Raspberry Pi has launched an up to date digital camera, Digital camera Module 3 (aka Digital camera v3 or Digital camera Module v3), with an MSRP of $25 for traditional or $35 for the extensive angle model. The brand new module brings extra pixels, rivalling the Excessive High quality Digital camera’s 12MP whereas conserving 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 12 months.
The Raspberry Pi digital camera was the primary official accent from Raspberry Pi, method again in 2013. The unique 5MP mannequin was up to date to v2 in 2016 which introduced 8MP to the sport. Then the cameras acquired a bit extra “severe” with the 12MP Raspberry Pi Excessive High quality Digital camera in 2020; this model introduced interchangeable lenses and a plethora of decisions for the eager photographer, however it’s expensive and doesn’t include a lens.
Quick ahead to 2023 and we now have a brand new mainstream Pi digital camera, the Raspberry Pi Digital camera 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, extensive angle, NOIR and NOIR extensive angle.
We examined each the usual and extensive angle (non-NOIR) variations of the Digital camera v3 and located the picture high quality wonderful, with the auto focus function a very useful improve.
Raspberry Pi Digital camera 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 | Section 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 “extensive angle”) |
Design of Raspberry Pi Digital camera v3
At an off-the-cuff look there isn’t a lot distinction between Digital camera v3 and v2, however beneath a silver bundle lies the auto focus system for the Sony IMX708 sensor. This additional bundle is the place we hit a small problem. The girth of the digital camera, from the top of the lens to the rear of the PCB, v3 is thicker than earlier fashions.
The usual mannequin is 11.5mm thick, and the extensive angle model is available in at 12.4mm. This isn’t a large problem for many, however it might trigger points for present instances and mounts. In case you spot a cool trying digital camera holder to 3D print with one of many finest 3D printers, then you have to 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 somewhat MacGyver tweaking to suit the thicker module.
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Comparability to Legacy Digital camera 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 Digital camera 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 | Digital camera Module v1 | Digital camera Module v2 | HQ Digital camera | Digital camera 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 Huge 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 measurement | 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 measurement | 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 discipline | approx. 1 m to infinity | adjustable with provided device | N/A | ? |
| Focal size | 3.60 mm +/- 0.01 | 3.04 mm | Will depend on lens | 4.74mm |
| Horizontal discipline of view | 53.50 +/- 0.13 levels | 62.2 levels | Will depend on lens | ? |
| Vertical discipline 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 instances (seconds) | 6 | 11.76 | 670.74 | ? |
Utilizing Raspberry Pi Digital camera v3
On the time of writing, there are two important methods to regulate the digital camera. The libcamera library (which changed raspistill and raspivid) and Picamera2 (an in-house replace to the lengthy working 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 implies that it may be used with the total vary of Raspberry Pi boards, together with the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W by way of an adapter cable.
The largest 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 working their cameras, we discovered modern methods to safe them). This problem was corrected with the HQ digital camera’s screw mount however with Digital camera Module v3, we see solely the legacy mount factors on the corners of the digital camera.. Arducam’s autofocus digital camera encompasses a case which offers a mount level by way of a clip-on case. We’d’ve liked this to come back as customary with Digital camera Module 3. Alas it appears that it’ll not be, however we will all the time 3D print a fast holder.
We powered on our Pi working 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 Digital camera Module v3 updates, together with Picamera2.
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Our first take a look at was by way of libcamera. We captured a collection of JPEG pictures. The digital camera was positioned 9 inches away from the take a look at objects and lighting was constant between every shot. What we present in our checks was that also pictures had been wonderful. Be they close to (4 inches / 10cm) or far they had been of constant high quality and on par with the Excessive High quality digital camera. Autofocus instances for nonetheless pictures had been fast; we might see the digital camera looking for a spotlight goal, however it was by no means “juddery”.
Recording movies was a special matter. The main focus would try to safe a goal, which it did shortly, however we might see the “steps” as the main target labored to maintain up. That mentioned, shut up focus was wonderful in our movies, selecting up the floor mount elements of the unique Raspberry Pi.
A brand new function included with Digital camera Module 3 is HDR (Excessive Dynamic Vary) which will increase the dynamic luminosity vary of pictures. With HDR we get deeper darkness and brighter pictures. This works by capturing a number of pictures of the identical scene, every with completely different exposures. These pictures are then mixed right into a single picture which encompasses the complete vary.
Digital camera Module 3’s HDR pictures are restricted to 3MP which libcamera makes use of to generate a picture with a decision of 2304 x 1296. We took two footage 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 somewhat noise. The non-HDR picture lacked the brightness, but additionally had little to no noise. HDR can be an attention-grabbing addition to Raspberry Pi path cams and to file panorama scenes.
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Shifting our checks to Picamera2, we recreated the steps in a current find out how to however we seen 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 file. This additional 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 an identical to libcamera. Stills had been of excellent high quality and the digital camera focus hunt was acceptable. Video recording was somewhat stuttery as the main target looked for a goal, however once more it was acceptable.
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Picamera2 additionally has HDR, however indirectly within the module. The problem is with V4L2, the kernel interface between the digital camera and the Linux video system. Proper now it doesn’t supply prepared help for HDR with this digital camera. As a way 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 pictures with Picamera2, one utilizing HDR and the opposite with out. The outcomes are almost an identical to libcamera, however dare we are saying that the HDR Picamera picture appears somewhat higher?
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Huge-Angle Model of Raspberry Pi Digital camera v3
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The extensive angle model of Digital camera Module 3 brings a 120 diploma angle of view. In different phrases we get wider pictures that embody a larger space. The additional discipline of view brings with it somewhat distortion within the vertical airplane – suppose the opening crawl to Star Wars. However the additional horizontal area is exceptional and reveals (for higher or worse) the state of our workbench.
Apart from the lens, all the things is identical as the usual 75 diploma model. We took some shut up pictures with the extensive lens, to point out the distortion. We additionally created a fast scene to point out colours, and a scene comparability for HDR pictures.
We’d use this lens for outside initiatives akin to path cams, chicken watching, landscapes and sports activities.
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What Initiatives Is Raspberry Pi Digital camera v3 Good For?
The fastened focus of the earlier digital camera modules (sure, you could possibly hack them with somewhat scalpel work on the lens ring) meant that Machine Studying and AI initiatives may very well be troublesome. Faces / objects would have to be a set distance from the digital camera with a purpose to “see” them.
With the Digital camera Module 3 we now have a possibility to increase the imaginative and prescient of our ML/AI initiatives and use them to watch objects from afar. Think about it selecting a face from a crowd, specializing in the purple automobile on a freeway or recognizing a bluejay flying within the bushes. At a extra home stage, hobbyists will use the autofocus on the path cameras, alarm programs and robotic imaginative and prescient initiatives to supply dynamic responses to shifting objects.
The extensive angle lens lends itself to outside initiatives, and whereas it may nonetheless be utilized in ML/AI, the distortion could not profit your supposed 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. In case you want a digital camera for a Pi challenge, you’ll see advantages from utilizing the Digital camera v3 over the similarly-priced Digital camera v2. In case you are working the most recent Raspberry Pi OS, that is really plug and play and the outcomes are nice. Positive 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 subsequent blockbuster with this digital camera, however we can have loads of enjoyable taking nice pictures.
