Camera Link Base, Medium and Full Configurations: Machine Vision Cable Count, MDR-26 and SDR-26 Connection Planning

Camera Link cable selection becomes much more precise once the system is described as Base, Medium or Full rather than simply as “a Camera Link camera.” These configurations are not interchangeable labels. They determine how much image data the Camera Link interface is designed to carry and, critically for machine builders, whether the connection is built around one physical Camera Link cable or two. At the same time, the camera and frame grabber may use MDR-26 or SDR-26 connectors, so cable count and connector type must be solved as two separate engineering questions. A buyer who confirms only “Camera Link” can still order the wrong quantity or the wrong connector combination.

The Kyptec Automation® Machine Vision Cables portfolio includes three Camera Link connection arrangements for compatible industrial imaging systems: MDR-26 male to MDR-26 male, SDR-26 male to MDR-26 male and SDR-26 male to SDR-26 male. This combination is useful for OEMs, system integrators and high-speed inspection-machine builders because the cable can be selected around the exact camera and frame-grabber endpoints rather than assuming that every Camera Link system uses the same 26-pin connector. The strongest procurement process is therefore to identify the Camera Link configuration first, determine the required cable count, identify both physical connector types and only then release the cable specification.

Base, Medium and Full Describe the Camera Link Data Configuration

Camera Link uses different configurations to support different levels of parallel image-data transfer. Base is the fundamental configuration and is conventionally implemented with one Camera Link cable between the compatible camera and frame grabber. Medium expands the interface and normally requires two Camera Link cables. Full also uses two physical Camera Link cable connections while providing a wider data path than Medium.

For cable buyers, this distinction has an immediate practical consequence. A Base camera normally creates one camera-to-frame-grabber cable route, while a Medium or Full camera can create two coordinated cable routes between the same two devices.

This is why cable quantity should never be derived from the number of cameras alone. One Base camera can require one Camera Link cable, while one Medium or Full camera can require two.

Camera Link Base Usually Requires One Cable

A Base configuration is particularly straightforward from a physical cabling perspective because one compatible Camera Link cable links the camera to the image acquisition device.

If both endpoints use MDR-26 connectors, the Kyptec Automation® Industrial Camera Link Camera Cable: MDR-26 Pin Male to MDR-26-Pin Male Cable provides a direct MDR-26-to-MDR-26 arrangement. Kyptec Automation® offers this Machine Vision Cable in 2, 3 and 5 metre standard lengths, with other lengths available on request.

However, Base does not automatically mean MDR-to-MDR. A compatible Base camera and frame grabber can still use different physical connector formats. The exact endpoints must therefore be verified independently from the Base designation.

Medium Configuration Changes the Cable Architecture

A Medium Camera Link configuration normally requires two physical Camera Link connections between the camera and compatible frame grabber. That immediately changes mechanical layout, cable routing, frame-grabber port planning and spare-cable strategy.

Instead of documenting one path, the OEM must treat the two Camera Link connections as one coordinated interface set.

Both cables should reach their respective ports without being confused during installation or service. The camera and frame-grabber documentation should identify how the two connectors are assigned, and the machine wiring schedule should preserve that assignment.

A Medium Camera Link system is therefore not simply a Base system with a faster camera. From a Machine Vision Cable perspective, it is a two-cable architecture that must be engineered accordingly.

Full Camera Link Also Uses a Two-Cable Connection Architecture

Full configuration extends the Camera Link data path further while retaining the two-cable physical architecture used for the expanded interface.

This means buyers should not assume that moving from Medium to Full necessarily increases the number of cable assemblies beyond two. The major difference is the interface configuration and data organization, not simply adding another physical cable.

For purchasing and machine documentation, however, the same discipline remains essential: confirm that the camera supports Full configuration, confirm that the frame grabber supports the required Full configuration, identify the connector type on both ports and specify the two correct cable assemblies as a matched system requirement.

Cable Count Must Follow Camera Configuration, Not Camera Resolution

A very high-resolution industrial camera does not automatically require two Camera Link cables.

