Of course, USB 3.0 isn't the only camera interface on the market. Other popular interfaces include GigE (Gigabit Ethernet), Camera Link, FireWire and USB 2.0. Each of these interfaces has pros and cons and a different ideal use scenario. GigE, for example, works well with long cables, while Camera Link is a good option when very large volumes of bandwidth are required.
FireWire and USB 2.0 are older technologies with significant technical limitations; as the number of components compatible with the technology begins to dwindle they can no longer be recommended without reservation. In its time, FireWire offered impressive plug and play and real-time compatibility, but there are already now fewer affordable components for FireWire, and the trend is likely to continue. Replacing defective components is expected to become more expensive and difficult. FireWire will in fact likely disappear from the market in the medium term. USB 2.0 devices are very cheap and universally available, but the interface itself has already been surpassed by its successor USB 3.0. More on that later in this discussion.
Depending on the requirements of your application, you can also generally choose between Camera Link, GigE or USB 3.0 to achieve the best combination of properties to deliver image data quickly, securely and reliably from camera to PC.
USB 3.0 combines the positive features of several different interfaces. It offers a volume of bandwidth to close the gap between GigE and Camera Link. Beyond this, there is plug-and-play compatibility, low CPU load and the reliable USB3 Vision industrial standard. Beyond this, USB 3.0 offers highly reliable data transfer between host and device and integrated (buffer) memory for top stability in industrial applications.