DFK 33UX545 Review: Imaging Source 33U Camera
Updated: 7 days ago

The Imaging Source DFK 33UX545 provides a 4096 × 3000 image with global-shutter acquisition through USB 3.0. Its documented frame-rate configuration is Up to 30 fps. Price: Request a quote.
The camera should be selected as part of an imaging system rather than evaluated from one headline specification. The useful result is an image that reveals the required feature at the right time, followed by a reliable inspection or measurement decision. This review considers the documented acquisition package, optical implications and practical purchasing scope for DFK 33UX545.
Quick Verdict
The DFK 33UX545 combines a detailed color image and global shutter in a compact USB camera. It is worth evaluating when color provides inspection information and the host can be placed close enough for a supported USB connection. The quoted thirty-frame-per-second mode belongs to this model rather than the whole 33U portfolio.
DFK 33UX545 at a Glance
Product: The Imaging Source DFK 33UX545
Image format: 4096 × 3000
Acquisition: Global
Interface: USB 3.0
Capture rate: Up to 30 fps
Sensor: Sony Pregius S IMX545 CMOS
Optical format: 1/1.1-inch
Pixel size: 2.74 µm
Output: Color
Body: 29 × 29 × 43 mm
Price: Request a quote
DFK 33UX545 Technical Specifications
Specification | Value or configuration |
Product | The Imaging Source DFK 33UX545 |
Image format | 4096 × 3000 |
Acquisition | Global |
Interface | USB 3.0 |
Capture rate | Up to 30 fps |
Sensor | Sony Pregius S IMX545 CMOS |
Optical format | 1/1.1-inch |
Pixel size | 2.74 µm |
Output | Color |
Body | 29 × 29 × 43 mm |
Price | Request a quote |
Design and Optical Requirements
Use optics with coverage for the 1/1.1-inch sensor and adequate contrast at the selected image scale. Color inspection requires repeatable illumination as well as focus. Evaluate the output representation, color processing and calibration on the actual host. A high pixel count does not establish color discrimination between similar finishes.
Acquisition Speed and Integration
The supplier lists 4096 by 3000 at up to 30 fps for DFK 33UX545. Larger family-level rate claims refer to other cameras or acquisition modes. Verify the USB controller, supported driver and cable configuration. Trigger and I/O inputs can help define acquisition timing, but the electrical interface must be wired from the exact manual.
Programming and Image Processing
The documented capabilities include trigger input, I/O inputs, model-specific exposure and image configuration. Use those controls to establish a repeatable acquisition recipe for the station. Determine which adjustments are performed in the camera and which belong in the host software. Store the chosen settings with the inspection configuration so an operator or service technician can reproduce the image used during commissioning. A parameter change should be evaluated against both good and faulty samples before it becomes the production default.
Image Data and Host Capacity
As an engineering estimate, a 4096 × 3000 frame represented as one uncompressed 8-bit value per pixel contains about 12.29 MB of pixel data, using decimal megabytes. This excludes transport overhead and metadata. It is a sizing example, not a measured camera transfer rate; other output representations change the data volume. Multiply the selected frame size by the planned acquisition rate when budgeting host memory, processing and storage, then validate the complete pipeline under realistic load.
DFK 33UX545 Applications and Use Cases
Color-dependent assembly checks, printed-feature inspection and wide-field component verification are reasonable sample-trial cases. Include normal differences in lighting, material finish and presentation. If the inspection can be solved equally well in monochrome, compare whether color processing adds useful information or just workload.
Building a Useful Acceptance Trial
Prepare representative parts or scenes that include the smallest required feature, normal production variation and realistic faults. Confirm the field of view and exposure before tuning the inspection. Record wrong accepts, wrong rejects, missing frames and the complete trigger-to-decision timing. A trial should also show what happens when the expected image is absent or unusable. This connects camera selection to the station's actual acceptance requirement rather than relying on a sharp reference picture.
DFK 33UX545 Price and Value
Price: Request a quote. Ask for the complete DFK 33UX545 ordering code and an itemized scope covering the camera, suitable optics, receiving hardware, cables, power and commissioning. Compare quotations for the same image format, acquisition mode and integration scope. The cost of a camera component is different from the cost of a working inspection station. Evaluate any financial return with the plant's actual labor, defect, rework and maintenance data; no universal payback period follows from these specifications.
Comparison and Selection
The related DMK 33GX546 has a square monochrome image and GigE connection, while this DFK model has a rectangular color grid and USB connection. The choice changes both imaging information and host architecture. A smaller faster 33U model may be sufficient for a narrow feature check.
Ordering, Environment and Lifecycle
Quote the full DFK 33UX545 code with the lens, USB cable, I/O cable when required and supported software. Confirm which image modes retain the desired processing functions. The compact case should not be treated as an IP-rated enclosure without a stated environmental specification.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Detailed 4096 by 3000 color image.
Global-shutter acquisition.
Compact USB housing with trigger and I/O inputs.
Cons
Color decisions require controlled illumination and processing.
USB host and cable support must be verified.
Family maximum rates do not describe this model.
Who Should Buy DFK 33UX545?
Shortlist DFK 33UX545 when its documented sensor, interface and acquisition mode match the imaging task and the team can demonstrate the complete host pipeline. Use the sample trial to establish whether the relevant features remain distinguishable under the expected lighting, presentation and motion. Before purchase, settle the optical configuration, ordering variants and support requirements. The best choice is the configuration that satisfies the acceptance criteria with a maintainable system architecture.
DFK 33UX545 FAQ
What is the native resolution of DFK 33UX545?
4096 × 3000 pixels is the documented native image format. Evaluate the optics and required feature scale alongside that pixel count.
Which shutter architecture does it use?
The documented sensor uses a global shutter. A common exposure interval across the image does not eliminate blur caused by movement during exposure.
What interface is required?
USB 3.0 is the documented acquisition interface. Match the receiving hardware and software to the exact ordering configuration.
What is the maximum frame rate?
The documented rate is Up to 30 fps. Confirm the specified operating mode; maximum capture rate is not a guarantee of completed inspection throughput.
Which acquisition features are documented?
The product information includes trigger input, I/O inputs, model-specific exposure and image configuration. Configure the selected functions around the actual trigger and image-processing requirement.
What should be included in a system comparison?
The related DMK 33GX546 has a square monochrome image and GigE connection, while this DFK model has a rectangular color grid and USB connection. The choice changes both imaging information and host architecture. A smaller faster 33U model may be sufficient for a narrow feature check.
How much does the camera cost?
Price: Request a quote. Include the exact camera variant, optics, receiving hardware, power, cables and commissioning.
What should be tested before ordering?
Test representative good and faulty samples, the intended optical geometry, image timing, capture diagnostics and the complete result association with each inspected part.
Price: Request a quote. Final configuration, pricing, availability and support terms depend on the supplier's current quotation.