The required cable count follows the actual Camera Link configuration implemented by the camera and frame grabber. A particular resolution can be operated at different frame rates or data formats, and camera architecture determines which Camera Link configuration is used.

Similarly, a buyer should not infer Full configuration merely because a camera is described as high speed.

The camera interface documentation should explicitly establish whether the required operating mode is Base, Medium or Full before Kyptec Automation® Camera Link Machine Vision Cables are ordered.

MDR-26 and SDR-26 Are Connector Choices, Not Base/Medium/Full Labels

Another common source of confusion is treating MDR-26 and SDR-26 as though they represent Camera Link performance levels.

They do not.

MDR-26 and SDR-26 describe physical 26-pin connector formats. Base, Medium and Full describe interface configurations.

A Base system may use an MDR-26 cable arrangement, but identifying Base alone does not prove which connector exists at both endpoints. Likewise, a Medium or Full system can involve connector combinations that must be confirmed from the specific camera and frame grabber.

This separation between configuration and connector format is one of the most important concepts for accurate Camera Link cable purchasing.

MDR-26 to MDR-26 Is the Correct Choice Only When Both Endpoints Match

Where the camera provides MDR-26 and the frame grabber also provides MDR-26, the Kyptec Automation® MDR-26-to-MDR-26 Camera Link cable creates a direct compatible connection.

The cable uses male 26-pin molded connectors with retaining screws at both ends. This makes the endpoint specification straightforward: MDR camera port to MDR acquisition port.

For a Base system, one such cable may form the complete Camera Link data connection. For compatible Medium or Full systems using two corresponding MDR connections, the complete system may require two suitable cable assemblies.

The configuration and device documentation should always be checked before determining quantity.

SDR-26 to MDR-26 Solves Mixed Connector Endpoints

Compact cameras or acquisition equipment can use SDR-26 rather than MDR-26. When one endpoint is SDR-26 and the other is MDR-26, a same-connector cable cannot complete the intended connection.

The Kyptec Automation® Industrial Camera Link Camera Cable: SDR-26 Pin Male to MDR-26-Pin Male Cable is designed specifically for this mixed-endpoint arrangement.

Kyptec Automation® publishes this cable with SDR-26 male at one end and MDR-26 male at the other, with screws, straight connector orientation and standard 2, 3 and 5 metre options.

This product is particularly valuable because it removes the assumption that the camera and frame grabber must use identical connector housings.

SDR-26 to SDR-26 Is Required When Both Compatible Endpoints Use SDR

Where both the industrial camera and compatible acquisition endpoint use SDR-26, the Kyptec Automation® Industrial Camera Link Camera Cable: SDR-26P Male to SDR-26P Male Type provides the corresponding same-format connection.

The existence of MDR-to-MDR, SDR-to-MDR and SDR-to-SDR products within the Kyptec Automation® Machine Vision Cables portfolio demonstrates why “26-pin Camera Link cable” is not a complete purchasing description.

The connector format at End A and End B should always appear explicitly in the cable BOM.

Frame-Grabber Connector Planning Should Happen Before the Cable Is Ordered

A Camera Link cable does not normally terminate in a generic PC port. It connects to a compatible frame grabber or image acquisition device.

This makes the frame-grabber connector just as important as the camera connector.

A buyer may correctly identify an SDR-26 camera but order SDR-to-SDR cable only to discover that the installed frame grabber uses MDR-26. Conversely, an MDR camera does not guarantee the acquisition side also uses MDR.

The best workflow is to inspect or document both devices together and then select the relevant Kyptec Automation® Camera Link Machine Vision Cable.

Medium and Full Systems Require Port-to-Port Mapping

When two Camera Link cables are required, the system should not be treated as two anonymous identical cords.

The camera connectors and frame-grabber connectors belong to defined portions of the interface. Installation documentation should preserve which camera connector connects to which acquisition connector.

This becomes especially important during service because disconnecting both cables without identification can create uncertainty when the system is reassembled.

