Quick Analysis of the Relationship Between Frame Rate and Exposure (Shutter) of Industrial Cameras-Knowledge Encyclopedia-Shenzhen Kai Mo Rui Electronic Technology Co. LTD

Quick Analysis of the Relationship Between Frame Rate and Exposure (Shutter) of Industrial Cameras

Source：Shenzhen Kai Mo Rui Electronic Technology Co. LTD2026-07-08

01 Brief Introduction to Industrial Cameras

As a core professional visual component widely used in the field of industrial vision, industrial cameras serve as an irreplaceable key part within machine vision systems.

They have been extensively deployed in online inspection on industrial production lines, intelligent transportation, machine vision research, military science, aerospace and many other sectors.

Key specifications of industrial cameras cover resolution, frame rate, pixel count, pixel size, spectral response characteristics and more. This article mainly elaborates on the correlation between frame rate and exposure parameters of industrial cameras.

02 Technical Background of Core Parameters

Frame rate and exposure are interdependent parameters that jointly determine the captured image quality of an industrial camera.

Frame rate refers to the number of image frames captured by the camera within one second. It is critical for scenarios requiring real-time video monitoring or tracking fast-moving targets. A higher frame rate delivers smoother video streams, yet it tends to shorten the allowable exposure time, which in turn affects the brightness and sharpness of images.

Exposure controls the total amount of light received by the image sensor. A longer exposure duration allows more light to hit the sensor and produces brighter pictures. However, it may cause motion blur or extra image noise if the camera or target objects are in motion.

Therefore, optimizing frame rate and exposure requires striking a perfect balance: securing enough frames per second for real-time tasks while capturing sufficient light to guarantee clear image quality. Different industrial cameras feature distinct adjustable ranges and configuration logic for frame rate and exposure based on customized application demands.

03 Calculation Logic of Frame Rate & Shutter Speed

The basic formula for the correlation between shutter speed and frame rate is as follows:

Shutter Speed ≤ 1 / Frame Rate

For instance, if the camera runs at 30 frames per second (fps):

Shutter Speed = 1 ÷ 30 ≈ 0.0333 s = 33.3 ms = 33300 μs

Reciprocally, the theoretical upper limit of frame rate can be derived from a fixed required shutter speed using the same formula.

Note: This formula only provides a theoretical reference. The actual achievable frame rate of an industrial camera is affected by multiple variables, so on-site testing results shall prevail.

Common Technical Question

Can frame rate be directly calculated merely from shutter exposure time?

This cannot be achieved through simple calculation alone. The actual frame rate is constrained by exposure duration, sensor readout time, image transmission efficiency and interface bandwidth of the camera.

The practical frame rate is determined by the total cycle time including both exposure time and data readout time per frame.

In addition, official datasheets and user manuals always list the maximum frame rate under specific camera configurations, which is the most reliable basis for evaluating overall device performance.

04 Solutions for Insufficient Exposure & Dim Image Issues

When fixed frame rate limits the maximum exposure time and leads to underexposed dark images, the following solutions are available:

Adjust Gain Value
Increase the Gain parameter to lift overall image brightness. Nevertheless, excessive gain will introduce noticeable digital noise, so a moderate value should be set to balance brightness and image cleanliness.
Optimize Lens Aperture
Widen the lens aperture to boost light intake. Note that aperture parameters vary across lens brands; if the current lens cannot meet light demand, replace it with another lens of the same focal length for verification.
Enhance Machine Vision Illumination
Lighting is a foundational and decisive component of machine vision systems. Boost the brightness by increasing the power output or adjusting the strobing mode of the dedicated vision light source.

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