Camera Link or USB3

[rvc]

I have a vision system using a color camera and frame grabber (1410).  As the future of frame grabbers near it's end I need to prepare for obsolecense I am thinking of migrating to either a Camera Link or USB3 camera.  I used the Camera Advisor and did not see a USB3 option.  USB3 has the bandwidth and is lower cost than the Camera Link solutions but I don't want to have to deal with writing my own vision calls to acquire images from the USB3 camera or modify settings.  I want to be able to use MAX to do preliminary testing / troubleshooting of the device.  I have had issues with USB2 devices not being 100% compatible with NI drivers so I am concerned about USB3.  My question is should I just go with Camera Link or will I be able to use USB3 easily with LabVIEW?   

[AdnanZ · Accepted solution]

You don't need to use the Camera Advisor to see whether compatibility exists with USB 3.0. You just need to make sure that your camera is USB3 Vision compliant. Also, note that comparing Camera Link with USB3 might not be the best. I see the USB3 competing more with the GigE interface. The Camera Link interface can give you bandwidths of upto 850 MB/s and USB3 can give upto 400 MB/s with GigE around 125 MB/s. The plug and play functionality of USB3 is very similar to GigE.

NI-IMAQdx, part of the Vision Acquisition Software driver package, supports USB3 Vision compliant USB 3.0 devices so you should be OK using National Instruments software products (including MAX) to interface with your device. Do remember that USB 2.0 devices was a whole different story. With that National Instrumetns only supported those devices with a DirectShow interface. 

Also, vision and camera vendors have announced USB3 only last fall. So, there is still some time before USB 3 becomes more used in the industry. Basler has just released the Ace USB 3.0 cameras, but they will be available sometime in Q2.

If you don't need the advantages of Camera Link and USB3 satisifies your specs, then my recommendation is to go with USB3.

[rvc]

Thank you.  USB 3 makes the most sense as the bandwidth shouldn't be an issue at the resolution that I am using.  As my timeframe will allow for a Q2 or Q3 arrival then it looks good.

[rvc]

Thank you.  USB 3 makes the most sense as the bandwidth shouldn't be an issue at the resolution that I am using.  As my timeframe will allow for a Q2 or Q3 arrival then it looks good.

[Cameron-T]

Just to clarify, support for USB3 with IMAQdx will be part of the software release stated on this Developer Zone. The page also provides a comparison between USB3 and other camera buses. 

[rvc]

Good to know.  I will try to hold out until August before purchasing a camera.  I was hoping for earlier but with new technology these delays are not unexpected.