What it is and what it does
The Omron E3ZD87OMI is a diffuse reflective photoelectric sensor from the E3Z series, with a PNP output and an infrared LED light source. It detects objects at distances up to 1 m, switching in 1 ms. Housed in a compact 10.8 x 31 x 20 mm package with an M8 connector, it’s rated IP67 for washdown and dusty environments.
How it compares to the cable variant
The closest functional sibling is the E3ZD812MOMI, which also uses an infrared LED and PNP output, but is terminated with a cable instead of the M8 connector. More critically, its maximum sensing distance is 100 mm — one-tenth of this part’s 1 m. If you’re replacing a cable-installed sensor that needed a 1 m range, the E3ZD87OMI won’t drop in without rewiring and may over-range. For connector-based panels that require the longer range, this is the correct choice.