs more speed, crop to a region of interest, since full-frame throughput is fixed at 18 fps over USB3.
USB 3.0 carries data and the ~3.4 W of power on one cable but has a limited usable length, so site the host PC or an active USB3 extender close to the camera.
Choose pixel depth deliberately: 8-bit maximizes throughput and suits simple thresholding, while 10 or 12-bit preserves subtle grayscale for surface and low-contrast inspection at the cost of bandwidth.
The IP30 rating gives no liquid protection, so for dusty, washdown, or wet environments add a sealed enclosure; as a monochrome camera, pair it with appropriate monochromatic or structured lighting since it captures no color information.
Specifications: General
Brand
Basler
Camera type
Area scan
Specifications: Sensor
Resolution
20.2 MP
Horizontal resolution
4504 x 4504 px
Mono / color
Monochrome
Sensor manufacturer
sony_pregius_s (Sony Pregius S / IMX541 BSI global shutter)
Sensor model
Sony IMX541 CMOS
Shutter
Global shutter
Sensor size
1.1" (17.45 mm diagonal, 12.34 x 12.34 mm)
Pixel size
2.74 x 2.74 um
Specifications: Performance
FPS
18 fps at full resolution
Specifications: Interface
Interface
USB 3.0 (SuperSpeed, USB3 Vision)
Protocols
USB3 Vision, GenICam
Specifications: Optics
Mount
C-mount
Specifications: Electrical
Power
Via USB 3.0 interface (~3.4 W)
Power consumption
3.4 W
Specifications: Environment
IP rating
IP30
Specifications: Mechanical
Housing material
Box
Dimensions
42.8 x 29 x 29 mm
Weight
85 g
Applications this camera is commonly selected for. Open one to see the full recommended hardware and approach.
Matched automatically by: lens mount fits the camera mount · lens image circle covers the camera sensor — this camera: C-mount · 1.1" (17.45 mm diagonal, 12.34 x 12.34 mm) sensor.
By category
All 67C-mount lenses 43Telecentric lenses 24
By brand
All 67Basler 34iRAYPLE 23Omron / Sentech 8Datalogic / Datasensing 2
Get a first image quickly with the pylon Viewer, then move into the pylon SDK for your application. These cameras are GenICam/GenTL-compliant, so any compliant vision software can drive them as well.
Download and install the pylon Camera Software Suite for your OS from Basler. This provides the pylon Viewer, the GenTL transport-layer producers and the pylon SDK (C/C++/.NET/Python). On Windows the installer adds the needed drivers; on Linux follow the included setup notes for USB and network permissions.
2. Connect the camera and check the link
Cable the camera to its matching interface: GigE Vision to a GigE port (use a quality cable and, ideally, a dedicated NIC with jumbo frames enabled), USB3 Vision to a USB 3.x port with the supplied cable, or CoaXPress to the frame grabber. Provide power where required (PoE, USB bus power, or PoCXP). Open the pylon Viewer and confirm the camera appears in the device list; for GigE, make sure the camera and NIC are on the same subnet.
3. Grab a first image and set exposure, gain and pixel format
Select the camera in the pylon Viewer and start a continuous grab. Adjust exposure time and gain until the image is well exposed (avoid clipped highlights), set the pixel format (e.g. Mono8 or a Bayer/RGB format), and focus the lens. Use a test pattern if the lens or scene is not ready yet.
4. Configure triggering and acquisition
Decide between free-run and triggered acquisition. For synchronized capture, set the trigger source (software or a hardware line on the I/O connector), trigger mode and any debounce or exposure mode, then verify timing. Note the parameter names you change in the Viewer feature tree, as you will reuse them in code.
5. Move to the SDK or a GenICam-compliant library
Recreate your settings in code with the pylon SDK (C, C++, .NET or Python) to open the device, apply the same features and pull frames into your pipeline; pylon vTools and pylon AI can add processing blocks. Because the cameras are GenICam/GenTL standard, third-party vision libraries work too. Once the image stream is stable, you can route frames to a deep-learning inspection such as Rosepetal for automated defect detection.
Frequently asked questions
It uses a 1.1-inch Sony IMX541 Pregius S BSI CMOS sensor with a global shutter, providing 4504 x 4504 pixels (20.2 MP) at a 2.74 x 2.74 um pixel size.
It has a global shutter, so all pixels are exposed simultaneously and moving parts are captured without skew or distortion.
It runs 18 frames per second at the full 4504 x 4504 resolution. Selectable 8, 10, or 12-bit pixel depth lets you trade bandwidth for tonal depth.
It uses a SuperSpeed USB 3.0 interface following the USB3 Vision and GenICam standards, and it is powered over that same USB 3.0 cable, drawing about 3.4 W. No separate power supply is needed.
It is a monochrome camera, capturing luminance only, and it has a C-mount. The lens must cover the 1.1-inch sensor's 17.45 mm diagonal.
It ships in a compact 42.8 x 29 x 29 mm box housing weighing 85 g, rated IP30, which protects against small solid objects but provides no liquid ingress protection.
