Lumen-to-Photon Calculator
Lumen-to-Photon Calculator
Designing a machine vision system starts with making sure you have enough light for a clear image—especially for fast-moving targets and short exposures. LED lights are rated in lumens, but cameras detect photons, not brightness seen by the human eye. To bridge that gap, Bodkin Design developed a Lumen-to-Photon Calculator Spreadsheet that converts LED lumen ratings into spectral photon flux matched to your camera’s quantum efficiency. This lets you accurately estimate exposure, well-fill, and signal-to-noise for your own imaging setup.
With our spreadsheet, you can:
Input your LED’s lumen rating and spectral output
Add your camera’s quantum efficiency (mono or RGB)
Instantly calculate photons per second at the detector
Predict exposure performance for your exact system
Get your own editable version — just enter your name and email to receive the download link.
Use of LED lights on Machine Vision White Paper
When designing a machine vision system it is important to determine if there will be sufficient illumination for a good image. The lights must be selected along with the lenses, the image chip, and the layout of the camera and illuminators. Without sufficient light, even the best machine vision system can fail. This is particularly critical if the subject is moving rapidly, requiring a short exposure to prevent blurring.
Experts in Machine Vision Systems and Solutions.
With decades of experience in optical engineering and custom system design, we develop advanced machine vision solutions tailored to unique industry needs. From high-speed inspection to precision measurement, our systems integrate cutting-edge imaging, optics, and software to deliver reliable, accurate results. Whether off-the-shelf or fully custom, we provide the expertise to solve the most challenging vision problems.