Basler dart Review: Specs and Uses of the 27 mm Board-Level Camera Module
Updated: 7 days ago
The Basler dart is a board-level camera module for building into machines and devices. Prices depend on model and are shown in Basler's web shop. This review covers the series, its specifications and uses.
Quick Verdict
The dart is a camera reduced to a circuit board of 27 by 27 mm that weighs 5 g. It is meant for designers who put vision inside a product, such as a small robot, a handheld scanner or a laboratory device, and cannot fit a housed camera. Despite the size it offers industrial sensors from VGA to 13 megapixels and speeds up to 523 fps, with a choice of GigE, USB 3.0 or MIPI. The dart E for MIPI is the lowest-cost family and works with NXP and NVIDIA processors. A bare board needs care in mechanical design and protection.
Basler dart at a Glance
Size, bare board: 27 x 27 mm
Weight, bare board: 5 g
Resolution: VGA to 13 MP
Frame rate: 14 to 523 fps
Interfaces: GigE, USB 3.0, BCON for MIPI
Price: by model
Basler dart Families and Specifications
The table below lists the four families.
Family | Sensors | Interface | Notes |
dart M | Sony CMOS | GigE | Modular, with flat flex cable; optional interface board with PoE |
dart Classic | onsemi and e2V CMOS | USB 3.0 | First dart family |
dart R | Sony Pregius S, Pregius and Starvis | USB 3.0 | High-speed models up to 523 fps |
dart E | onsemi CMOS, rolling shutter | BCON for MIPI | Optional internal image processor; lowest-cost models |
Detailed Technical Data
Bare board: 27 x 27 mm, 5 g
With S-mount or CS-mount: 29 x 29 mm, 15 g
Mount options: bare board, S, C and CS mount
USB 3.0 models are backward compatible with USB 2.0
Design and Build Quality
The module is offered as a bare board or with a lens mount. In the dart M the sensor board connects by flat flex cable to a separate interface board, so the sensor can sit in a tight spot and the connector elsewhere.
Software and Integration
Embedded Platforms
The dart E works with NXP and NVIDIA platforms over MIPI CSI-2.
pylon
The cameras are operated with Basler's pylon software.
Basler dart Uses
Embedded Vision
Devices with a processor board and a built-in camera.
Compact Machines
Basler shows a dart M used inside additive manufacturing equipment.
Robotics
Low weight suits cameras on moving parts and grippers.
Basler dart Price and Value
Prices vary by model and are listed in Basler's web shop; the dart E family is the lowest-cost.
For the company behind the product, read the Basler Company Profile: Business, Products and Leadership.
Pros and Cons
Pros
27 x 27 mm and 5 g
Up to 13 MP and 523 fps
Three interface choices
Bare board or with mount
Works with common embedded processors
Cons
Bare board needs protection and careful design
dart E has rolling shutter sensors
Per-model data not on the series page
Who Should Buy the Basler dart?
The series fits product developers who integrate a camera into a device and need industrial image quality in minimal space.
Basler dart FAQ
How much does the Basler dart cost?
Prices vary by model and are listed in Basler's web shop.
How big is the Basler dart?
27 x 27 mm as a bare board, and 29 x 29 mm with a lens mount.
How much does the Basler dart weigh?
5 g as a bare board and 15 g with a mount.
What resolutions does the Basler dart offer?
From VGA to 13 megapixels.
How fast is the Basler dart?
From 14 to 523 fps, depending on model.
What interfaces does the Basler dart have?
GigE, USB 3.0 or BCON for MIPI.
Which Basler dart family is for embedded processors?
The dart E, with a MIPI CSI-2 based interface.
Which lens mounts does the Basler dart support?
S, C and CS mount, or bare board without a mount.
Specifications are based on manufacturer information and may change.
