Raspberry Pi has launched an up to date digital camera, Digicam Module 3 (aka Digicam v3 or Digicam Module v3), with an MSRP of $25 for traditional or $35 for the large angle model. The brand new module brings extra pixels, rivalling the Excessive High quality Digicam’s 12MP whereas protecting the smaller sensor-on-a-board kind issue. What’s new about this tiny digital camera is autofocus. That is the primary official Raspberry Pi digital camera with autofocus, although Arducam’s Excessive Decision digital camera delivered that performance final yr.
The Raspberry Pi digital camera was the primary official accent from Raspberry Pi, manner again in 2013. The unique 5MP mannequin was up to date to v2 in 2016 which introduced 8MP to the sport. Then the cameras received a bit extra “critical” with the 12MP Raspberry Pi Excessive High quality Digicam in 2020; this model introduced interchangeable lenses and a plethora of selections for the eager photographer, however it’s dear and doesn’t include a lens.
Quick ahead to 2023 and now we have a brand new mainstream Pi digital camera, the Raspberry Pi Digicam v3 which updates the unique digital camera’s sensor-on-a-board kind issue to pack a 12MP Sony IMX708 sensor and auto focus. It additionally is available in 4 flavors: customary, large angle, NOIR and NOIR large angle.
We examined each the usual and large angle (non-NOIR) variations of the Digicam v3 and located the picture high quality wonderful, with the auto focus characteristic a very useful improve.
Raspberry Pi Digicam v3 Specs
| Sensor | Sony IMX708 |
| Optical Dimension | 7.4mm sensor diagonal |
| Sensor Decision | 11.9 Megapixels |
| Nonetheless Decision | 4608 x 2592 pixels |
| Video Modes | 1080p50, 720p100, 480p120 |
| Autofocus System | Part Detection Autofocus |
| Focus Vary | 10CM to infinity |
| Focal Size | 4.74mm |
| Dimensions | 25 x 23.9 x 11.5 mm (75 diploma) |
| 25 x 23.9 x 12.4 mm (120 diploma “large angle”) |
Design of Raspberry Pi Digicam v3
At an off-the-cuff look there isn’t a lot distinction between Digicam v3 and v2, however beneath a silver bundle lies the auto focus system for the Sony IMX708 sensor. This further bundle is the place we hit a small problem. The girth of the digital camera, from the tip of the lens to the rear of the PCB, v3 is thicker than earlier fashions.
The usual mannequin is 11.5mm thick, and the large angle model is available in at 12.4mm. This isn’t a large problem for many, however it might trigger points for present circumstances and mounts. If you happen to spot a cool trying digital camera holder to 3D print with one of many finest 3D printers, then you will have to tweak the print for the additional thickness. We printed a fast stand in simply over an hour with our Creality Ender 2 Professional although it required just a little MacGyver tweaking to suit the thicker module.
Picture 1 of 2
Comparability to Legacy Digicam Modules
We consulted Raspberry Pi’s wonderful documentation protecting all of its earlier digital camera fashions and utilizing its information we included the Raspberry Pi Digicam v3 for comparability. The v3 comes proper between the v2 and the HQ digital camera, precisely as to be anticipated. We achieve extra megapixels and an general bigger picture. We didn’t have exact information for some columns so we’ll fill these in later.