A simple port map, permanent cable identification and consistent labeling can turn a two-cable Camera Link architecture into a controlled serviceable system.

Both Cables in a Two-Cable Camera Link System Should Be Planned Together

For Medium and Full systems, the two cable routes should be designed as a pair.

One cable should not be routed through a substantially different mechanical path simply because space remains available elsewhere in the machine. Both should have suitable support, connector access and routing consistent with the validated installation.

Where identical lengths are technically appropriate, specifying both cables together can simplify the machine BOM and replacement inventory. Where geometry genuinely requires different routing, that requirement should be documented instead of assuming the two paths are identical.

The central principle is that the cable pair belongs to one imaging interface.

Do Not Order Two Cables Merely Because the Camera Has Two 26-Pin Connectors

Two similar connectors on the rear of an industrial camera can suggest a Medium or Full Camera Link arrangement, but visual appearance alone is not enough to define configuration.

The camera documentation should identify the function of each connector and the supported Camera Link mode.

Machine builders should avoid constructing a cable BOM by counting visible ports without understanding their electrical role.

Before selecting one or two Kyptec Automation® Camera Link cables, confirm the intended operating mode, the camera connector assignments and the matching frame-grabber connections.

Cable Length Should Be Selected for the Complete Camera-to-Frame-Grabber Route

Camera Link cable length should be based on the final installed distance rather than the straight-line distance between the camera and control cabinet.

The route may pass through cable supports, machine frames and cabinet entry points before reaching the frame grabber.

Kyptec Automation® Camera Link products are available in 2, 3 and 5 metre standard lengths, with other lengths available on request. The machine builder should choose the shortest practical length that provides correct routing and service access without forcing the cable or leaving excessive unmanaged surplus.

For two-cable Medium and Full systems, both routes should be measured before ordering.

Two-Cable Systems Need More Connector Clearance at the Camera

Medium and Full Camera Link configurations can create greater mechanical density behind the camera because two 26-pin connectors and two cable exits must be accommodated.

A machine bracket that works comfortably for a one-cable Base camera may not provide enough room for two connectors, retention screws and cable routing.

Camera Link cable planning should therefore begin while the camera mounting geometry is still editable.

Space should be reserved not only for plugging in both connectors but also for removing them later during service.

Frame-Grabber Panel Density Can Also Become a Constraint

The acquisition side can become equally crowded.

Industrial PCs using Camera Link frame grabbers may have multiple 26-pin connectors arranged closely together. Medium or Full operation can consume more connector positions for one camera than Base operation.

This affects how many cameras can be connected to a particular acquisition architecture and how easily technicians can reach the cable screws.

The cable plan and frame-grabber plan should therefore be developed together instead of treating the frame grabber as a host component selected independently from the Machine Vision Cable.

A Base Camera and a Medium Camera Do Not Consume the Same Cable Inventory

For OEMs building several machine variants, Camera Link configuration affects spare-parts planning.

Ten machines each using one Base camera can require a fundamentally different cable inventory from ten machines each using one Medium or Full camera. The latter architecture can require twice as many Camera Link cable assemblies for the imaging connection.

This matters for initial procurement, service kits and long-term replacement planning.

Kyptec Automation® offers Camera Link products in several connector combinations, allowing OEMs to standardize the exact cable set around each machine platform rather than storing a generic “Camera Link cable.”

Replacement Cables Must Preserve Both Connector Type and Configuration Role

When one cable in a Medium or Full installation needs replacement, the correct service response is not simply to find another 26-pin cable.

The replacement should preserve the required endpoint combination, length and approved connection role.

An SDR-to-MDR cable is not interchangeable with MDR-to-MDR simply because both use 26-pin Camera Link connectors. Likewise, replacing one cable should not cause the technician to reverse the documented port mapping of the pair.

A controlled Kyptec Automation® product reference in the service BOM reduces this ambiguity.

Camera Link Cable Selection Should Be Frozen After Final Acquisition Testing

The cable arrangement should be validated using the final camera configuration and intended production acquisition conditions before the OEM freezes the machine BOM.

