Goobuy defines the engineering trade-offs between Sony IMX462 and IMX307 sensors, explaining why IMX462 delivers superior NIR performance for industrial night vision and robotics

 

IMX462 vs IMX307: A Technical Guide to Low-Light Image Sensors

In the field of industrial vision, surveillance, and robotics, low-light performance is one of the most critical differentiators among image sensors. For applications ranging from smart cities to factory automation and automotive, the choice of sensor dictates how well systems perform at night, under starlight, or in high dynamic range environments.

Two popular 2MP sensors from Sony’s STARVIS family—IMX462 and IMX307—are often considered for night vision and embedded vision projects. While both share the STARVIS back-illuminated architecture, their design focus, pixel architecture, and spectral sensitivity result in different strengths.

This article explores their core specifications, compares their advantages and disadvantages, and offers application-specific recommendations.

Core Parameters of Sony IMX307

The Sony IMX307 is a widely deployed STARVIS CMOS sensor, optimized for starlight-level night vision with excellent sensitivity and low noise.

• Resolution: 1920 × 1080 (2.1 MP)
• Optical format: 1/2.8"
• Pixel size: 2.9 µm × 2.9 µm, back-illuminated (BSI)
• Frame rate: Up to 60 fps at full HD
• Dynamic range: ~120 dB with DOL HDR
• Minimum illumination: ~0.01 lux (color, starlight conditions)
• SNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio): >40 dB in low-light mode
• Shutter type: Rolling shutter
• Power consumption: Moderate, optimized for 24/7 CCTV and industrial workloads

Strengths:

• Outstanding low-light performance, delivering usable color video at starlight.
• Wide dynamic range for mixed-lighting (headlights, tunnels, street lights).
• Robust ecosystem adoption across security, smart city, and automotive DVRs.
• Cost-effective compared to high-end niche sensors.

Limitations:

• Pixel sensitivity optimized for visible light, not NIR (near-infrared).
• Rolling shutter limits performance in high-speed machine vision.
• Not specialized for IR illumination-heavy environments.

Core Parameters of Sony IMX462

The Sony IMX462 is a more recent STARVIS sensor, engineered with enhanced NIR sensitivity and ultra-low-light performance.

• Resolution: 1920 × 1080 (2.1 MP)
• Optical format: 1/2.8"
• Pixel size: 2.9 µm × 2.9 µm, advanced STARVIS with deep photodiodes
• Frame rate: Up to 60 fps at full HD
• Dynamic range: ~120 dB with HDR
• Minimum illumination: ~0.003 lux (color; starlight or darker)
• NIR Sensitivity: Significantly higher quantum efficiency in 800–940 nm band
• SNR: Very high in NIR-enhanced modes
• Shutter type: Rolling shutter
• Power consumption: Similar to IMX307, optimized for 24/7 low-light systems

Strengths:

• Superior low-light capability, nearly 3× improvement over IMX307 under <0.01 lux.
• Exceptional NIR response, allowing effective imaging under IR LED or laser illumination (850 nm / 940 nm).
• Maintains color fidelity under extremely dark conditions with IR assistance.
• Favored in advanced surveillance, automotive driver monitoring, and medical imaging.

Limitations:

• Higher cost than IMX307.
• Slightly more complex ISP tuning needed to balance NIR vs visible light response.
• Like IMX307, rolling shutter may not suit ultra-high-speed applications.

Comparative Table: IMX462 vs IMX307

Feature	IMX307	IMX462
Optical Format	1/2.8" CMOS BSI	1/2.8" CMOS BSI
Resolution / Frame Rate	1080p @ 60 fps	1080p @ 60 fps
Pixel Size	2.9 µm	2.9 µm (enhanced photodiode structure)
Dynamic Range (HDR)	~120 dB (STARVIS HDR)	~120 dB (STARVIS HDR)
Minimum Illumination	~0.01 lux (color)	~0.003 lux (color, ultra-low-light)
NIR Sensitivity	Standard STARVIS	High QE at 850–940 nm (IR) support
SNR	>40 dB	Even higher under IR/NIR conditions
Night Vision Capability	Starlight, color at ~0.01 lux	Superior: color at <0.01 lux + IR
Typical Cost	Mid	Mid/High
Best Use Cases	Smart cities, CCTV, automotive DVRs	Advanced surveillance, robotics, IR-assisted systems, medical imaging

