Find an M12 Lens / S-Mount Lens

M12 Lenses are miniature lenses for embedded cameras, computer vision, and human viewing camera applications. 

Despite their small size, M12 lenses deliver high-quality imaging and are a cost-effective alternative to larger C-mount lenses. Engineers favor these lenses for projects where space is limited or weight should be minimal, without sacrificing image performance.

We offer many types of M12 lenses including fisheye, wide-angle, no-distortion, and telephoto types. These lenses support various image sensor sizes and resolution, making them practical for a wide range of applications.

We have >200 lenses with accurate specifications, downloadable .STP files, and same-day global sample shipping. All of our lenses are ready for mass production.

Ask us about customizations, custom lens designs, and camera module assembly.

Board Mount Lenses for Robotic Vision Systems

Our low F#, low distortion, and/or ingress protected lenses are ideal for automotive, mobile robotics, and aerial robotics.

Drone Object Detection Camera M12 Lenses.webp__PID:c6eb76d9-c345-4dae-99d8-714b97fbbdbd

Our 16mm, 25mm, and 50mm M12 lenses are great for long-distance imaging, and tiny fisheye lenses ideal for obstacle avoidance.

Surveillance Camera Lens M12 Lenses S Mount.webp__PID:53cc9b85-f34a-45b3-89ed-c0e8b1a8f7cb

Our miniature fisheye, telephoto, and IR Corrected lenses are suitable for doorbell cameras and active IR illuminated scenes.

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Our lenses are available with multiple F# and customizations allow you to quickly optimize any camera design.

Find an M12 Lens / S-Mount Lens

M12 Lenses are miniature lenses for embedded cameras, computer vision, and human viewing camera applications.

We offer many types of M12 lenses including fisheye, wide-angle, no-distortion, and telephoto types. Many are ingress protected.

We have >200 production-ready lenses with accurate specifications, downloadable .STP files, and same-day global sample shipping.

Mobile Robot Camera Lens 600px.webp__PID:4722fc3a-b942-488e-8e7a-67a6eb3a846e

Our low F#, low distortion, and/or ingress protected lenses are ideal for automotive, mobile robotics, and aerial robotics.

Surveillance Camera M12 Lens and Doorbell Camera copy.webp__PID:aa117600-cf08-40f7-a8b1-9e20c637c123

Our miniature fisheye, telephoto, and IR Corrected lenses are suitable for doorbell cameras and active IR illuminated scenes.

Surveillance Camera M12 Lens and Doorbell Camera copy.webp__PID:aa117600-cf08-40f7-a8b1-9e20c637c123

Our lenses are available with multiple F# and customizations allow you to quickly optimize any camera design.

M12 Lenses Fisheye S Mount Lenses 250sq.webp__PID:b51d1035-b60f-4b94-a84c-307cc5626410

Calculate Field of View, Apply Search Filters, then Order Samples.

Click the square arrow icon to open product pages where you can see pictures, download files, view sample pricing, and add-to-cart.

M12 Lenses C Mount Lenses

Engineering & Quality Assured

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US Engineering Support

S Mount Lenses

Easy Global Shipment

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Volume Production Ready

A couple of our customer's favorite lenses are:

215°@6.8mm M12 Fisheye Lens
215°@6.8mm M12 Fisheye Lens

CIL220-F2.3-M12BNIR

$39.00
$0.00
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190°@6.4mm Fisheye M12 Lens
190°@6.4mm Fisheye M12 Lens

CIL281-F1.8-M12A650

$59.00
$0.00
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Wide-Angle 4mm M12 Lens
Wide-Angle 4mm M12 Lens

CIL339-F1.6-M12B640

$109.00
$0.00
View Details
No Distortion 3.2mm M12 Lens
No Distortion 3.2mm M12 Lens

CIL034-F2.3-M12A660

$39.00
$0.00
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No Distortion 6mm M12 Lens
No Distortion 6mm M12 Lens

CIL062-F2.8-M12A650

$19.00
$0.00
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IR Corrected 12mm M12 Lens
IR Corrected 12mm M12 Lens

CIL122-F2.0-M12A650

$59.00
$0.00
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Telephoto 35mm M12 Lens
Telephoto 35mm M12 Lens

CIL350-F2.4-M12A650

$59.00
$0.00
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Telephoto 50mm M12 Lens
Telephoto 50mm M12 Lens

CIL051-F2.8-M12ANIR

$79.00
$0.00
View Details

Browse Our Catalog To View Our Lenses and Mechanical Drawings.

