Point Grey World's Smallest 4K USB 3.0 Camera Review

4K resolution video will be the next big technological leap as far as film and television goes, but it doesn't take a massive, expensive camera like the RED Epic to shoot 4K resolution video and Point Grey's Flea3 webcam equipped with a Sony Exmor R sensor is up to the task but is hardly bigger than an inch in any direction. Sony’s new IMX121 sensor with Exmor R back-illuminated CMOS architecture that offers high sensitivity and dynamic range for sharp color images and the amera measures only 29mm x 29mm x 30mm or about 1-inch cubed. The small size makes the camera especially suitable for fitting in tight spaces such as in common industrial imaging, such as automatic optical inspection, ophthalmology, interactive multimedia, and broadcasting and the USB 3.0 connector guarantees delivery of critical image data through USB 3.0 bulk transfers of 5Gb/s and also delivers power so that no other external power sources or cables are needed.

Point Grey, one of the world's largest and most innovative manufacturers of industrial digital cameras for machine vision, bioscience, traffic, and GIS applications releases an innovative new model to its popular line of Flea3 USB 3.0 cameras. This new model leverages the bandwidth capabilities of USB 3.0 by delivering 4096 x 2160 color images at 21 FPS (185 MByte/s) in an ice-cube sized, low-cost package. "This camera is our latest innovation; we packed a high quality 8.8 MP, 4K2K sensor into the Flea3 and did it at an unbeatable price-point." The FL3-U3-88S2C features Sony's new IMX121 sensor with "Exmor R" back-illuminated CMOS architecture. By increasing quantum efficiency and reducing noise, "Exmor R" improves sensitivity and dynamic range for sharp, high-quality color images. The impressive 4K2K resolution combined with the ease of USB 3.0 and the camera's small size makes the new Flea3 suitable for a variety of high resolution color applications including automatic optical inspection, ophthalmology, interactive multimedia, and broadcast. "Since demonstrating the world's first USB 3.0 camera in 2009, Point Grey continues to push the boundaries of imaging technology," explains Michael Gibbons, Director of Sales and Marketing. Mr. Gibbons adds, "This camera is our latest innovation; we packed a high quality 8.8 MP, 4K2K sensor into the Flea3 and did it at an unbeatable price-point." Point Grey's Flea3 camera line measures just 29 x 29 x 30mm and provides a unique set of features dedicated to maximizing USB 3.0 reliability, including a 32 megabyte frame buffer; on-camera power, temperature, and status monitoring; and in-field updatable firmware. The camera also provides color interpolation, look up table, gamma correction, and pixel binning functionality. The Flea3 FL3-U3-88S2C-C (color) model is list priced at USD $945 and is available to order now from Point Grey and its network of distributors.

Specifitions:

Flea3 USB 3.0 System Requirements:

• Windows 7 32- or 64-bit
• Intel Core i3 3.1 GHz or comparable processor
• 2 GB RAM
• PCIe 2.0-compatible host controller with USB 3.0 connector
• NVIDIA GeForce6 video card with 128 MB RAM
• Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 SP1 and SP1 Update for Vista (to compile and run example code)

For a full list of compatible and tested hardware please refer to KB Article 368

"C/M" indicates both color and monochrome sensor options are available for this model number. Full model numbers are available here

	MODEL	MEGAPIXELS	IMAGING SENSOR	MAX RES	MAX FPS	PIXEL SIZE
Available	FL3-U3-13S2C/M-CS	1.3 MP	Sony IMX035 CMOS, 1/3", Mono/Color, Rolling Shutter	1328x1048	120 FPS	3.63 µm
Available	FL3-U3-13Y3M-C	1.3 MP	On Semi VITA1300 CMOS, 1/2", Mono, Global Shutter	1280x1024	150 FPS	4.8 µm
Available	FL3-U3-32S2C/M-CS	3.2 MP	Sony IMX036 CMOS, 1/2.8", Mono/Color, Rolling Shutter with Global Reset	2080x1552	60 FPS	2.5 µm
Available	FL3-U3-88S2C-C	8.8 MP	Sony IMX121 CMOS, 1/2.5", Color, Rolling Shutter	4096x2160	21 FPS	1.55 µm

A/D Converter	12-bit; 10-bit FL3-U3-13Y3
Video Data Output	8, 12, 16 and 24-bit digital data
Image Data Formats	Y8, Y16, Mono8, Mono12, Mono16 (all models) RGB8, YUV411, YUV422, YUV444, Raw8, Raw12, Raw16 (color models)
Partial Image Modes	Pixel binning and region of interest (ROI) modes
Image Processing	Gamma, lookup table, hue, saturation, and sharpness
Gain	Automatic/Manual/One-Push Gain modes (*Free running only)
Gain	0 dB to 24 dB (0 db to 18 db FL3-U3-13Y3)
Gamma	0.50 to 4.00
White Balance	Automatic/manual modes, programmable via software
Color Processing	On-camera in YUV or RGB format, or on-PC in Raw format
Digital Interface	USB 3.0 interface with screw locks for camera control, data, and power
Transfer Rates	5 Gbit/s
GPIO	8-pin Hirose HR25 GPIO connector for power, trigger, strobe, PWM, and serial I/O: 1 opto-isolated input, 1 opto-isolated output, 2 bi-directional I/O pins
External Trigger Modes	IIDC Trigger Modes 0, 1, and 15
Synchronization	via external trigger or software trigger
Shutter	Rolling Shutter (FL3-U3-13S2, FL3-U3-88S2) ; Global Reset (FL3-U3-32S2); Global Shutter (FL3-U3-13Y3)
	Automatic/Manual/One-Push/Extended Shutter** modes (Free running only) (*except FL3-U3-13Y3)
	0.008 ms to 1 second (FL3-U3-13S2) / 0.006 ms to 1 second (FL3-U3-13Y3) / 0.01 ms to 32 seconds (FL3-U3-32S2) / 0.021 ms to 1 second (FL3-U3-88S2)
Image Buffer	32 MB frame buffer
Memory Channels	2 memory channels for custom camera settings
Flash Memory	1 MB
Dimensions	29 x 29 x 30 mm excluding lens holder (metal case)
Mass	52 g FL3-U3-13S2, FL3-U3-32S2 / 58 g FL3-U3-13Y3, FL3-U3-88S2 (without optics)
Power Consumption	5 V, <3 W, via GPIO or USB 3.0 interface
Camera Specification	IIDC v1.32
Camera Control	via FlyCapture SDK, CSRs, or third party software
Camera Updates	In-field firmware updates
Lens Mount	CS-mount: FL3-U3-13S2, FL3-U3-32S2 / C-mount: FL3-U3-13Y3, FL3-U3-88S2
Operating Temperature	0° to 45°C
Storage Temperature	-30° to 60°C
Emissions Compliance	CE, FCC, RoHS
Operating System	Windows 7 32- or 64-bit
Warranty	Two years