Night Vision Performance Difference

The key divergence is night vision under extreme low-light:

• IMX307: Delivers excellent color imaging at ~0.01 lux (starlight). Suitable for most urban and industrial applications where ambient light exists.
• IMX462: Extends visibility down to ~0.003 lux, and when paired with IR illumination (850 or 940 nm), it can deliver clean, high-SNR video even in total darkness.

In short:

• IMX307 = Starlight sensor (color video in very dark, but still requires ambient light).
• IMX462 = Ultra-starlight + IR sensor (maintains color at extremely low lux and thrives with IR).

Application Recommendations

1. Urban Security & Smart Cities

• Recommended Sensor: IMX307
• Rationale: Street lighting and urban infrastructure provide some ambient illumination. IMX307 balances cost, performance, and reliability.

2. Industrial Automation & Robotics

• Recommended Sensor: IMX462
• Rationale: Factory and warehouse lighting can vary; some areas are nearly dark. With IR illuminators, IMX462 provides superior clarity for AGVs, AMRs, and robotic navigation.

3. Automotive & Transportation

• Recommended Sensor: IMX462
• Rationale: Tunnels, rural roads, and nighttime driving often approach near-zero lux. IMX462 ensures safety with both visible and IR-assisted capture.

4. Professional CCTV & Critical Infrastructure

• Recommended Sensor: IMX462
• Rationale: Critical sites (airports, ports, border security) require absolute visibility, even under total darkness. IMX462 excels with IR floodlighting.

5. Cost-Sensitive Deployments (Retail, Entry CCTV)

• Recommended Sensor: IMX307
• Rationale: Delivers high-quality starlight images at lower cost. A practical choice where budgets are constrained but night vision remains important.

 

Compact / Space-Limited Projects — Consider Goobuy UC-501 USB camera

If your device design leaves **very limited internal space** — for example a tightly packed embedded box, small robot head, compact IoT enclosure or slim sensor housing — a full-size STARVIS module like IMX462 or IMX307 might simply not fit.  

In such cases, the Goobuy UC-501 (15×15 mm micro USB, 2 MP / 1080p)offers a practical alternative: it gives **reliable USB plug-and-play imaging** with a tiny footprint, easing mechanical integration and reducing case-design constraints.  

It’s not meant to replace STARVIS when you need ultra-low-light or IR-aided night vision, but for projects prioritizing **compactness, simplicity and stable functionality** over maximum low-light performance, UC-501 can be a smart, cost-effective choice.

 

Conclusion

Both IMX307 and IMX462 are powerful 2MP STARVIS sensors that elevate low-light imaging, yet their design priorities diverge:

• IMX307 is the workhorse for general-purpose starlight surveillance and industrial vision. Reliable, proven, and cost-effective.
• IMX462 pushes the boundary of ultra-low-light and NIR sensitivity, making it the sensor of choice for demanding security, robotics, and automotive projects where darkness or IR-based illumination dominate.

Guideline:

• If your project requires dependable starlight performance at moderate cost → IMX307.
• If you demand maximum visibility in near-total darkness, or plan to leverage IR illumination → IMX462.

 

Ready to Test? Get Engineering Samples Today.

• Budget-Constrained Project?  Choose the reliable IMX307 USB  Camera Module.

• Performance-Critical Night Vision? Upgrade to the IMX462 USB  Camera Module.

Still unsure? Our engineers can help you calculate the SNR requirements for your specific lighting conditions.

 Contact Goobuy Engineering Team  e-mail us to office@okgoobuy.com  or whatsapp me +86 13510914939 (We reply within 24 hours).