For a Base system, this confirms the one-cable connection. For Medium or Full, both cables should be installed exactly as they will be used in production.

After successful validation, cable part, connector combination, length, port mapping and quantity should become controlled machine information.

This is more reliable than allowing production teams to reconstruct Camera Link requirements from the camera model every time a machine is built.

Frequently Asked Questions About Camera Link Base, Medium and Full Cable Planning

1. How many Camera Link cables does a Base configuration normally use?

A conventional Camera Link Base connection normally uses one physical Camera Link cable between the compatible camera and frame grabber. Buyers should still verify the physical connectors at both ends because that single cable could require MDR-26-to-MDR-26, SDR-26-to-MDR-26 or another compatible endpoint arrangement. Kyptec Automation® provides several 26-pin Camera Link options within its Machine Vision Cables range.

2. How many Camera Link cables are normally required for Medium configuration?

Medium Camera Link normally uses two physical cable connections between the compatible camera and frame grabber. Both cables should be specified as one coordinated interface set, with camera-side ports, frame-grabber ports, connector types and cable lengths documented before purchasing Kyptec Automation® Camera Link cables.

3. Does Full Camera Link require three cables because it has more bandwidth than Medium?

No. Conventional Full Camera Link also uses a two-cable physical architecture. Higher interface capability does not mean that each configuration simply adds another cable. The machine builder should confirm the Full operating mode and then identify the two required connector paths between camera and acquisition hardware.

4. Can I determine Camera Link configuration from the number of camera connectors alone?

Not reliably. The number and appearance of connectors can provide clues, but the camera specification should define whether the intended operating mode is Base, Medium or Full. Cable quantity should be based on documented interface configuration rather than visual inspection alone.

5. Does MDR-26 mean the camera is Base configuration?

No. MDR-26 identifies a physical connector format, not the Camera Link configuration. Base, Medium and Full describe the interface architecture. A Kyptec Automation® MDR-26-to-MDR-26 cable should be selected when the corresponding physical endpoints require MDR-26, regardless of assumptions based purely on configuration name.

6. Does SDR-26 automatically mean a faster Camera Link camera?

No. SDR-26 is a compact 26-pin connector format and does not by itself define Base, Medium or Full performance. Buyers should independently confirm the camera's Camera Link configuration and connector arrangement before selecting a Kyptec Automation® SDR-to-MDR or SDR-to-SDR cable.

7. Can a camera with SDR-26 connect to an MDR-26 frame grabber?

Yes, when the complete Camera Link equipment is compatible and an appropriate cable is used. The Kyptec Automation® Industrial Camera Link Camera Cable: SDR-26 Pin Male to MDR-26-Pin Male Cable is specifically designed for this physical endpoint combination.

8. What cable should I use when both camera and frame grabber have MDR-26 ports?

For compatible MDR-26 Camera Link endpoints, the Kyptec Automation® Industrial Camera Link Camera Cable: MDR-26 Pin Male to MDR-26-Pin Male Cable provides the matching physical connection. The required quantity still depends on whether the camera is operating in Base, Medium or Full configuration.

9. What cable should I use when both Camera Link endpoints are SDR-26?

For compatible SDR-26 endpoints, Kyptec Automation® offers the Industrial Camera Link Camera Cable: SDR-26P Male to SDR-26P Male Type. The camera and frame-grabber documentation should still be checked to establish cable count and port assignment.

10. Can two identical Camera Link cables in a Medium system be connected to either pair of ports?

They should not be treated as anonymous interchangeable connections during installation. The camera and frame-grabber port assignments should be followed according to the equipment documentation. OEMs should label each Kyptec Automation® cable path so the correct mapping is preserved during initial assembly and later service.

11. Should both cables in a Full Camera Link system be the same length?

They are often planned as a matched routing set when the camera and frame grabber are in the same locations, but the correct choice should follow the actual validated installation. If both routes are physically equivalent, using the same approved Kyptec Automation® length can simplify production and spares. The final machine layout should determine the requirement.

