Camera Exposure Function Explained-Knowledge Encyclopedia-Shenzhen Kai Mo Rui Electronic Technology Co. LTD

Camera Exposure Function Explained

Source：Shenzhen Kai Mo Rui Electronic Technology Co. LTD2026-05-27

1. Basic Concept of Exposure Time

First, let’s understand what "exposure time" means. Simply put, a camera’s exposure time is the duration during which the camera sensor (commonly referred to as the "sensor") receives light from the environment. When the camera captures an image, the sensor "collects" photons; the longer the collection time, the more photons it receives. This results in a stronger electrical signal and a brighter output image.

This process can be compared to collecting water in buckets: with a constant water flow rate, the longer you collect water, the more water the bucket holds, and the higher the final reading. Exposure time is analogous to the water collection time—longer exposure means more photons are collected, leading to a brighter image.

2. Exposure Parameter Settings

With a clear understanding of exposure time, let’s move on to how to set camera exposure parameters, particularly manual exposure and automatic exposure.

(1) Manual Exposure

As the name suggests, manual exposure means manually setting a fixed exposure time value. In this mode, the exposure time remains unchanged once configured. The steps are as follows:

Under the Acquisition Control properties, locate the Exposure Auto function and select Off to disable automatic exposure.
Next, select Exposure Time under Acquisition Control and enter your desired exposure time value.

For example, if you enter 1000 microseconds, the image brightness will differ noticeably from that of a 2000 microsecond exposure. This illustrates the basic principle of manual exposure. Note that some cameras may not support manual exposure in trigger mode, or the exposure parameters may be hidden.

(2) Automatic Exposure

Automatic exposure is a function that allows the camera to adjust exposure time automatically based on ambient light conditions. In environments with significant light variations, automatic exposure helps maintain optimal image brightness. Here’s how to set it up:

Set the upper and lower limits for automatic exposure time. Under Acquisition Control, locate the parameters Auto Exposure Time Lower Limit and Auto Exposure Time Upper Limit to define the adjustment range for exposure time. The camera will adjust exposure time within this range and will not exceed the set limits.
Enable the automatic exposure function. Under Exposure Auto, select either Once or Continuous mode, representing one-time automatic exposure and continuous automatic exposure, respectively.
Automatic exposure adjustment: If the image brightness does not meet expectations and the exposure time has already reached its upper or lower limit, the system will stop further adjustments. This means even if the exposure time is set to its maximum value, the camera will not increase it further if the image remains underexposed, resulting in limited brightness.

Exposure functionality is a critical component of any camera, as it directly impacts image quality and subsequent image processing and analysis tasks. Mastering manual and automatic exposure settings allows you to flexibly adjust camera parameters according to different shooting requirements, ensuring you achieve the most suitable image results.

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