Commonlands M12 Catalog May 2025.jpg__PID:3d85608b-1439-4fcc-b094-e4fbe59ecb9aDownload Product Catalog

There are many M12 Lens Types and Options

Board mount lenses are available in a range of options to enable you to create a vision system that is customized to your use-case.

Many of our M12 lenses are available in multiple apertures (F#) and with special features like ultra low distortion or ingress protection for harsh environments. They support various image sensor sizes (from small 1/4” sensors up to 1/1.8” or larger) and resolutions (including multi-megapixel HD and 4K sensors), making them practical for a wide range of cameras.

A few types of lenses are:

  • Fisheye Lenses: Ultra-wide field of view (up to ~180°+) for maximum coverage, ideal for panoramic imaging and obstacle avoidance.
  • Wide-angle lenses: Large field of view with low distortion, great for surveillance and machine vision applications.
  • No-distortion / Low-Distortion Lenses: Engineered optics that minimize distortion for accurate image reproduction without dewarping or calibration.
  • Telephoto Lenses: Longer focal lengths (e.g. 16 mm, 25 mm, 50 mm) for narrow FOV imaging, useful in drone imaging at altitude or long-range security cameras.
  • IR-Corrected Lenses: Optimized for both visible and infrared light (day/night use), suitable for security cameras with IR illumination (e.g. doorbell cameras or CCTV).

Looking for a more traditional way (Excel) to find an M12 lens?

S Mount Lenses M12 Lens Sunex Evetar Framos BaslerDownload Our Lens List

Choosing the Right S-Mount Lens

When choosing an S-Mount lens (M12 lens), there are several factors to consider. Common considerations include:

  • Field of View: A shorter focal length is ideal for wide-angle applications, while a longer focal length is better suited for telephoto applications. 
  • Depth of Field: the depth of field of a lens determines the range over which objects are in focus. 
  • CMOS Sensor Format: the format of your sensor will determine which lenses will provide full coverage, or the crop ratio for FoV.
  • Resolution: The lens MTF or sharpness needs to match the sensor's pixel pitch (size) otherwise you'll have a blurry image.
  • F#: The amount of light that the lens collects is dependent on the aperture diameter.
  • Ingress Protection: If your application is outdoors, having an ingress protected lens eliminates the need for a window or dome.
  • Chief Ray Angle: The CRA of a lens needs to match your image sensor within ~+/-5~7 degrees otherwise color shading may be an issue.
  • Operating Temperature: the range in which a camera stays in focus is partially dependent on the lens construction (glass versus glass+plastic)

By considering these factors, you can choose the right S-mount lens for your application, regardless if it's high resolution or low resolution.