12. Can one cable in a two-cable Camera Link system be longer than the other?

A difference should not be introduced casually. The system should be engineered and validated with the actual cable arrangement intended for production. Where the machine layout creates different routes, the camera and acquisition requirements should be checked before freezing unequal cable lengths.

13. How do I know whether I need one or two Camera Link cables before requesting a quotation?

Provide the camera model, intended Base/Medium/Full operating configuration, camera connector type, frame-grabber connector type and required installed length. This information allows the purchasing requirement to be defined correctly before choosing among Kyptec Automation® MDR-to-MDR, SDR-to-MDR or SDR-to-SDR Machine Vision Cables.

14. Why does my Camera Link camera work with one cable in one mode but require two in another?

Some compatible Camera Link equipment can support different operating configurations. A Base mode uses the fundamental one-cable architecture, while expanded configurations such as Medium or Full use a second physical Camera Link connection to carry the wider interface. The correct Kyptec Automation® cable set should match the operating mode that will actually be used in production.

15. Should spare Camera Link cables be stocked as individual cables or complete sets?

For Base machines, a spare may naturally be managed as one cable. For Medium or Full machines, OEMs should consider the two-cable connection as one documented system even if individual assemblies are stocked separately. Recording exact Kyptec Automation® connector combinations and lengths helps ensure that a correct replacement is available when needed.

16. Can I change from MDR-26 to SDR-26 without changing the camera or frame grabber?

Not merely as a cable preference. Connector format is determined by the physical endpoints provided by the camera and acquisition hardware. The cable must match those endpoints. Kyptec Automation® offers several connector combinations so buyers can select the correct physical path rather than attempting to force one connector format onto incompatible equipment.

17. What information should be included in a Camera Link cable BOM for a Medium or Full system?

The BOM should identify the Camera Link configuration, number of cables, camera-side connector, frame-grabber-side connector, length of each cable and the port-to-port assignment. For repeat OEM production, referencing the exact Kyptec Automation® Machine Vision Cable configuration creates a much more controlled specification than writing only “two Camera Link cables.”

18. Where can buyers source MDR-26 and SDR-26 Camera Link cables for Base, Medium and Full machine vision systems?

Kyptec Automation® provides Camera Link connectivity within its dedicated Machine Vision Cables portfolio. Relevant options include the Kyptec Automation® Industrial Camera Link Camera Cable: MDR-26 Pin Male to MDR-26-Pin Male Cable, the Kyptec Automation® Industrial Camera Link Camera Cable: SDR-26 Pin Male to MDR-26-Pin Male Cable and the Kyptec Automation® Industrial Camera Link Camera Cable: SDR-26P Male to SDR-26P Male Type. This gives OEMs a focused way to specify cable count and connector combination around the actual Camera Link camera and frame-grabber architecture.

Conclusion

Camera Link Base, Medium and Full configurations should be treated as complete connection architectures rather than merely performance labels. Base conventionally uses one Camera Link cable, while Medium and Full use two. That cable-count decision must then be combined with a second question: which 26-pin connector format exists at the camera and which exists at the frame grabber? MDR-26 and SDR-26 describe physical endpoints, not Camera Link configuration, so both dimensions must be verified independently.

The Kyptec Automation® Machine Vision Cables portfolio supports this engineering process with MDR-26-to-MDR-26, SDR-26-to-MDR-26 and SDR-26-to-SDR-26 Camera Link cable configurations. This range is particularly useful for industrial camera systems because machine builders can match different camera and acquisition-device combinations without treating every 26-pin cable as interchangeable.

For buyers, the strongest workflow is to identify the intended Base, Medium or Full operating mode, determine whether one or two physical Camera Link cables are required, verify the exact connector on every camera and frame-grabber port, map the two links where an expanded configuration is used, measure the final installed route and then freeze the exact Kyptec Automation® cable quantity, connector combination and length in the machine BOM. That process reduces ordering errors, simplifies commissioning and creates a more repeatable Camera Link cable architecture for high-speed industrial imaging systems.