| Header Cell – Column 0 | Digicam Module v1 | Digicam Module v2 | HQ Digicam | Digicam Module v3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Internet value | $25 | $25 | $50 | $25 – $35 |
| Dimension | Round 25 × 24 × 9 mm | 38 x 38 x 18.4mm (excluding lens) | 25 × 24 × 11.5mm (12.4mm peak for Vast variants) | |
| Weight | 3g | 3g | ||
| Nonetheless decision | 5 Megapixels | 8 Megapixels | 12.3 Megapixels | 11.9 Megapixels |
| Video modes | 1080p30, 720p60 and 640 × 480p60/90 | 1080p47, 1640 × 1232p41 and 640 × 480p206 | 2028 × 1080p50, 2028 × 1520p40 and 1332 × 990p120 | 1080p50, 720p100, 480p120 |
| Sensor | OmniVision OV5647 | Sony IMX219 | Sony IMX477 | Sony IMX708 |
| Sensor decision | 2592 × 1944 pixels | 3280 × 2464 pixels | 4056 x 3040 pixels | 4608 × 2592 pixels |
| Sensor picture space | 3.76 × 2.74 mm | 3.68 x 2.76 mm (4.6 mm diagonal) | 6.287mm x 4.712 mm (7.9mm diagonal) | |
| Pixel dimension | 1.4 µm × 1.4 µm | 1.12 µm x 1.12 µm | 1.55 µm x 1.55 µm | 1.4μm × 1.4μm |
| Optical dimension | 1/4″ | 1/4″ | 1/2.3″ | ? |
| Full-frame SLR lens equal | 35 mm | ? | ||
| S/N ratio | 36 dB | ? | ||
| Dynamic vary | 67 dB @ 8x achieve | ? | ||
| Sensitivity | 680 mV/lux-sec | ? | ||
| Darkish present | 16 mV/sec @ 60 C | ? | ||
| Effectively capability | 4.3 Ke- | ? | ||
| Depth of area | approx. 1 m to infinity | adjustable with provided software | N/A | ? |
| Focal size | 3.60 mm +/- 0.01 | 3.04 mm | Will depend on lens | 4.74mm |
| Horizontal area of view | 53.50 +/- 0.13 levels | 62.2 levels | Will depend on lens | ? |
| Vertical area of view | 41.41 +/- 0.11 levels | 48.8 levels | Will depend on lens | ? |
| Focal ratio (F-Cease) | 2.9 | 2 | Will depend on lens | ? |
| Most publicity occasions (seconds) | 6 | 11.76 | 670.74 | ? |
Utilizing Raspberry Pi Digicam v3
On the time of writing, there are two major methods to regulate the digital camera. The libcamera library (which changed raspistill and raspivid) and Picamera2 (an in-house replace to the lengthy operating neighborhood created Picamera). With our Raspberry Pi 4 powered off, we inserted the digital camera cable and locked it into place. Because the digital camera makes use of the identical connector as earlier fashions, it signifies that it may be used with the complete vary of Raspberry Pi boards, together with the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W through an adapter cable.
The most important draw back of the official digital camera modules has all the time been the shape issue. It lacks a mechanism to lock the digital camera in place (in a category of 30 educators, all operating their cameras, we discovered revolutionary methods to safe them). This problem was corrected with the HQ digital camera’s screw mount however with Digicam Module v3, we see solely the legacy mount factors on the corners of the digital camera.. Arducam’s autofocus digital camera contains a case which offers a mount level through a clip-on case. We’d’ve liked this to come back as customary with Digicam Module 3. Alas it appears that it’ll not be, however we are able to all the time 3D print a fast holder.
We powered on our Pi operating the most recent Raspberry Pi OS launch, and our first thought was to allow the digital camera interface, however then we realised that we not had to try this. We up to date our record of software program repositories after which upgraded the software program. This pulled the most recent Digicam Module v3 updates, together with Picamera2.
Picture 1 of 6
Our first check was through libcamera. We captured a sequence of JPEG photographs. The digital camera was positioned 9 inches away from the check objects and lighting was constant between every shot. What we present in our assessments was that also photographs have been wonderful. Be they close to (4 inches / 10cm) or far they have been of constant high quality and on par with the Excessive High quality digital camera. Autofocus occasions for nonetheless photographs have been fast; we might see the digital camera trying to find a spotlight goal, however it was by no means “juddery”.
Recording movies was a special matter. The main focus would attempt to safe a goal, which it did shortly, however we might see the “steps” as the main focus labored to maintain up. That mentioned, shut up focus was wonderful in our movies, choosing up the floor mount parts of the unique Raspberry Pi.
A brand new characteristic included with Digicam Module 3 is HDR (Excessive Dynamic Vary) which will increase the dynamic luminosity vary of photographs. With HDR we get deeper darkness and brighter photographs. This works by capturing a number of photographs of the identical scene, every with totally different exposures. These photographs are then mixed right into a single picture which encompasses your complete vary.
