I have been threatening to begin a Raspberry Pi challenge since shopping for one of many little computer systems in the course of the authentic lockdown. Whereas these plans by no means got here to fruition, Raspberry Pi’s new Digicam Module Three may simply be the spark that relights my DIY digital camera hearth.

Raspberry Pi has made digital camera modules earlier than – actually, the primary one in 2013 was the corporate’s first official accent. So why may its third module be the one to persuade me to complete a challenge? As a result of it is truly a contemporary digital digital camera, with autofocus and HDR powers. And it might be the center of a personalised digicam that I might truly use, quite than admire on a shelf.

The Digicam Module Three is predicated on Sony’s IMX708 sensor, which is similar because the one within the Oppo Discover X2 smartphone. You will not get that cellphone’s imaging processing pipeline, however that is trendy {hardware} – and it is the primary official Raspberry Pi digital camera accent to return with autofocus.

Sure, we have seen AF sensors earlier than from third-party equipment like Arducam’s 64MP Autofocus Digicam, however not for the impressively low worth of the Digicam Module 3. The usual one prices simply $25 / £26, however you can too purchase a wide-angle model (with a 102-degree discipline of view, in comparison with the usual one’s 66-degree FOV) for $35 / £36. The latter might be very best for a homebrewed webcam.

The autofocus seems to be impressively snappy from the early demos (see under). It is because it makes use of phase-detection autofocus (PDAF), with contrast-detect AF (often higher for static topics) providing a useful backup. It will’ve been fairly embarrassing for Panasonic if Raspberry Pi had overwhelmed it to creating a phase-detect AF digital camera. Thankfully, final week’s Panasonic Lumix S5II meant the digital camera big received there simply in time.

The Digicam Module 3’s enhancements aren’t nearly autofocus – the general picture high quality must be fairly strong and definitely higher than these 90s digicams which have turn out to be bafflingly well-liked once more. Not solely does the IMX708 have a 12MP decision (seemingly pixel-binned from 48MP), nevertheless it additionally has bigger 1.40μm pixels than its predecessor. You may as well shoot HD video utilizing the whole sensor space, too.

Even taking pictures HDR (Excessive Dynamic Vary) photos is feasible when you’re ready to just accept a drop to a 3MP decision. It is because, in difficult lighting, the Digicam Module Three will take simultaneous exposures with completely different publicity instances, then apply tone mapping to get a better-exposed outcome.

So, that is the brains of my digital camera challenge sorted. The Digicam Module Three is suitable with all Raspberry Pis apart from the Pi 400 or authentic Pi Zero from 2016, which suggests I can repurpose my Pi Four Mannequin B – optimistically purchased with a HyperPixel display to be the centerpiece of my Sonos Album Artwork show – to construct a flowery new digital digital camera. Now it is time to work out the digital camera physique…  

Return of the digicam

The draw back of the Digicam Module 3’s elevated sensor dimension (it is a half of.43-inch chip versus the 1/4-inch sensor on its predecessor) is that a number of present circumstances will not be suitable with it. For instance, it will not work with the digital camera lid on the Raspberry Pi Zero Case.

Nonetheless, new circumstances are absolutely within the pipeline – I might like to see an equal of the Pi HQ Digicam Case (opens in new tab). And I may but be tempted into the last word challenge; constructing a personalised digital camera across the Module 3. There are a number of 3D printer-friendly designs on the market, just like the Pikon Digicam (opens in new tab), and naturally, a YouTuber by the identify of Jeff Geerling (opens in new tab) has already modified it to work with the brand new Module 3. 

That mentioned, the challenge does contain 3D printing, soldering, and a boatload of endurance that might be an excessive amount of for me right now of 12 months. So I’ll doubtless maintain off and look forward to a pre-made case to reach (maybe a model of the Naturebytes Wildlife Digicam Case (opens in new tab) for a wildlife cam), earlier than I sort out the interface conundrum.

There are a few methods to regulate the Digicam Module 3, together with the Picamera2 beta that comes as a part of Raspberry Pi OS Bullseye. Its newest model delivers autofocus assist, however there’ll little doubt be some tinkering (and flicking by means of Raspberry Pi’s Digicam Software program information (opens in new tab)) to get the digital camera up and operating.

For me, it is the Module 3’s autofocus and HDR powers that give it the sting over Raspberry Pi’s different new announcement: the brand new Excessive High quality Digicam module. This now helps M12-mount lenses alongside the C-mount ones that labored natively with the earlier model. 

Sadly, as a lot as constructing my very own interchangeable lens digital camera appeals, that module is predicated on the identical digital camera {hardware} as earlier than, with no autofocus. So I will doubtless follow the Digicam Module Three and depart the 3D printing for an additional day – if my earlier Raspberry Pi tasks have taught me something, it is to begin small earlier than getting carried away with massive concepts.