Skip to content
Omron / Sentech STC-MBS2041U3V / STC-MCS2041U3V machine vision camera
Omron / SentechHigh-resolution cameras
  • Rosepetal compatible
  • Recommended by AIS Vision

Omron / Sentech Sentech STC-MBS2041U3V / STC-MCS2041U3V (20MP USB3 Vision)

STC-MBS2041U3V

The STC-MBS2041U3V (mono) and STC-MCS2041U3V (color) are area-scan cameras using a 1-inch Sony IMX183 CMOS rolling-shutter sensor with 5472 x 3648 (20.4 MP) resolution and 2.4 um square pixels, delivering up to 18.5 fps over a USB 3.0 / USB3 Vision 1.0.1 interface. The camera offers Mono8/10/12 (color: BayerRG8/10/12) pixel formats, exposure from 60.58 us to 16,777 s, 0-22.2 dB analog gain, and trigger modes including edge-preset, pulse-width, start-stop and free-run. It uses a C-mount, is powered via USB bus power (+5 V) or external +8.0 to +24 VDC at 4.3 W or less, and measures 35 x 35 x 41.5 mm weighing about 77 g.

Brand
Omron / Sentech
Camera type
Area scan
Interface
USB 3.0 (USB3 Vision 1.0.1)
Resolution
20 MP (effective 5472 x 3648 = ~20.0 MP)
Horizontal resolution
5472 x 3648 px
Mono / color
Monochrome (STC-MBS2041U3V) / Color (STC-MCS2041U3V)
Sensor model
Sony IMX183 CMOS
Shutter
Rolling shutter / global reset
FPS
18.5 fps
Mount
C-mount
Sensor size
1" optical format
Pixel size
2.4 x 2.4 um
Validate my application with RosepetalRequest a technical quoteTalk to AIS Vision

Technical overview

The Omron STC-MBS2041U3V (monochrome) and STC-MCS2041U3V (color) are area-scan cameras built on a 1-inch Sony IMX183 CMOS sensor delivering 5472 x 3648 pixels (20.4 MP) from 2.4 um square pixels. That pixel count over a 1-inch format is the defining trait: it puts a very fine sampling grid in front of your scene, which is what you want for high-resolution defect detection, fine OCR/OCV, and dimensional gauging where each part feature must span enough pixels to be measurable. With 2.4 um pixels, the optics matter as much as the sensor: you need a C-mount lens that resolves at that pixel pitch (high-resolution / low-distortion glass), and you should expect to stop down only modestly before diffraction starts to soften the corners. The mono version captures full luminance at every pixel and is the right pick for measurement, surface and edge work; the color version uses a BayerRG mosaic (BayerRG8/10/12) and trades some spatial resolution for color discrimination, suited to print, label and color-coded packaging inspection.

The sensor is a rolling shutter (with global reset), and the camera runs up to 18.5 fps at full 20.4 MP resolution over USB 3.0 (USB3 Vision 1.0.1, GenICam). Rolling shutter reads the sensor line by line, so for any part that is moving during exposure you can get skew or smear; this camera is therefore happiest imaging stationary parts at an indexed station, or moving parts frozen by a short exposure under bright strobed lighting. The exposure range is wide, from 60.58 us at the short end to 16,777 s for very dark or long-integration work, and analog gain spans 0 to 22.2 dB to lift signal when light is limited (at the cost of noise). Pixel formats are Mono8/10/12 on the mono model and BayerRG8/10/12 on the color model; the 10- and 12-bit depths give extra tonal headroom for subtle contrast inspection and grading, at the expense of bandwidth and frame rate over the USB3 link.

Triggering is flexible: edge-preset, pulse-width, start-stop and free-run modes let you slave the camera to a PLC, encoder index or photoelectric sensor, which is essential at a conveyor or indexed station where the camera must fire exactly when the part is in frame. The C-mount and 1-inch format require lenses rated for 1-inch sensors at this resolution; undersized lenses will vignette or fail to resolve the corners. Power comes from USB bus power (+5 V) or an external +8.0 to +24 VDC supply, drawing 4.3 W or less, so a cable run within USB3 limits (a few metres, or longer with active/optical cabling) and a stable supply are the integration constraints. The housing is a compact 35 x 35 x 41.5 mm aluminium body weighing about 77 g, with a 0 to +72 degC operating range that suits enclosure-mounted inspection stations; the aluminium body also acts as a heatsink, so leave it some airflow at the upper end of that temperature band.