Digicam Module 3’s HDR photographs are restricted to 3MP which libcamera makes use of to generate a picture with a decision of 2304 x 1296. We took two photos of the identical scene, an in depth up of a Raspberry Pi. One picture was with HDR; the opposite with out. The HDR picture was unmistakably brighter and vibrant, however it did have just a little noise. The non-HDR picture lacked the brightness, but additionally had little to no noise. HDR can be an fascinating addition to Raspberry Pi path cams and to report panorama scenes.
Picture 1 of 2
Shifting our assessments to Picamera2, we recreated the steps in a latest easy methods to however we observed that autofocus wasn’t very “auto.” It seems that we have to embrace an additional class import and a line of code earlier than we open a preview window and report. This further line is picam2.set_controls(“AfMode”: controls.AfModeEnum.Steady) and it comes from the libcamera Controls class.
With this line we instruct the digital camera to hunt for focus. The method and high quality is equivalent to libcamera. Stills have been of excellent high quality and the digital camera focus hunt was acceptable. Video recording was just a little stuttery as the main focus looked for a goal, however once more it was acceptable.
Picture 1 of 2
Picamera2 additionally has HDR, however in a roundabout way within the module. The difficulty is with V4L2, the kernel interface between the digital camera and the Linux video system. Proper now it doesn’t provide prepared help for HDR with this digital camera. With the intention to activate HDR for Picamera2 we have to open a terminal and manually set the digital camera to make use of it.
v4l2-ctl --set-ctrl wide_dynamic_range=1 -d /dev/v4l-subdev0and to show it off we use
v4l2-ctl --set-ctrl wide_dynamic_range=0 -d /dev/v4l-subdev0We took two photographs with Picamera2, one utilizing HDR and the opposite with out. The outcomes are practically equivalent to libcamera, however dare we are saying that the HDR Picamera picture appears just a little higher?
Picture 1 of 2
Vast-Angle Model of Raspberry Pi Digicam v3
Picture 1 of 2
The large angle model of Digicam Module 3 brings a 120 diploma angle of view. In different phrases we get wider pictures that embody a higher space. The additional area of view brings with it just a little distortion within the vertical aircraft – suppose the opening crawl to Star Wars. However the further horizontal area is exceptional and exhibits (for higher or worse) the state of our workbench.
Apart from the lens, every part is identical as the usual 75 diploma model. We took some shut up photographs with the large lens, to point out the distortion. We additionally created a fast scene to point out colours, and a scene comparability for HDR photographs.
We’d use this lens for outside initiatives akin to path cams, chook watching, landscapes and sports activities.
Picture 1 of 5
What Initiatives Is Raspberry Pi Digicam v3 Good For?
The fastened focus of the earlier digital camera modules (sure, you might hack them with just a little scalpel work on the lens ring) meant that Machine Studying and AI initiatives could possibly be tough. Faces / objects would should be a set distance from the digital camera so as to “see” them.
With the Digicam Module 3 now we have a chance to increase the imaginative and prescient of our ML/AI initiatives and use them to watch objects from afar. Think about it choosing a face from a crowd, specializing in the pink automobile on a freeway or recognizing a bluejay flying within the timber. At a extra home stage, hobbyists will use the autofocus on the path cameras, alarm techniques and robotic imaginative and prescient initiatives to supply dynamic responses to shifting objects.
The large angle lens lends itself to outside initiatives, and whereas it could possibly nonetheless be utilized in ML/AI, the distortion might not profit your meant use. Analysis and testing earlier than deploying to mission essential initiatives is a should.
Backside Line
For $25 to $35, there’s a lot to love right here. If you happen to want a digital camera for a Pi venture, you’ll see advantages from utilizing the Digicam v3 over the similarly-priced Digicam v2. If you’re operating the most recent Raspberry Pi OS, that is really plug and play and the outcomes are nice. Certain we lack the usual digital camera mounting screw as discovered on Arducam’s model, however we achieve simplicity.
Picture high quality is nice, video is sweet and HDR is a welcome addition to the repertoire. We gained’t be taking pictures the following blockbuster with this digital camera, however we can have loads of enjoyable taking nice photographs.