Rpi Camera Module
Hardware & Peripherals:
Hardware - detailed information about the Raspberry Pi boards.
Hardware History - guide to the Raspberry Pi models.
Low-level Peripherals - using the GPIO and other connectors.
Expansion Boards - GPIO plug-in boards providing additional functionality.
Screens - attaching a screen to the Raspberry Pi.
Cases - lots of nice cases to protect the Raspberry Pi.
Other Peripherals - all sorts of peripherals used with the Raspberry Pi.
Introduction
The Raspberry Pi Camera board was released for sale on 14th May 2013. The initial production of 10k units[1] sold out quickly. The camera contains a 5 MPixel sensor and connects via a ribbon cable to the CSI connector on the board. Subjective video and still image quality is good; it is better than a USB webcam of similar price.
Technical Parameters
- Sensor size: 3.67 x 2.74 mm
- Pixel Count: 2592 x 1944
- Pixel Size: 1.4 x 1.4 um
- Lens: f=3.6 mm, f/2.0
- Angle of View: 54° 1' x 41° 40' (65 degrees diagonal)
- Field of View @ 2m: 2.0 x 1.33 m (2.4 m diagonal)
- Full-frame SLR lens equivalent: 35 mm
- Near Focus: 1.8 m (3 um CoC, blur=2 pixels); 1 m (6 um CoC, blur=4 pixels)
Because the focal length of the lens is very nearly the same as the width of the sensor, it is easy to remember the field of view: at x meters away, you can also see x meters horizontally, assuming 4x3 stills mode. Horizontal field of view in 1080p video mode is 75% of that (75% H x 55% V sensor crop for 1:1 pixels at 1920x1080).
Data References: field & angle calculators[1] sensor info[2] focal length measurement[3] f-stop measurement[4]
Sample Programs
Sample programs using the camera for taking stills and video have been developed for the Foundation and the source for these is available on github.
Forum user M1M1 published instructions on compiling the sample programs here
The command line parameters for the programs are as follows:
RaspiVid Camera App =================== Display camera output to display, and optionally saves an H264 capture at requested bitrate usage: RaspiVid [options] Image parameter commands ‐?, ‐‐ help : This help information ‐w, ‐‐ width : Set image width <size>. Default 1920 ‐h, ‐‐ height : Set image height <size>. Default 1080 ‐b, ‐‐ bitrate : Set bitrate. Use bits per second (e.g. 10MBits/ s would be ‐ b 10000000) ‐o, ‐‐ output : Output filename <filename> (to write to stdout, use '‐o ‐ ') ‐v, ‐‐ verbose : Output verbose information during run ‐t, ‐‐ timeout : Time (in ms) before takes picture and shuts down. If not specified, set to 5s ‐d, ‐‐ demo : Run a demo mode (cycl e through range of camera options, no capture) ‐fps, ‐‐ framerate : Specify the frames per second to record ‐e, ‐‐ penc : Display preview image *after* encoding (shows compression artifacts) Preview parameter commands ‐p, ‐‐ preview : Preview window settings <'x,y,w,h'> ‐f, ‐‐ fullscreen: Fullscreen preview mode ‐n, ‐‐ nopreview : Do not display a preview window Image parameter commands ‐sh, ‐‐ sharpness : Set image sharpness ( ‐100 to 100) ‐co, ‐‐ contrast : Set image contrast ( ‐100 to 100) ‐br, ‐‐ brightness: Set image brightness (0 to 100) ‐sa, ‐‐ saturation: Set image saturation ( ‐100 to 100) ‐ISO, ‐‐ ISO : Set capture ISO ‐vs, ‐‐ vstab : Turn on video stablisation ‐ev, ‐‐ ev : Set EV com pensation ‐ex, ‐‐ exposure : Set exposure mode (see Notes) ‐awb, ‐‐ awb : Set AWB