Best for

  • High-resolution defect and surface inspection of electronics, semiconductor and printed parts where 20.4 MP over a 1-inch sensor resolves fine flaws across a large field
  • Dimensional measurement and gauging of stationary or indexed parts, using the full 5472 x 3648 grid for sub-pixel edge measurement
  • Industrial OCR/OCV on labels, print and marked components, leveraging Mono8/10/12 tonal depth (mono variant) for character contrast
  • Color print, label and packaging inspection using the BayerRG color variant (STC-MCS2041U3V) for color-coded or graphic verification
  • Compact, USB3-cabled inspection stations in machines and enclosures where the 35 x 35 x 41.5 mm aluminium body and 4.3 W draw fit tight spaces

Selection notes

  • Choose the mono STC-MBS2041U3V for measurement, edge and surface work where every pixel should carry luminance; choose the color STC-MCS2041U3V (BayerRG) only when color discrimination is required, accepting reduced effective spatial resolution from the Bayer mosaic.
  • This is a rolling-shutter sensor (with global reset): image stationary or indexed parts, or freeze motion with very short exposures (down to 60.58 us) under bright strobed lighting to avoid skew/smear; for fast continuous motion a global-shutter camera is a better fit.
  • Pair with a C-mount lens rated for a 1-inch sensor at high resolution; the 2.4 um pixels demand sharp, low-distortion optics, and an undersized lens will vignette or soften the corners of the 5472 x 3648 frame.
  • Budget USB3 bandwidth: 20.4 MP at 18.5 fps and 10/12-bit formats push the USB 3.0 link hard, so plan cable length within USB3 limits (active/optical cabling for longer runs) and verify host controller throughput; bit depth and frame rate trade against each other.
  • Plan power and thermal: feed either USB bus power (+5 V) or external +8.0 to +24 VDC at 4.3 W or less, and give the aluminium housing airflow near the top of its 0 to +72 degC range so it can shed heat.
  • Use the trigger modes (edge-preset, pulse-width, start-stop, free-run) to synchronize capture to a PLC, encoder or photoelectric sensor so the camera fires only when the part is correctly positioned.

Specifications: General
BrandOmron / Sentech
Camera typeArea scan

Specifications: Sensor
Resolution20 MP (effective 5472 x 3648 = ~20.0 MP)
Horizontal resolution5472 x 3648 px
Mono / colorMonochrome (STC-MBS2041U3V) / Color (STC-MCS2041U3V)
Sensor modelSony IMX183 CMOS
ShutterRolling shutter / global reset
Sensor size1" optical format
Pixel size2.4 x 2.4 um

Specifications: Performance
FPS18.5 fps

Specifications: Interface
InterfaceUSB 3.0 (USB3 Vision 1.0.1)
ProtocolsUSB3 Vision 1.0.1, GenICam

Specifications: Optics
MountC-mount

Specifications: Electrical
PowerUSB bus power (+5V) or external +8.0 to +24 VDC
Power consumption4.3 W

Specifications: Environment
Operating temperature0 to +72 degC

Specifications: Mechanical
Dimensions35 (W) x 35 (H) x 41.5 (D) mm
Weight77 g
Housing materialAluminium

Frequently asked questions

Related technical guides

Guide

High-resolution imaging for inspection

When 20+ MP cameras earn their place in inspection: sensor formats, the optics and MTF challenge, bandwidth and interfaces, lighting uniformity, and single high-res vs multi-camera.

Guide

GigE Vision vs USB3 Vision vs CoaXPress

A practical decision guide to the three dominant machine-vision interfaces: bandwidth, cable length, multi-camera support, PoE, latency, frame grabber needs and cost.

Guide

Global shutter vs rolling shutter

How global and rolling shutters differ, why rolling shutter distorts moving objects, and when each is the right choice for industrial inspection.

Related products

Rosepetal · AI

Test this camera with Rosepetal

Validate your visual inspection with AI: send us sample images and we evaluate the case on your hardware.

Test with Rosepetal Send sample images

AIS Vision · Integration

We validate camera + lens + lighting

AIS Vision defines and tests the optimal combination of camera, optics and lighting for your application before you buy.

Validate my applicationRequest a lighting study