Ask our Application Engineers About Trade-Offs
Low Distortion 3.0mm M12 Lens

CIL030-F2.1-M12A650

Low Distortion 3.0mm M12 Lens

$49.00
View Details
Wide-Angle 4mm M12 Lens

CIL341-F2.0-M12A650

Wide-Angle 4mm M12 Lens

$79.00
View Details
Low Distortion 6mm M12 Lens

CIL059-F1.7-M12B650

Low Distortion 6mm M12 Lens

$49.00
View Details
Wide-Angle 4.5mm M12 Lens

CIL344-F1.9-M12B660

Wide-Angle 4.5mm M12 Lens

$49.00
View Details
IR Corrected 4.4mm M12 Lens

CIL046-F2.0-M12A650

IR Corrected 4.4mm M12 Lens

$79.00
View Details
Low Distortion 6.8mm M12 Lens

CIL068-F2.5-M12A650

Low Distortion 6.8mm M12 Lens

$49.00
View Details
Wide-Angle 6.8mm M12 Lens

CIL368-F1.8-M12A650

Wide-Angle 6.8mm M12 Lens

$79.00
View Details
Low Distortion 7.8mm M12 Lens

CIL078-F2.0-M12A650

Low Distortion 7.8mm M12 Lens

$59.00
View Details

Key Features of Our M12 / S‑Mount Lenses

  • Quality Assured: 100% functional and cosmetic testing to make sure your device is production ready.
  • 200+ models in stock: fisheye, wide‑angle, no‑distortion & telephoto board‑mount lenses ready to ship.
  • Accurate specs: published FOV, distortion, MTF data + downloadable .STP files for fast CAD integration.
  • High‑resolution support: image circles sized for sensors up to 1/1.8″ and 4K resolution.
  • Specialized builds: IR‑corrected, ultra‑low‑distortion, and ruggedized options for extreme environments.
  • Rapid prototyping: same‑day global sample shipping from our U.S. warehouse cuts development time.
  • OEM services: custom tweaks, full lens design, and camera‑module assembly for volume production.

Our Customers span Fortune 100 Companies, Startups, and Hobbyists across many applications:

  • Drones & UAVs: lightweight optics for aerial imaging and obstacle avoidance.
  • Robotics & automation: compact vision lenses for navigation, pick‑and‑place, and QC inspection.
  • Smart retail: wide‑angle coverage for shelf analytics and cashier‑less checkout systems.
  • Automotive: ADAS, rear‑view, and in‑cabin cameras requiring rugged board‑mount lenses.
  • Security & surveillance: day/night CCTV and doorbell cameras using IR‑corrected S‑mount lenses.
  • Video conferencing & IoT: slim webcams and smart‑home cameras needing HD board‑level optics.

Interested in Customizations or A Custom Board Mount Lens?

We offer several customizations for our lenses and have fully automated lens manufacturing in the US.

Contact us to discuss feasibility, minimum order quantities, and NRE requirements.

  • Preassembly with M12 lens holders to reduce anodization debris and image plane tilt
  • As-measured performance data (MTF, EFL, etc..) with serialized unit-level traceability
  • Custom filters glued to the rear for Day/Night dual-bandpass applications and Bandpass, Dual Notch, etc..)
  • Customized higher F-number
  • Barrel mechanical design adjustments for active alignment and ingress protection.
  • Hydrophobic coating on front optical surface

We consider full custom all-glass lens designs starting from 5,000pcs. 

Contact Us for DetailsM12 Lens S Mount Lens Manufacturing.webp__PID:8d913162-e0b3-4507-bc79-e85875cb26ae

FAQs 

Q: What is an M12 lens (S-mount lens)?

Answer: An M12 lens is a compact lens with a 12 mm thread diameter, often called an S-mount lens. These lenses screws into a camera’s M12 lens mount and are commonly used in board-level cameras for embedded vision systems. M12 lenses are smaller than C/CS-mount lenses, making them ideal for space-constrained applications like robotics​.

Q: What cameras can I use M12 lenses with?

A: There are many embedded vision cameras and AI cameras that are compatible with M12 leness. As long as camera's lens holder is compatible with the mechanical dimensions of the lens, the lens should focus! Please make sure to match the image circle, FoV, and resolution. We recommend searching and contacting the following companies:

Q: How do you focus an M12 lens?

Answer: Use focus targets, then slowly thread the lens while displaying a video. Go past focus, then come back to focus. You can view our full article on how to focus camera lenses.

Q: How does an M12 (S-mount) lens compare to a C-mount lens?

Answer: M12 (S-mount) lenses are smaller and screw directly into the camera module, whereas C-mount lenses use a larger 1-inch threaded mount and often require more space.

M12 lenses allow a very wide field of view in a tiny package, making them popular for compact devices. The high performance of these lenses is achieved through a short back focal length that is not possible with C-mount lenses.

C/CS-mount lenses are used for larger sensors or where adjustable working distance is needed and finite conjugate optimization is necessary. 

Looking for recommendations, trying to figure out where to start, or want to discuss customizations? Contact our US-based Optical Engineers.