mode (see Notes) ‐ifx, ‐‐ imxfx : Set image effect (see Notes) ‐cfx, ‐‐ colfx : Set colour effect (U:V) ‐mm, ‐‐ metering : Set metering mode (see Notes) ‐rot, ‐‐ rotation: Set image rotation (0 ‐359) ‐hf, ‐‐ hflip : Set horizontal flip ‐vf, ‐‐ vflip : Set vertical flip Notes Exposure mode options : off,auto,night,nightpreview,backlight,spotlight,sports,snow,beach,verylong,fixedfps,antishake,fireworks AWB mode options : off,auto,sun,cloud,shade,tungsten,fluorescent,incandescent,flash,horizon Image Effect mode options : none,negative,solarise,sketch,denoise,emboss,oilpaint,h atch,gpen,pastel,watercolour,film,blur,saturation,colourswap,washedout,posterise,colourpoint,colourbalance,cartoon Metering Mode options : average,spot,backlit,matrix
RaspiStill Camera App ===================== Runs camera for specific time, and take JPG capture at end if requested usage: RaspiStill [options] Image parameter commands ‐?, ‐‐ help : This help information ‐w, ‐‐ width : Set image width <size> ‐h, ‐‐ height : Set image height <size> ‐q, ‐‐ quality : Set jpeg quality <0 to 100> ‐r, ‐‐ raw : Add raw bayer data to jpeg metadata ‐o, ‐‐ output : Output filename <filename> (to write to stdout, use '‐o ‐ '). If not specified, no file is saved ‐v, ‐‐ verbose : Output verbose information during run ‐t, ‐‐ timeout : Time (in ms) before takes picture and shuts down (if not specified, set to 5s) ‐th, ‐‐ thumb : Set thumbnail parameters (x:y:quality) ‐d, ‐‐ demo : Run a demo mode (cycle through range of camera options, no capture) ‐e, ‐‐ encoding : Encoding to use for output file (jpg, bmp, gif, png) ‐x, ‐‐ exif : EXIF tag to apply to captures (forma t as 'key=value') ‐tl, ‐‐ timelapse: Timelapse mode. Takes a picture every <t>ms Preview parameter commands ‐p, ‐‐ preview : Preview window settings <'x,y,w,h'> ‐f, ‐‐ fullscreen: Fullscreen preview mode ‐n, ‐‐ nopreview : Do not display a preview window Image parameter commands ‐sh, ‐‐ sharpness : Set image sharpness ( ‐100 to 100) ‐co, ‐‐ contrast : Set imag e contrast ( ‐100 to 100) ‐br, ‐‐ brightness: Set image brightness (0 to 100) ‐sa, ‐‐ saturation: Set image saturation ( ‐100 to 100) ‐ISO, ‐‐ ISO : Set capture ISO ‐vs, ‐‐ vstab : Turn on video stablisation ‐ev, ‐‐ ev : Set EV com pensation ‐ex, ‐‐ exposure : Set exposure mode (see Notes) ‐awb, ‐‐ awb : Set AWB mode (see Notes) ‐ifx, ‐‐ imxfx : Set image effect (see Notes) ‐cfx, ‐‐ colfx : Set colour effect (U:V) ‐mm, ‐‐ metering : Set metering mode (see Notes) ‐rot, ‐‐ rotation: Set image rotation (0 ‐359) ‐hf, ‐‐ hflip : Set horizontal flip ‐vf, ‐‐ vflip : Set vertical flip Notes Exposure mode options : off,auto,night,nightpreview,backlight,spotlight,sports,snow,beach,verylong,fixedfps,antishake,fireworks AWB mode options : off,auto,sun,cloud,shade,tungsten,fluorescent,incandescent,flash,horizon Image Effect mode options : none,negative,solarise,sketch,denoise,emboss,oilpaint,h atch,gpen,pastel,watercolour,film,blur,saturation,colourswap,washedout,posterise,colourpoint,colourbalance,cartoon Metering Mode options : average,spot,backlit,matrix
Known Issues
- Still captures did not use the full sensor, until the firmware update on 24 May 2013.
- Images were 'flipped' (mirror image) by default, until the firmware update on 24 May 2013. (-hf and -vf options provide horizontal and vertical flips)
- The -? (--help) did not work, until update on 24 May 2013.
