Sony IMX178 · 6.4MP 1/1.8" rolling-shutter CMOS image sensor
IMX178 Sensor Specifications & Compatible M12 and C-Mount Lenses
The IMX178 is a Sony 1/1.8-inch rolling-shutter CMOS image sensor from the back-illuminated Exmor R line used in embedded camera modules. It resolves 3096x2080 (6.4 MP) on 2.4 um pixels across an 8.95 mm diagonal at up to 60 fps over Sub-LVDS, in color or mono. Commonlands pairs it with M12 Lenses that cover the 8.95 mm image circle and publishes the calculated field of view for every option.
IMX178 specifications
| Part number | IMX178 |
|---|---|
| 製造元 | ソニー |
| Family | Exmor R |
| 決議 | 3096×2080（6.4 MP） |
| 光学フォーマット | 1/1.8インチ |
| Active area | 7.43 × 4.99 mm |
| Sensor diagonal | 8.95 mm |
| ピクセルサイズ | 2.4 µm |
| シャッター | ローリング |
| 最大フレームレート | 60 fps |
| インターフェース | サブLVDS |
| Color / mono | Color / Mono |
Manufacturer datasheet: Sony IMX178 product page
Compatible Commonlands Lenses for the IMX178 with Calculated Field of View
Each field of view below is calculated for the IMX178 active area (7.43 × 4.99 mm) from Commonlands’ per-lens field-of-view data, which reflects each lens’s real distortion rather than a focal-length-only estimate. Alongside the horizontal, vertical, and diagonal field of view, each row lists the lens aperture (F#), distortion, ingress protection, total track length (TTL), and rated resolution, so you can shortlist on optics and mechanics in one pass. Coverage shows whether the lens image circle covers the 8.95 mm sensor diagonal. Only lenses that cover the full diagonal are listed. Run exact working-distance and object-size numbers through the field of view calculator.
Engineering picks for the IMX178
- Best ~30° HFoV: Telephoto 14.2mm M12 Lens (CIL142) (14.2 mm, f/2.6). Why: the closest covering option to 30° horizontal, chosen for tight inspection framing and long read ranges. Field of view on the IMX178: 29° H × 20° V (35° diagonal). The image circle covers the full sensor (verified 2026-07-02).
- Best ~60° HFoV: Low Distortion 6.2mm M12 Lens (CIL062) (6.2 mm, f/2.8). Why: the closest covering option to 60° horizontal, chosen for general-purpose machine-vision framing. Field of view on the IMX178: 62° H × 44° V (72° diagonal). The image circle covers the full sensor (verified 2026-07-02).
- Best ~120° HFoV: Wide-Angle 3.9mm M12 Lens (CIL339) (3.9 mm, f/1.6). Why: the closest covering option to 120° horizontal, chosen for wide navigation and room-scale coverage. Field of view on the IMX178: 111° H × 74° V (135° diagonal). The image circle covers the full sensor (verified 2026-07-02).
- Lowest distortion: Low Distortion 4.2mm M12 Lens (CIL042) (4.2 mm, f/1.9). Why: measured -1% TV distortion, the flattest image among covering lenses. Field of view on the IMX178: 84° H × 62° V (94° diagonal). The image circle covers the full sensor (verified 2026-07-02).
- Best low light: 8mm C-Mount Lens (CIL521) (8 mm, f/1.5). Why: the fastest covering aperture (f/1.5), which collects the most light per pixel. Field of view on the IMX178: 50° H × 35° V (58° diagonal). The image circle covers the full sensor (verified 2026-07-02).
Find a lens for the IMX178 in the M12 Lens collection or the C-Mount Lens collection. The covering options below run from 1.3 mm to 100 mm focal length and span 4° to 198° horizontal field of view on the IMX178 active area.
| Commonlands Lens | Focal Length | マウント | F# | Horizontal FoV | Vertical FoV | Diagonal FoV | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fisheye 1.3mm M12 Lens (CIL293) | 1.3 mm | M12 | f/2.2 | 184° | 175° | 184° | Circular image |
| Fisheye 1.75mm M12 Lens (CIL818) | 1.75 mm | M12 | f/2 | 198° | 182° | 198° | Circular image |
| Low Distortion 3mm M12 Lens (CIL030) | 3 mm | M12 | f/2.1 | 108° | 82° | 120° | Covers |
| Fisheye 3.1mm M12 Lens (CIL231) | 3.1 mm | M12 | f/1.9 | 147° | 95° | 184° | Covers |
| Wide-Angle 3.5mm M12 Lens (CIL334) | 3.5 mm | M12 | f/2.2 | 130° | 84° | 162° | Covers |
| Wide-Angle 3.9mm M12 Lens (CIL339) | 3.9 mm | M12 | f/1.6 | 111° | 74° | 135° | Covers |
| Wide-Angle 4mm M12 Lens (CIL340) | 4 mm | M12 | f/2 | 106° | 72° | 128° | Covers |
| 4mm C-Mount Lens (CIL529) | 4 mm | Cマウント | f/2.8 | 89° | 65° | 100° | Covers |
| Low Distortion 4.2mm M12 Lens (CIL042) | 4.2 mm | M12 | f/1.9 | 84° | 62° | 94° | Covers |
| Wide-Angle 4.5mm M12 Lens (CIL344A) | 4.5 mm | M12 | f/2.7 | 96° | 64° | 117° | Covers |
