Camera Module hardware

Camera Hardware

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The official Raspberry Pi Camera Modules are:

Camera Resolution NoIR version Field of view (FoV) Lens mount Notes

Camera Module 2

8 MP

Yes

Standard

Camera Module 3

12 MP

Yes

Standard and wide (four variants in total)

The Camera Module 3 Sensor Assembly is also available separately to enable you to fit these capabilities into smaller devices.

High Quality Camera

12 MP

No

CS or M12, for use with external lenses

AI Camera

12 MP

No

Provides low-latency and high-performance AI capabilities to any camera application. Tight integration with the Raspberry Pi camera software stack enables users to deploy their own neural network models with minimal effort.

Global Shutter Camera

1.6 megapixels

No

C/CS, for use with external lenses

Uses a global shutter mechanism. It captures light from every pixel in the scene at once and is ideal for fast-motion photography.

To compare the hardware characteristics of these cameras, see the hardware specifications.

Note
 Raspberry Pi Camera Modules are compatible with all Raspberry Pi computers with Camera Serial Interface (CSI) connectors.

For information about the camera software, see the camera software documentation.

Legacy Camera Modules

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Camera Module 1. A 5-megapixel camera that came in standard (visible light) and NoIR (visible light plus infrared) versions with a standard field of view (FoV).

This device has reached end of life and is no longer available from Raspberry Pi. For business customers who need support, please visit the Raspberry Pi forums at https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/.

Hardware specifications

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The following table compares the features and capabilities of the Raspberry Pi camera hardware.

Camera Module 2 Camera Module 3 Camera Module 3 Wide HQ Camera AI Camera GS Camera

Size

Around 25 × 24 × 9 mm

Around 25 × 24 × 11.5 mm

Around 25 × 24 × 12.4 mm

38 × 38 × 18.4 mm (excluding lens)

25 × 24 × 11.9 mm

38 × 38 × 19.8 mm (29.5 mm with adaptor and dust cap)

Weight

3 g

4 g

4 g

30.4 g

6 g

34 g (41 g with adaptor and dust cap)

Still resolution

8 megapixels

12 megapixels

12 megapixels

12.3 megapixels

12.3 megapixels

1.6 megapixels

Video modes

1080p47, 1640 × 1232p41, and 640 × 480p206

2304 × 1296p56, 2304 × 1296p30 HDR, 1536 × 864p120

2304 × 1296p56, 2304 × 1296p30 HDR, 1536 × 864p120

2028 × 1080p50, 2028 × 1520p40, and 1332 × 990p120

2028 × 1520p30, 4056 × 3040p10

1456 × 1088p60

Sensor

Sony IMX219

Sony IMX708

Sony IMX708

Sony IMX477

Sony IMX500

Sony IMX296

Sensor resolution

3280 × 2464 pixels

4608 × 2592 pixels

4608 × 2592 pixels

4056 × 3040 pixels

4056 × 3040 pixels

1456 × 1088 pixels

Sensor image area

3.68 × 2.76 mm (4.6 mm diagonal)

6.45 × 3.63 mm (7.4 mm diagonal)

6.45 × 3.63 mm (7.4 mm diagonal)

6.287 × 4.712 mm (7.9 mm diagonal)

6.287 × 4.712 mm (7.9 mm diagonal)

6.3 mm diagonal

Pixel size

1.12 µm × 1.12 µm

1.4 µm × 1.4 µm

1.4 µm × 1.4 µm

1.55 µm × 1.55 µm

1.55 µm × 1.55 µm

3.45 µm × 3.45 µm

Optical size

1/4"

1/2.43"

1/2.43"

1/2.3"

1/2.3"

1/2.9"

Focus

Adjustable

Motorised

Motorised

Adjustable

Adjustable

Adjustable

Focus range

Approx 10 cm to ∞

Approx 10 cm to ∞

Approx 5 cm to ∞

Depends on lens

Approx 20 cm to ∞

Depends on lens

Focal length

3.04 mm

4.74 mm

2.75 mm

Depends on lens

4.74 mm

Depends on lens

Horizontal field of view (FoV)