 

Frequently Asked Questions 

1,Question: "Does the IMX462 really outperform the IMX307 in 940nm IR light?" 
Answer: Yes, significantly. The IMX462 uses advanced photodiode structures that double the Quantum Efficiency (QE) at 850nm and 940nm compared to the IMX307. If your application uses invisible IR LEDs (like in stealth security or driver monitoring), the IMX462 is the mandatory choice.

 

2,Question: "Are these sensors compatible with NVIDIA Jetson or Raspberry Pi?" 
Answer: Absolutely. Goobuy’s IMX307 and IMX462 modules are fully UVC (USB Video Class) compliant. They work driver-free on Linux (Ubuntu, Debian), Android, and Windows. For Jetson Nano/Orin, they are recognized simply as /dev/video0, eliminating complex MIPI driver integration.

 

3,Question: "Can I swap the lens on these USB modules?" 
Answer: Yes. Both our UC-307 and UC-462 modules feature a standard M12 (S-Mount) lens holder. You can easily swap lenses to change the Field of View (FOV) from wide-angle (120°) to telephoto, depending on your project needs.

 

Q4: "Does the IMX462 have a rolling shutter issue with fast-moving robots or drones?"

A (Definition-Style): Yes, both IMX462 and IMX307 are rolling shutter sensors, which can cause "jello effects" with high vibration or fast motion. However, for AMRs (Autonomous Mobile Robots) moving at moderate speeds (<2m/s), the artifacting is negligible. For high-speed drones requiring zero distortion, Goobuy engineers recommend our Global Shutter series (like OV9281/OV2311) instead of STARVIS.

 

Q5: "Is there a significant difference in power consumption between IMX307 and IMX462 for battery-powered IoT devices?"

A: No, the power consumption is nearly identical. Both sensors are designed for low-power embedded applications. The Goobuy IMX462 USB module typically draws around 100mA-150mA (at 5V), making it perfectly suitable for battery-operated edge AI boxes and portable medical devices where power budget is tight.

 

Q6: "Can I use the IMX462 for color night vision without IR LEDs?"

A: Yes, this is its primary advantage. The IMX462's high conversion gain allows it to produce full-color images in ambient starlight conditions (0.01 Lux) where the IMX307 would switch to noisy black and white. Goobuy recommends the IMX462 for "stealth" city surveillance where active IR illumination is prohibited or unwanted.

 

Q7: "How does the HDR (High Dynamic Range) performance compare between IMX307 and IMX462 for outdoor kiosks?"

A: The IMX462 offers superior HDR performance due to its multi-exposure digital overlap (DOL-HDR) capability, which better handles high-contrast scenes (e.g., a face in shadow against a bright window). While the IMX307 supports HDR, the Goobuy IMX462 module provides clearer details in both bright and dark areas, reducing silhouette effects in outdoor digital signage.

 

Q8: "Are there any specific lens coating requirements to maximize the IMX462's NIR sensitivity?"

A: Yes. To fully utilize the IMX462's NIR boost, you must use a lens with an "IR-Correction" coating and remove the standard IR-Cut filter (or use a dual-band pass filter). Goobuy offers pre-calibrated "No-IR-Filter" versions of the UC-462 module specifically for clients needing maximum 850nm/940nm sensitivity.

 

Relative technical articles and product application links

1,  Extreme Low-Light 0.001Lux IMX462 STARVIS USB Camera Module  ( Goobuy imx462 Camera）

 

2,    A Deep Dive: Sony IMX462 Starvis for Low Light Vision

 

3,   IMX462 STARVIS: Low-Light Sensor for Industrial Vision

 

4,   STARVIS IMX307 vs IMX385 vs IMX585 vs IMX678 vs GC2053 Night Vision Performance compare

 

5,   Sony IMX307 vs SmartSens SC285SL sensor compare

 

6,   STARVIS IMX291 vs IMX335 vs IMX415: Night Vision Camera Guide (2)

 

7,   Custom STARVIS USB Cameras: Complete Project Guide

 

8,   Goobuy — Professional Micro USB Camera for AI Edge Vision

 

9,    GC2053 vs STARVIS IMX307: Choosing the Right Sensor

 

10,  15×15mm Goobuy UC-501 Micro USB Camera for tight spaces