Hi-res camera joins Raspberry Pi portfolio

The new camera board is very easy to use and delivers functionality for a variety of camera applications for beginners, as well as offering further options for advanced users. These include time lapse and slow motion for a range of applications such as home security or botanical and wildlife watching.

The module integrates the high-quality and high-sensitivity eight-megapixel Sony IMX219PQ CMOS image sensor, which offers high-speed video imaging including support for 1080p, 720p60 and VGA90 video modes.

The device integrates with the image sensor pipeline on Raspberry Pi, which provides advanced denoising, distortion and lens-shading correction, automatic gain control (AGC) and white-balance (AWB).

The camera module connects to all Pi models via a 15cm ribbon cable that attaches to the module slot and then plugs directly into the board’s CSI-2 port (Camera Serial Interface).

Once connected, the camera board can be accessed via the Multi-Media Abstraction Layer (MMAL) or the Video for Linux (V4L) APIs, as well as by using libraries that are available online such as Python Picamera and many more.

Other specifications of the module include: a maximum supported resolution of 3280 x 2464 pixels; module dimensions of 23.86(L) x 25(W) x 9mm(H); and an operating temperature range of –20°C up to +60°C.