62.2 degrees

66 degrees

102 degrees

Depends on lens

66 ± 3 degrees

Depends on lens

Vertical field of view (FoV)

48.8 degrees

41 degrees

67 degrees

Depends on lens

52.3 ± 3 degrees

Depends on lens

Focal ratio (F-Stop)

F2.0

F1.8

F2.2

Depends on lens

F1.79

Depends on lens

Maximum exposure time (seconds)

11.76

112

112

670.74

112

15.5

Lens mount

N/A

N/A

N/A

C/CS- or M12-mount

N/A

C/CS

NoIR version available?

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

IR filter

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Both the High Quality Camera and Global Shutter Camera contain an IR filter to reduce the camera’s sensitivity to infrared light and help outdoor photos look more natural. However, you can remove the filter to:

  • Enhance colours in certain types of photography, such as images of plants, water, and the sky

  • Provide night vision in a location that is illuminated with infrared light

Filter removal

Warning
 This procedure can’t be reversed: the adhesive that attaches the filter doesn’t survive being lifted and replaced, and while the IR filter is about 1.1 mm thick, it might crack when it’s removed. Removing it voids the warranty on the product.

You can remove the filter from both the HQ and GS Cameras. The HQ Camera is shown in the following demonstration.

FILTER ON small

Important
 To protect the sensor when exposed to the air, ensure that you’re working in a clean and dust-free environment.

  1. Unscrew the two 1.5 mm hex lock keys on the underside of the main circuit board. Be careful not to let the washers roll away.

    SCREW REMOVED small

  2. There’s a gasket of slightly sticky material between the housing and PCB that requires some force to separate. You can also try some ways to weaken the adhesive, such as a little isopropyl alcohol or heat (~20-30°C).

  3. When the adhesive is loose, lift up the board and place it down on a very clean surface. Make sure the sensor doesn’t touch the surface.

    FLATLAY small

  4. Face the lens upwards and place the mount on a flat surface.

    SOLVENT small

  5. To minimise the risk of breaking the filter, use a pen top or similar soft plastic item to push down on the filter only at the very edges where the glass attaches to the aluminium. The glue breaks and the filter detaches from the lens mount.

    REMOVE FILTER small

  6. Given that changing lenses exposes the sensor, at this point you can affix a clear filter (for example, overhead projector (OHP) plastic) to minimise the chance of dust entering the sensor cavity.

  7. Replace the main housing over the circuit board. Be sure to realign the housing with the gasket, which remains on the circuit board.

  8. Apply the nylon washer first to prevent damage to the circuit board.

  9. Next, fit the steel washer, which prevents damage to the nylon washer. Screw down the two hex lock keys. As long as the washers have been fitted in the correct order, they don’t need to be screwed very tightly.

    FILTER OFF small

Note
 It’s likely to be difficult or impossible to glue the filter back in place and return the device to functioning as a normal optical camera.

Mechanical drawings and schematics

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Mechanical drawings and schematics are available on the Product Information Portal at the following locations:

Note
 Board dimensions and mounting-hole positions for Camera Module 3 are identical to Camera Module 2. However, due to changes in the size and position of the sensor module, it isn’t mechanically compatible with the camera lid for the Raspberry Pi Zero case.

In addition, the following figure shows the schematic for the Raspberry Pi CSI camera connector.

Pinout information

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Use the information in this section to understand the function of the pins in the camera connectors.

Locating pin 1

The location of pin 1 on an FPC connector depends on the hardware.

The following descriptions assume you’re holding your Raspberry Pi board with the chip and connectors facing up and the Raspberry Pi logo in the correct orientation. For Raspberry Pi Zero boards without the logo on the top side, orient the board with the GPIO along the edge furthest away from you.

  • On Raspberry Pi flagship models and Raspberry Pi Zero devices, pin 1 is the pin furthest from you and closest to the GPIO header.

