Cameras, systems and equipment — ECCN 6A003
Controls instrumentation and imaging cameras that exceed named speed, shutter, pixel count or tracking annotation thresholds.
The entry, quoted as it reads today
a. Instrumentation cameras and “specially designed” “components” therefor, as follows: Note: Instrumentation cameras, controlled by 6A003.a.3 to 6A003.a.5, with modular structures should be evaluated by their maximum capability, using plug-ins available according to the camera manufacturer's specifications. a.1. [Reserved] a.2. [Reserved] a.3. Electronic streak cameras having temporal resolution better than 50 ns; a.4. Electronic framing cameras having a speed exceeding 1,000,000 frames/s; a.5. Electronic cameras having all of the following: a.5.a. An electronic shutter speed (gating capability) of less than 1µs per full frame; and a.5.b. A read out time allowing a framing rate of more than 125 full frames per second; a.6. Plug-ins having all of the following characteristics: a.6.a. “Specially designed” for instrumentation cameras which have modular structures and that are controlled by 6A003.a; and a.6.b. Enabling these cameras to meet the characteristics specified by 6A003.a.3, 6A003.a.4 or 6A003.a.5, according to the manufacturer's specifications; b. Imaging cameras as follows: Note: 6A003.b does not control television or video cameras “specially designed” for television broadcasting. b.1. Video cameras incorporating solid state sensors, having a peak response in the wavelength range exceeding 10 nm, but not exceeding 30,000 nm and having all of the following: b.1.a. Having any of the following: b.1.a.1. More than 4 x 10 6 “active pixels” per solid state array for monochrome (black and white) cameras; b.1.a.2. More than 4 x 10 6 “active pixels” per solid state array for color cameras incorporating three solid state arrays; or b.1.a.3. More than 12 x 10 6 “active pixels” for solid state array color cameras incorporating one solid state array; and b.1.b. Having any of the following: b.1.b.1. Optical mirrors controlled by 6A004.a.; b.1.b.2. Optical control equipment controlled by 6A004.d.; or b.1.b.3. The capability for annotating internally generated 'camera tracking data'; Technical Notes: 1. For the purposes of 6A003.b.1, digital video cameras should be evaluated by the maximum number of “active pixels” used for capturing moving images. 2. For the purposes of 6A003.b.1.b.3, 'camera tracking data' is the information necessary to define camera line of sight orientation with respect to the earth. This includes: (1) the horizontal angle the camera line of si
Corpus last verified 2026-08-29. Skenai never shows unquoted regulation.
In plain language
6A003 is split into instrumentation cameras at paragraph a and imaging cameras at paragraph b. Instrumentation thresholds are about time, such as streak resolution better than 50 ns or framing above 1,000,000 frames per second. Modular cameras are evaluated at maximum capability with available plug-ins.
Imaging cameras at 6A003.b.1 use a compound test. The camera needs a solid state sensor with peak response between 10 nm and 30,000 nm. It also needs an active pixel count above the stated figures, plus controlled optics or camera tracking data annotation.
The pixel figures differ by sensor architecture. Monochrome and 3-array colour cameras are counted at more than 4,000,000 active pixels per array; single-array colour cameras at more than 12,000,000. A note removes television and video cameras specially designed for broadcasting.
The questions this entry turns on
- 01Does the streak camera have temporal resolution better than 50 ns, or the framing camera a speed exceeding 1,000,000 frames per second?
- 02Does the camera have an electronic shutter of less than 1 microsecond per full frame and readout above 125 full frames per second?
- 03Does the imaging camera exceed 4,000,000 active pixels per array, or 12,000,000 for a single-array colour sensor?
- 04Does the camera also carry controlled optics, or the capability to annotate internally generated camera tracking data?
- 05Is the camera specially designed for television broadcasting, which the note to 6A003.b removes?
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What typically falls in, and what typically falls out
Typically in
- A high-speed test camera running above 1,000,000 frames per second, which typically reads onto 6A003.a.4
- A gated intensified camera with a sub-microsecond shutter and 200 frames per second readout, typically caught by 6A003.a.5
- A 20-megapixel airborne imager that annotates line-of-sight tracking data, typically caught by 6A003.b.1
Typically out
- A 12-megapixel monochrome machine-vision camera with no tracking annotation and no controlled optics
- A broadcast television camera, typically removed by the note to 6A003.b
- A consumer mirrorless camera used for product photography
These are typical cases, not determinations. Which side a specific product lands on turns on the answers in the Interview.
Adjacent entries
- Optical sensors and equipment — ECCN 6A00215 CFR 774, Supplement No. 1, ECCN 6A002
- Imaging systems under fire control, laser, imaging and guidance equipment — USML Category XII22 CFR 121.1, Category XII(c)
- EAR99 designation for items subject to the EAR — 15 CFR 734.3(c)15 CFR 734.3(c)
Does your product land on this entry?
The Interview asks 5 to 9 questions, only the ones this entry turns on, and names the Determination free. The Dossier is the dated, cited record of how it was reached.
Free, no account. Dossier $249 if you want the record.