Introduction

Industrial machine vision systems rely heavily on high-performance optical lenses to ensure clear, sharp and accurate imaging in automated inspection, quality control, traffic monitoring and scientific imaging.

Among all mainstream lens mounts, C-mount has become the most widely adopted standard for industrial cameras, thanks to its stable mechanical structure, universal compatibility and excellent imaging consistency.

Choosing a reliable C-mount lens supplier directly determines your machine vision system’s stability, long-term service life and project cost. With countless optical manufacturers on the market, it is time-consuming to screen qualified and professional suppliers.

In this guide, we list the 7 best C-mount lens suppliers for industrial cameras, compare core technical parameters, analyze pros and cons, and share practical selection tips. Whether you are a system integrator, industrial buyer or vision engineer, you can find cost-effective and high-quality C-mount lens solutions here.

25mm C mount industrial lens

What Is a C-Mount Lens?

C-mount is a global unified lens mounting standard specially designed for industrial and security cameras.

• Fixed flange distance: 17.526mm
• Widely compatible with most industrial FA cameras, machine vision devices and inspection equipment
• Support interchangeable focal length lenses for different working distance needs
• Suitable for harsh industrial environments with anti-shock and temperature resistance design

C-Mount Main Application Scenarios

• Factory automated production line inspection
• Industrial defect detection and quality control
• Traffic monitoring and license plate recognition
• Medical imaging and scientific research equipment
• 3D vision and robotic vision systems

Critical Parameters to Evaluate Industrial C-Mount Lenses

Before comparing suppliers, you need to master key lens indicators to avoid wrong selection:

• Sensor target size: 1/3”, 1/2”, 2/3”, 1” and larger ultra-large format
• Resolution: 5MP, 8MP, 12MP to 20MP high-definition specification
• Optical distortion: low distortion design for precise industrial measurement
• IR correction: optional IR-compatible lens for day & night 24/7 imaging
• Aperture type: fixed aperture or manual adjustable aperture
• Customization: focal length adjustment, structural modification and logo OEM service

Best 7 C-Mount Lens Suppliers for Industrial Cameras

We selected 7 reputable global manufacturers, including international top optical brands and professional Chinese optical OEM factories, to meet high-end, mid-range and cost-effective procurement demands.

1. Fujinon (Fujifilm)

Fujinon

• Overview:
  • Country: Japan
  • Known for high-end optical technology
• Strengths:
  • Excellent image clarity
  • Strong R&D capability
• Best For:
  • High-precision industrial systems

2. Computar (CBC Group)

• Overview:
  • Country: Japan
  • One of the most recognized industrial lens brands
• Strengths:
  • Wide product portfolio
  • Stable performance
• Best For:
  • General machine vision applications

3. Kowa

• Overview:
  • Country: Japan
  • Specialized in industrial optics
• Strengths:
  • Compact design
  • High-resolution lenses
• Best For:
  • Space-limited systems

4. Tamron

• Overview:
  • Country: Japan
  • Strong presence in both consumer and industrial optics
• Strengths:
  • Reliable quality
  • Competitive pricing
• Best For:
  • Mid-range industrial projects

5. Edmund Optics

Edmund Optics

• Overview:
  • Country: USA
  • Premium optics supplier
• Strengths:
  • Advanced optical engineering
  • Custom solutions
• Best For:
  • Scientific and high-end applications

6. Towin

• Overview:
  • Country: China
  • Professional manufacturer focused on industrial lenses
• Strengths:
  • Competitive pricing with stable quality
  • Strong OEM/ODM customization capability
  • Fast delivery and flexible production
  • Dedicated support for machine vision projects
• Best For:
  • OEM customers
  • Automation and inspection systems
  • Buyers seeking cost-effective solutions
• 📧 Contact: info@towin-elec.com

TOWIN C-Mount Lens

7. Hikrobot (Lens Division)

• Overview:
  • Country: China
  • Backed by Hikvision ecosystem
• Strengths:
  • Integrated vision solutions
  • Strong industrial ecosystem
• Best For:
  • Smart factory and AI vision systems

Comparison of Top C-Mount Lens Suppliers

How to Select the Best C-Mount Lens Supplier for Your Project

Follow these practical steps to avoid overpaying or mismatched lenses:

• 1. Confirm your industrial camera sensor size and pixel resolution first
• 2. Clarify working distance, viewing angle and installation space requirements
• 3. Judge whether low distortion is required for measurement scenarios
• 4. Confirm day-night use needs to select IR corrected lenses
• 5. Evaluate purchase volume: small batch sample order or mass production
• 6. Check supplier’s customization capability if you need private design
• 7. Balance budget, delivery time and after-sales technical support

Why Low Distortion Matters for Industrial Cameras

• Reduce image deformation to ensure accurate size measurement
• Improve recognition accuracy for AI visual inspection
• Avoid data deviation in automated production line detection

C-Mount 1/1.2″ 25mm low-distortion lens

FAQs

Q1: What is the difference between C-mount and CS-mount lenses?

C-mount has a 17.526mm flange distance, while CS-mount is 12.52mm. C-mount lenses can adapt to CS-mount cameras with a spacer ring, but CS-mount lenses cannot be used on C-mount cameras.

Q2: Are high MP C-mount lenses necessary for industrial use?

Not always. Match the lens resolution to your camera sensor. Excessively high pixels will increase cost, while insufficient resolution will cause blurry details.

Q3: Can TOWIN provide custom C-mount industrial lenses?

Yes. TOWIN supports personalized focal length, coating, structural size and logo customization to meet unique machine vision project demands.

Q4: Do industrial C-mount lenses need waterproof performance?

It depends on the working environment. For factory dust-proof and humid scenes, you can choose our sealed and dustproof upgraded C-mount lens models.

Conclusion

C-mount industrial lenses are essential components for modern machine vision and industrial automation systems. Selecting a suitable supplier can greatly improve imaging quality, equipment stability and overall project benefits.

The 7 suppliers listed in this article cover high-end imported brands and high-quality Chinese manufacturers, meeting different budget and technical demands. As a professional industrial optical lens manufacturer, TOWIN Lens integrates independent R&D, mass production and customized service, providing reliable low-distortion, high-resolution C-mount lenses for global industrial customers.

If you are looking for stable supply, competitive price and one-stop customized C-mount lens solutions, feel free to contact our team for free catalog, sample testing and personalized quotation.

📧: info@towin-elec.com