In numerous fields such as modern industrial automation, machine vision, scientific research experiments, traffic monitoring, andaerospace, industrial cameras have become indispensable electronic eyes. Their core task is to see clearly, capture sharply, and identify

accurately under high‑speed, high‑precision working conditions.

When it comes to clear imaging, two core parameters are essential: frame rate and exposure time. The relationship between them is just

like a seesaw — raising one usually means compromising the other. So what exactly do these two parameters mean? How do they affect image

quality? What practical rules should we know about their interaction? 1. What Are Frame Rate and Exposure Time? Frame Rate (FPS) Frame rate refers to the number of images captured by an industrial camera per second. For example, 30fps means the camera can capture 30

frames every second. A higher frame rate delivers smoother video and is ideal for shooting high‑speed moving objects, such as component inspection on production

lines and traffic snapshot capture.

Advantages: Smooth performance and excellent real-time response.

Disadvantages: The higher the frame rate, the less time each single frame can obtain, bringing certain challenges to overall image brightness.

Advantages: Brighter images and richer details.

Disadvantages: Excessively long exposure time easily causes motion blur on moving objects, and meanwhile limits the maximum frame rate.

II. Relationship between Frame Rate and Exposure: Restrictive and Mutually Restrained

The correlation can be summarized by an approximate formula:

For example:If you want a frame rate of 50 fps, the exposure time must be less than or equal to 20,000 microseconds (20 ms);If you set the exposure time to 50,000 microseconds, the maximum frame rate will be limited to 20 fps.

In short, a higher frame rate means less available exposure time for each frame, while a longer exposure time limits how many frames can be

captured per second.

III. Theory vs. Reality: Do Not Mislead by Simple Formulas

Although the above calculation formula is intuitive, it only represents an ideal model. In practice, the actual frame rate of an industrial camera is affected by many additional factors, such as:

Image transmission interface bandwidth (USB3.0, GigE, CameraLink, etc.)

Image resolution and size (full sensor output or cropped ROI)

Sensor readout time

Processing performance of host software

Therefore, in engineering projects, it is recommended to refer to the official camera datasheet or conduct actual software testing, rather than

relying solely on theoretical calculations.

IV. Practical Case: Simple Calculation Demonstration

Let us look at a practical example:

Camera maximum frame rate: 53 fps

Capture with full sensor resolution

According to the theoretical formula:

If you set the exposure time to 50,000 microseconds, let’s do the calculation again:

V. Frame Rate vs. Exposure: How to Solve Insufficient Brightness

• Increasing the power of light sources;
• Adopting stroboscopic lighting;
• Selecting specialized light types such as ring lights, bar lights, and area lights.

VI. Conclusion: Find the Optimal Balance

• Prioritize frame rate if real-time performance is required.
• Extend exposure time for higher clarity and brighter images.
• For balanced high frame rate and sufficient brightness, optimize gain, lens aperture, and external lighting conditions.