| 4.9mm C-Mount Lens (CIL505) | 4.9 mm | Cマウント | f/2.2 | 89° | 59° | 108° | Covers |
| Low Distortion 5.2mm M12 Lens (CIL052) | 5.2 mm | M12 | f/3.4 | 71° | 51° | 82° | Covers |
| Wide-Angle 5.8mm M12 Lens (CIL358) | 5.8 mm | M12 | f/1.9 | 78° | 50° | 96° | Covers |
| Low Distortion 5.9mm M12 Lens (CIL059) | 5.9 mm | M12 | f/1.7 | 66° | 47° | 77° | Covers |
| Low Distortion 6.2mm M12 Lens (CIL062) | 6.2 mm | M12 | f/2.8 | 62° | 44° | 72° | Covers |
| 8mm C-Mount Lens (CIL521) | 8 mm | Cマウント | f/1.5 | 50° | 35° | 58° | Covers |
| 8.1mm M12 Lens (CIL083) | 8.1 mm | M12 | f/2.8 | 49° | 34° | 58° | Covers |
| 8.5mm C-Mount Lens (CIL508) | 8.5 mm | Cマウント | f/2.4 | 48° | 33° | 57° | Covers |
| 9.1mm M12 Lens (CIL092) | 9.1 mm | M12 | f/2.6 | 45° | 31° | 54° | Covers |
| Telephoto 12mm M12 Lens (CIL122) | 12 mm | M12 | f/2 | 35° | 24° | 42° | Covers |
| 12mm C-Mount Lens (CIL552) | 12 mm | Cマウント | f/2.8 | 34° | 24° | 41° | Covers |
| Telephoto 14.2mm M12 Lens (CIL142) | 14.2 mm | M12 | f/2.6 | 29° | 20° | 35° | Covers |
| Telephoto 16mm M12 Lens (CIL160) | 16 mm | M12 | f/1.9 | 26° | 18° | 31° | Covers |
| 16mm C-Mount Lens (CIL553) | 16 mm | Cマウント | f/2.8 | 26° | 18° | 31° | Covers |
| Telephoto 21.6mm M12 Lens (CIL121) | 21.6 mm | M12 | f/2.8 | 20° | 13° | 23° | Covers |
| Telephoto 25mm M12 Lens (CIL250) | 25 mm | M12 | f/2 | 17° | 11° | 20° | Covers |
| 25mm C-Mount Lens (CIL554) | 25 mm | Cマウント | f/2.6 | 17° | 11° | 20° | Covers |
| Telephoto 35mm M12 Lens (CIL350) | 35 mm | M12 | f/2.4 | 12° | 8° | 15° | Covers |
| 35mm C-Mount Lens (CIL555) | 35 mm | Cマウント | f/2.6 | 12° | 8° | 15° | Covers |
| Telephoto 50mm M12 Lens (CIL051) | 50 mm | M12 | f/2.8 | 9° | 6° | 10° | Covers |
| 50mm C-Mount Lens (CIL556) | 50 mm | Cマウント | f/2.8 | 8° | 6° | 10° | Covers |
| Telephoto 75mm M12 Lens (CIL076) | 75 mm | M12 | f/3.4 | 6° | 4° | 7° | Covers |
| 75mm C-Mount Lens (CIL557) | 75 mm | Cマウント | f/3 | 6° | 4° | 7° | Covers |
| Telephoto 100mm M12 Lens (CIL100) | 100 mm | M12 | f/3.6 | 4° | 3° | 5° | Covers |
Covers in the table means the lens image circle is at least as large as the 8.95 mm sensor diagonal, so the corners are not cropped. Need a focal length or coverage that is not listed here? Ask our engineers to confirm a match.
How to choose a lens for the IMX178
Start from the field of view your application needs, then read across to the focal length that produces it on the IMX178. Confirm the lens image circle covers the 8.95 mm diagonal so the corners are not cropped, and check the lens resolution is rated for 6.4 MP or higher so it resolves the 2.4 µm pixels. For exact working-distance and object-size numbers, run the figures through the Commonlands field of view calculator.
Sourcing a camera module around the IMX178? Commonlands manufactures the M12 Lenses and C-Mount Lenses above and ships from San Diego, with same-day shipping on in-stock lenses ordered by 12 PM PST. We also design and build custom MIPI CSI-2 camera modules that integrate the lens, the IMX178 sensor, and the carrier board, available from 1,000 units per year, and assemble consigned IMX178 boards with Commonlands lenses in our San Diego ISO 6 cleanroom from 100 to 100,000 units per year. Talk to an applications engineer.
Related guides and tools
IMX178 lens and camera module FAQ
What lens fits the IMX178 sensor?
Commonlands M12 Lenses and C-Mount Lenses whose image circle covers the IMX178’s 8.95 mm diagonal fit the sensor. The table above lists each compatible lens with its calculated horizontal, vertical, and diagonal field of view on the IMX178 active area (7.43 × 4.99 mm).
What is the IMX178 sensor size?
The IMX178 is a 1/1.8" format sensor with a 7.43 × 4.99 mm active area and a 8.95 mm diagonal, built on 2.4 µm pixels at 3096x2080 resolution.
Does Commonlands build a custom MIPI camera module for the IMX178?
Yes. Commonlands designs and builds custom MIPI CSI-2 camera modules that integrate the lens, the IMX178 sensor, and the carrier board, available from 1,000 units per year with active lens-to-sensor alignment and 100% MTF testing. Consigned assembly of your IMX178 boards with Commonlands lenses runs from 100 to 100,000 units per year in our San Diego ISO 6 cleanroom. Talk to an applications engineer to scope a module.
Match a lens to your IMX178 camera
Get an engineer-verified lens recommendation for your sensor, format, and field of view.
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