  • On Raspberry Pi Compute Module IO boards, pin 1 is marked with a small circle or dot depending on the model.

When holding the Raspberry Pi camera board with the lens facing down and the connector facing to your right, pin 1 is the pin closest to you.

Camera connector pinout (15-pin)

This is the pinout of the 15-pin Camera Serial Interface (CSI) connector used on flagship Raspberry Pi models prior to Raspberry Pi 5. The connector is compatible with Amphenol SFW15R-2STE1LF.

Signal direction is specified from the perspective of the Raspberry Pi board. The I2C lines (SCL and SDA) are pulled up to 3.3 V on the Raspberry Pi board.

The function and direction of the GPIO lines depend on the specific Camera Module in use. Typically, CAM_IO0 is used as an active-high power enable. Some products don’t include CAM_IO1.

Pin Name Description Direction and type

1

GND

-

Ground

2

CAM_DN0

D-PHY lane 0 (negative)

Input, D-PHY

3

CAM_DP0

D-PHY lane 0 (positive)

Input, D-PHY

4

GND

-

Ground

5

CAM_DN1

D-PHY lane 1 (negative)

Input, D-PHY

6

CAM_DP1

D-PHY lane 1 (positive)

Input, D-PHY

7

GND

-

Ground

8

CAM_CN

D-PHY Clock (negative)

Input, D-PHY

9

CAM_CP

D-PHY Clock (positive)

Input, D-PHY

10

GND

-

Ground

11

CAM_IO0

GPIO (for example, Power-Enable)

Bidirectional, 3.3 V

12

CAM_IO1

GPIO (for example, Clock, LED)

Bidirectional, 3.3 V

13

SCL

I2C Clock

Bidirectional, 3.3 V

14

SDA

I2C Data

Bidirectional, 3.3 V

15

3V3

3.3 V Supply

Output
Schematic of the Raspberry Pi CSI camera connector.

camera connector

Camera connector pinout (22-pin)

This is the pinout of the 22-pin Camera Serial Interface (CSI) connector used on the Raspberry Pi Zero series, the Compute Module IO boards, and flagship models since Raspberry Pi 5. The connector is compatible with Amphenol F32Q-1A7H1-11022.

Signal direction is specified from the perspective of the Raspberry Pi board. The I2C lines (SCL and SDA) are pulled up to 3.3 V on the Raspberry Pi board.

The function and direction of the GPIO lines depend on the specific Camera Module in use. Typically, CAM_IO0 is used as an active-high power enable. Some products don’t include CAM_IO1.

Pin Name Description Direction and type

1

GND

-

Ground

2

CAM_DN0

D-PHY lane 0 (negative)

Input, D-PHY

3

CAM_DP0

D-PHY lane 0 (positive)

Input, D-PHY

4

GND

-

Ground

5

CAM_DN1

D-PHY lane 1 (negative)

Input, D-PHY

6

CAM_DP1

D-PHY lane 1 (positive)

Input, D-PHY

7

GND

-

Ground

8

CAM_CN

D-PHY Clock (negative)

Input, D-PHY

9

CAM_CP

D-PHY Clock (positive)

Input, D-PHY

10

GND

-

Ground

11

CAM_DN2

D-PHY lane 2 (negative)

Input, D-PHY

12

CAM_DP2

D-PHY lane 2 (positive)

Input, D-PHY

13

GND

-

Ground

14

CAM_DN3

D-PHY lane 3 (negative)

Input, D-PHY

15

CAM_DP3

D-PHY lane 3 (positive)

Input, D-PHY

16

GND

-

Ground

17

CAM_IO0

GPIO (for example, Power-Enable)

Bidirectional, 3.3 V

18

CAM_IO1

GPIO (for example, Clock, LED)

Bidirectional, 3.3 V

19

GND

-

Ground

20

SCL

I2C Clock

Bidirectional, 3.3 V

21

SDA

I2C Data

Bidirectional, 3.3 V

22

3V3

3.3 V Supply

Output