This study investigates the effects of cement content (CC) and loading rate on the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of cemented sand. Three CCs (12%, 14%, and 16%) were tested at loading rates ranging from 0.5%-5%/min. In addition, a novel camera vision-based crack detection method was developed to monitor crack-related parameters-crack size and angle-in real-time during testing. The results revealed significant variations in UCS with changes in CC and loading rate. For example, at a loading rate of 0.5%/min, UCS increased by 31% and 102% in the specimens with 12% and 16% CC, respectively. Moreover, UCS consistently increased with increasing loading rate, with increases of 28%, 36%, and 31% observed for CCs of 12%, 14%, and 16%, respectively, within the 0.5%-1%/min range. However, as the loading rate increased above 1%/min, the rate of UCS increase stabilized or decreased, highlighting the importance of selecting appropriate loading rates for accurate strength evaluation. A correlation between normalized UCS and loading rate is proposed based on this study's findings and previous research. Furthermore, the camera-based crack detection method provides detailed insights into the failure behavior of cemented sand and reveals a clear correlation between loading rate, CC, and the angle of the fracture surface. This study highlights the need to adopt a standardized loading rate of 1%/min in UCS testing of cemented sand and demonstrates the potential of camera vision technology to enhance geotechnical monitoring practices.