Editorial Technical Reference

Optical lens assembly (line scan camera lens that images a long sensor at a fixed magnification)

Q: Why can't a normal machine vision lens be used?

Line scan sensors of 12k × 5 µm are about 61 mm long; lenses such as Schneider's SAPPHIRE are made for 62.5 mm sensors.

Q: What does magnification decide?

Field width and object pixel size; at 0.7x a 12k × 5 µm sensor covers about 88 mm at about 7.1 µm per pixel.

Q: When is a telecentric line scan lens worth it?

Where magnification must stay constant over depth because fixtures and triggers are not fully repeatable, as Opto Engineering explains.

Q: Which mounts are used?

Schneider uses a V70 interface with mount adapters; Opto Engineering's TC12K120 has M72 × 0.75 as standard.

Lenses for long line scan sensors · image circle against sensor length (12k × 5 µm, 16k × 3.5 µm), magnification-optimised lenses and their working distance, V70 and M72 × 0.75 mounts, telecentric line scan lenses, and what magnification does to field of view and object pixel size

A line scan camera's sensor can be over 60 mm long, far beyond what ordinary C-mount lenses cover, so the lens is chosen first by image circle and then by the magnification at which it is sharpest. That magnification fixes the width of the inspected strip, the size of one pixel on the object and the working distance. Specify the sensor (pixel count and pitch), the field width and resolution wanted, the working distance available, the mount, and whether constant magnification over depth (telecentric) is needed.

Lenses and lens assemblies for line scan cameras with long sensors: image circle, magnification-optimised and telecentric designs, working distance, apertures and mounts (V-mount, M72 × 0.75). General barrel-mounted machine vision lenses are covered on the Multi-element imaging lens assembly page; microscope and interferometry objectives on the Objective lens page; line scan inspection of electrode webs on the Vision Inspection System page; synchronised camera arrays on the Vision camera array page.

CNFX editorial research · Sources checked October 12, 2026 · 3 sources

Image circle and sensor length Magnification, field and pixel

Large black multi-element camera lens with knurled rings, clamped in a black holder on a steel optical plate with adjustment knobs, gloves and optical equipment behind — Large-format lens in a holder on an optical plate

Start with your task

Image circle and sensor length12k × 5 µm, 16k × 3.5 µm. Magnification, field and pixelWorking distance and object pixel.

Image circle against sensor length

Schneider's SAPPHIRE V70 lenses are "optimized for 16k with 3.5 µm (57.3 mm) and 12k / 5µm (62.5 mm) line scan sensors", with a maximum sensor size of 62.5 mm; the V70-Mount interface accepts other mounts and lets the lens be rotated "into the best azimuth". [1] [2] Opto Engineering's TC12K120 telecentric lens is "designed for large line scan cameras with an image circle up to 62 mm", lists an image circle of 62.40 mm and an M72 × 0.75 mount, and can be fitted with other camera mounts. [3]

Editorial calculation: a 12k sensor of 12,288 pixels at 5 µm is 61.44 mm long and a 16k sensor of 16,384 pixels at 3.5 µm is 57.34 mm, both inside a 62.5 mm image circle. [1]

Give the camera model, pixel count and pitch, and mount, so the lens maker can confirm coverage of the full line.

Magnification, working distance, field and object pixel

Each SAPPHIRE lens is optimised for one magnification. [1] [2]

Editorial calculation: with a 12k × 5 µm sensor (61.44 mm), the 0.7x lens images a strip about 61.44 ÷ 0.7 ≈ 87.8 mm wide with an object pixel of 5 ÷ 0.7 ≈ 7.1 µm; the 0.529x telecentric images about 62.4 ÷ 0.529 ≈ 118 mm with an object pixel of about 9.5 µm. [1] [3]

Opto Engineering explains that with a telecentric lens "optical magnification remains constant within the field of view and depth of field", which matters where "part fixtures and camera triggers are seldom 100% repeatable"; it names flat panel display, solar cell and electronic board inspection among the uses. Schneider lists FPD and PCB inspection and AOI for the SAPPHIRE lenses, with a 400-1000 nm broadband AR coating. [3] [1]

Lens	Magnification	Working distance	F/#	Other	Source
Schneider SAPPHIRE 0.06/0.7x V70	-0.7 (-0.76 … -0.65)	169-191 mm	F/3.2 … F/11.3	f 97 mm; 810 g; M52 × 0.75 filter	[1]
Schneider SAPPHIRE 0.05/0.5x V70	-0.5 (-0.55 … -0.45)	215-254 mm	F/3.2 … F/11.3	f 96 mm; 700 g	[2]
Opto Engineering TC12K120 (telecentric)	0.529	254.0 mm (keep within ±3%)	16.0 (working)	Distortion < 0.08%; depth of field 4.00 mm; telecentricity < 0.08°; 722.1 mm long	[3]

State the strip width to inspect, the smallest defect, the space between camera and object, and the depth variation of the object; these fix magnification, working distance and whether telecentric optics are needed.

Line scan lens details

Paste it into your enquiry below or into an email to a maker, then replace every bracket.

Camera: [model; pixels; pitch; sensor length; mount]
Field: [strip width; smallest defect]
Magnification: [value; object pixel]
Working distance: [mm; tolerance]
Type: [standard; telecentric]
Aperture and spectrum: [F/#; wavelength range]
Mechanics: [mount; filter; length; weight]

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Line scan lens makers

Manufacturer profiles associated with Optical Lens Assembly.

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Compiled and source-reviewed by the CNFX editorial team. Each manufacturer above links to the page on that company's own website where the product is listed, with the date we checked it. How we source and review · Page last updated 13 October 2026

Buyer questions

Why can't a normal machine vision lens be used?

Line scan sensors of 12k × 5 µm are about 61 mm long; lenses such as Schneider's SAPPHIRE are made for 62.5 mm sensors. [1]

What does magnification decide?

Field width and object pixel size; at 0.7x a 12k × 5 µm sensor covers about 88 mm at about 7.1 µm per pixel. [1]

When is a telecentric line scan lens worth it?

Where magnification must stay constant over depth because fixtures and triggers are not fully repeatable, as Opto Engineering explains. [3]

Which mounts are used?

Schneider uses a V70 interface with mount adapters; Opto Engineering's TC12K120 has M72 × 0.75 as standard. [1] [3]

Sources and what still needs a direct check

Sources checked 2026-10-12. Schneider SAPPHIRE data sheets are hosted by distributor 1stVision; Machine Vision Store lists the Opto Engineering TC12K120 with specifications.

Schneider-Kreuznach — SAPPHIRE 0.06/0.7x V70 data sheet (1stVision) ↗ Maker data sheet (distributor copy) Return to text ↑
Schneider-Kreuznach — SAPPHIRE 0.05/0.5x V70 data sheet (1stVision) ↗ Maker data sheet (distributor copy) Return to text ↑
Opto Engineering — TC12K120 telecentric lens 0.529X for 62.4 mm sensor (Machine Vision Store) ↗ Distributor product listing Return to text ↑

Still to check yourself

Confirm sensor length and mount.
Choose magnification for field and pixel.
Check working distance space.
Decide on telecentric optics.
Check spectrum and aperture.
Verify the legal supplier and factory.

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