Use any AI Engine to directly search over 350 lenses from sunex.com
The Sunex product catalog is queryable through the AI assistants you already use — Claude, ChatGPT, Perplexity, Microsoft Copilot, and Gemini. You connect once via a URL, then ask lens and sensor questions in plain language and get catalog-grounded answers in seconds right on yoru phone, browser, or desktop client.
Supported platforms: Claude (free + paid), ChatGPT (Business/Enterprise), Perplexity (Pro+), Microsoft Copilot (M365), Gemini (Enterprise). Use the Step-by-step setup quick start guide for each platform below.
5
AI-callable tools
Live
Real-time M12 Lens catalog at your fingertips
Free
Public, no API key
What Is the Sunex AI Connector, and How Does It Work?
Sunex has published a product data connector built on the Model Context Protocol (MCP) — an open standard adopted by all major AI platforms that allows an AI assistant to query external databases and tools in real time. When you connect your AI assistant to Sunex via MCP, it retrieves live data from our product catalog as part of answering your question.
The connector works inside whichever AI platform you already subscribe to. You type a question in plain language — the AI formulates a product search, queries the Sunex catalog, and returns a grounded answer with specs and relevant links. The product data is always current; there is no stale snapshot.
This is not a replacement for the lens selection wizard on sunex.com. It is a complementary path: natural-language, multi-parameter queries without needing to know filter names or taxonomy in advance.
Find sensors fast
earch by part number, manufacturer, or resolution class. Get full specs plus computed sensor geometry in millimeters.
Match lenses to imagers
Feed any imager PN and get compatible M12 lenses with per-lens FOV, angular resolution, and F/# filters.
Quote & spec in one turn
Results includes sample pricing, spec sheet URL, sample order link, and volume RFQ link. No separate lookup.
Which AI Platforms Support the Sunex Connector, and Do I Need a Paid Plan?
The connector is compatible with the five most widely used AI platforms. Support varies by subscription tier. The table below reflects availability as of April 2026.
Platform | Web | Desktop | Mobile | Free plan | Paid plans |
Claude (Anthropic) | ✓ | ✓ | Limited | 1 connector | Pro / Max / Team / Ent |
ChatGPT (OpenAI) | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | Business / Enterprise |
Perplexity | ✓ | ✓ Mac | Partial | — | Pro / Max / Enterprise |
Microsoft Copilot | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | M365 / Copilot Studio |
Gemini (Google) | ✓ | — | — | supported | Enterprise only |
Sunex MCP server URL — paste this into your platform’s connector settings: https://mcp.sunex-ai.com/mcp This is the canonical MCP endpoint. |
What Kinds of Lens and Sensor Questions Can I Ask?
The connector handles natural-language queries across the full Sunex catalog. It performs best on questions that combine multiple parameters — field of view, aperture, sensor size, mount type, application — in a single prompt. Examples of well-handled queries:
| Sample query | Typical results/answers |
| “Recommend a wide-angle lens for the Sony IMX577 sensor, F/2.0 or faster.” | Resolves IMX577 geometry (4056×3040, 1.55µm), then filters lens catalog:
|
| “I need fisheye lenses under $100. What do you have?” | Scans full catalog, returns PN, description, sample price, and:
|
| “What’s the diagonal of the IMX477 in mm? And what’s its Nyquist?” | Returns full specs plus:
|
| “Compare lenses for a 1920×1080 sensor with 3µm pixels, 100-180° HFOV.” | Applies FOV, F/#, and image-circle filters:
|
| “Please recommend a lens for the AR0220.” | Return provides:
|
| “Show me lenses for a medical endoscope.” | Provides concrete options, including key spec, datasheet, and sample pricing based on application type:
|
How Do I Connect My AI Assistant to the Sunex Product Catalog?
Select your platform below. In most cases, setup takes under five minutes. You only need to connect once — the connector remains available in your account settings.
Claude (Anthropic) — claude.ai
Free plan: 1 custom connector. Pro, Max, Team, Enterprise: multiple connectors. Enterprise admins can share the connector org-wide.
- Go to claude.ai and sign in.
- Click your profile icon → Settings → Connectors.
- Click + then Add custom connector.
- Enter name: Sunex Optics. Paste the MCP URL above.
- Click Add. Follow any authorisation prompt.
- In a new chat: click + → Connectors → toggle Sunex Optics on.
- Try: “Find wide-angle M12 lenses with diagonal FOV over 120°”
Desktop app: same steps from the app’s Settings menu. Mobile: use the browser version for full connector access. |
ChatGPT (OpenAI) — chatgpt.com
Requires Business or Enterprise plan. Connectors are called Apps since December 2025. Free, Plus, and Pro plans do not support custom MCP connectors.