- The -n (--nopreview) command-line options currently don't work, but should be fixed in a future release of the camera apps. Try -p '0,0,0,0' as a workaround while -n doesn't work.
- Correct EXIF data (including user supplied tags) are not being written to the output files.
This forum post summarizes the issues as at 24th May 2013
Troubleshooting
=== Camera not working at all === Make sure the flex cable is inserted the correct way on both ends, and each connector has the locking tab engaged. The RPi + camera draws about 260 mA more current when recording video, than without the camera. The Model B is about 550 mA by itself, so camera use pushes it over 800 mA. Some power supplies, cables, and polyfuses may not maintain 5V onboard at this current load well enough for reliable operation. You can check this with a voltmeter across TP1 and TP2.[2][3]
In some cases, the micro-connector from the camera module to the camera board PCB has been loose, causing mis-operation. This has been fixed by removing and re-seating the small (tiny!) yellow flex cable connector labelled "P5V04A SUNNY" on the camera board.[4]
=== Colored Banding or Flickering on video === this can be caused by a poor power supply, or bad power cable. Several people have fixed this by replacing the power supply, or the microUSB power cable.[5][6]
Customizing
Changing the ribbon cable
The ribbon cable that connects the camera board to the Pi is 15-core 1mm pitch ribbon cable. In the UK they can be sourced from http://www.toby.co.uk/content/catalogue/products.aspx?series=FFCx-xx-A-xx-xx where the required type is FFC1-15-B150105160MM[7]. Other suppliers have been noted on eBay.
The Foundation has noted that the camera only passed EMI emissions testing with ribbon cable lengths of 15cm, although longer cables may also work.[8]
Adjusting Lens Focus
The camera is fixed-focus (at infinity) as delivered. The thread-locking glue dots can be scraped off[9] allowing manual lens focus, as close as 6 cm, or complete removal of the lens[10] allowing other optical systems. The lens thread size may be 6 mm x 0.5 (not certain).
Macro lenses
The near focus point of the camera is about 1 meter as delivered. Without modification to the camera itself, it is possible to put a simple external lens in front such as reading glasses, SLR diopter ("close-up filter") or loupe to enable closer focus. For best results, put the additional lens very close to the camera lens.
Removing IR Filter
The IR filter is rigid and glued to the bottom inside of the black plastic lens housing, requiring complete disassembly to remove. Two early attempts by RPi forum users M33P[11] and scorp[12] were initially successful, but in both cases the camera died soon afterwards from blunt trauma to the fragile bond wires on the die.[13]
A RPi blog post (27 May 2013) has more description of this process with a video of the modification, and video from the resulting IR-enabled camera.[14]
Housings
To help building your own enclosure, a hand-measured mechanical drawing[15] of the camera module is available, thanks to Gert van Loo. There is another drawing[16] from raspberrypi-spy.
References
- ↑ http://www.raspberrypi.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=32605&start=350#p358580
- ↑ http://elinux.org/R-Pi_Troubleshooting#Troubleshooting_power_problems
- ↑ http://www.raspberrypi.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=43998#p350528
- ↑ http://www.raspberrypi.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=39996&start=100#p355172
- ↑ http://www.raspberrypi.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=44863
- ↑ http://www.raspberrypi.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=43982
- ↑ http://www.raspberrypi.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=43737#p352401
- ↑ http://www.raspberrypi.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=43737#p348917
- ↑ http://www.raspberrypi.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=32605&start=225#p346170
- ↑ http://www.raspberrypi.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=32605&start=325#p352613
- ↑ http://www.raspberrypi.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=44339#p352586
- ↑ http://www.raspberrypi.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=44339#p352902
- ↑ http://www.raspberrypi.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=44339
- ↑ http://www.raspberrypi.org/archives/4088
- ↑ http://www.raspberrypi.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=44466
- ↑ http://www.raspberrypi-spy.co.uk/2013/05/pi-camera-module-mechanical-dimensions/