- Workspace admin: go to Workspace Settings → Permissions & Roles → Connected Data → enable Developer Mode.
- Sign in with your Business or Enterprise account.
- Profile → Settings → Apps → Advanced settings → confirm Developer Mode is on.
- Click Create app. Name: Sunex Optics. Paste the MCP URL.
- Admin reviews and publishes the app to the workspace.
- New chat → Add sources → select Sunex Optics.
- “What lenses are compatible with the Sony IMX577?”
Perplexity — perplexity.ai
Requires Pro, Max, or Enterprise plan. Custom remote connectors launched March 2026.
- Sign in on your Pro or Max account.
- Profile → Account Settings → Connectors.
- Click + Custom connector → Remote.
- Name: Sunex Optics · URL: paste MCP URL · Authentication: None.
- Check acknowledgement box → Add.
- Click the Sunex Optics card to enable it.
- “Show me fisheye lenses with F/2 or faster aperture.”
Microsoft Copilot — via Copilot Studio
Requires M365 Business or Enterprise with a Copilot Studio licence. This is an admin/maker task.
- Go to copilotstudio.microsoft.com and sign in.
- Open or create an agent.
- Tools → Add a tool → New tool → Model Context Protocol.
- Server name: Sunex Optics · Server URL: paste MCP URL · Auth: None.
- Click Create connection → Add → Save.
- Publish the agent to Teams, SharePoint, or your chosen channel.
Generative orchestration must be enabled under Agent settings → AI capabilities for MCP tools to function. |
Gemini (Google)
In Gemini-CLI, run this command:
gemini mcp add --transport http sunex https://mcp.sunex-ai.com/mcp
Restart Gemini-CLI, verify by running command:
/mcp list
Gemini Enterprise (Standard, Plus, or Frontline). Allowlist approval required — contact your Google account team before starting.
- Confirm allowlist access with your Google account team.
- Google Cloud Console → Gemini Enterprise → Data stores → Create data store.
- Search: Custom MCP Server → Select.
- Enter MCP Server URL and complete the OAuth configuration fields.
- The connector appears in Gemini Enterprise data stores.
- Users activate it from Connectors in their workspace.
Your own code
Python / TypeScript / any language
Install the MCP client SDK for your language.
- Install the MCP client SDK for your language
- Connect via SSE to the Sunex MCP Server URL.
- Call tools by name with the documented params.
- See manifest for schema.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Sunex AI Connector
Does the Sunex AI connector store my queries or share them with other users?
No. Each query is a stateless, isolated call with no session memory and no connection to other users’ queries. Nothing you ask is visible to other users or retained after your session ends.
Is the Sunex AI connector the same as the product search on sunex.com?
It draws from the same product data but works differently. The website search requires specific filter parameters. The AI connector accepts plain-language questions and can reason across multiple parameters — FOV, aperture, sensor size, application type — simultaneously in one prompt.
Can the Sunex AI connector provide quotations or process orders?
No. The connector is read-only. It returns product information, spec sheet links, and sample pricing references from the catalog. For formal quotations, use the RFQ link in the answer or contact sales@sunex.com.
How current is the Sunex product data returned by the connector?
The connector queries the live Sunex product database. Catalog additions, specification updates, and pricing changes are reflected in real time — there is no stale snapshot or periodic cache.
Do I need a paid AI subscription to use the Sunex connector?
Claude is the only platform that supports one custom connector on its free plan. All other platforms (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Microsoft Copilot, Gemini) require a paid plan. See the compatibility table in this article for a full breakdown.
What should I do if the AI returns incorrect product specifications?
Always verify specifications against the official Sunex datasheet before making a design decision. The connector includes links to spec sheets for each product it returns. If you encounter a data error or are unsure, contact us at sunex.com/contact — this helps us improve the catalog data.
Can I use the Sunex connector on mobile AI apps?
Partially. Claude’s mobile app has limited connector support — the browser version gives full access. ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot mobile apps do not currently support custom MCP connectors. Perplexity’s mobile app has partial support. The most reliable experience across all platforms is via a desktop browser.
Which AI platform is easiest to set up with the Sunex connector?
Claude (claude.ai) offers the simplest setup: no admin access required, available on the free plan (one connector), and ready in under three minutes. It is the recommended starting point for individual engineers.
Have a lens selection question?
Contact our engineering team at sunex.com/contact, use the lens selection wizard on sunex.com, or try the AI connector using the setup steps above.
