On April 30, 2020, Raspberry Pi released a new camera to join its suite of tools – the 12.3-megapixel High Quality Camera.

The new camera is built with a Sony IMX477 sensor and a capability for a 7.9mm diagonal image size. It’s also designed to be compatible with a range of interchangeable lenses – including C-mount and CS-mount lenses - to make possible the perfect shot.

Check out this video to see the new camera in action and learn how to get yours up and running.

Our team here at Vilros can’t wait to see all the new professional image quality projects that can be created by using this camera along with your existing Raspberry Pi system. High quality imagery is pretty much a given in today’s digital world, and Raspberry Pi has certainly come a long way from its early days! 

A Brief History of Cameras for Raspberry Pi

Camera hackers and Raspberry Pi have long gone hand in hand.

As far back as 2012, intrepid creators like Dave Hunt were experimenting with diverse ways to coordinate DSLR capabilities with possibilities for Raspberry Pi.

However, it wasn’t until 2013 that Raspberry Pi launched its own camera, which was designed around a mere 5-megapixel OmniVision OV5647 sensor. This was quickly followed by the first Pi NoIR board which had infrared sensing capacity. (The accompanying little blue plastic square made it possible to attach these cameras to drones and telescopes, creating all sorts of inspiring and useful imagery!)

Unfortunately, the 5-megapixel camera was discontinued in 2015, but soon it was replaced by an 8-megapixel Sony IMX219 sensor in Spring 2016. Raspberry Pi estimates that in the past four years, over 1.7 million of these cameras have been sold.

All these previous cameras, however, have not had the sensor power to produce low-light images. There’s also been noticeable signal-to-noise issues. In addition, there’s been no way to incorporate different lenses to facilitate different kinds of photoshoots…

The new High Quality Camera is truly a game changer!

New Raspberry Pi High Quality Camera Specs

Here are some of the noteworthy features of the new High Quality Camera

• 12.3-Megapixel Sony IMX477 Sensor

• 1.55μm × 1.55μm Pixel Size (double that of the previous camera!)

• C-Mount and CS-Mount Lens Support

• Back-Illuminated Sensor Architecture

• Back Focus Adjustment Ring and Tripod Mount

   

Get the Guide 

Are you ready to learn how to use the new High Quality camera to create some amazing images?

You can download the PDF of the Official Raspberry Pi Camera Guide for free. With this 132-page guide, you’ll learn everything you need to set up the new camera, choose and use a lens, incorporate filters and effects, and create projects with high-resolution photo and video.

The guide even includes some fun projects to make full use of your new high-quality imagery capabilities. For example, you can learn how to set up a “camera trap” to capture images of wildlife in your yard. Or, maybe you’d like to construct your very own video-enabled smart doorbell. You can even become proficient in time-lapse and high-speed photography.

When you’re ready to show off your new photo and video creations on social media, be sure to use the hashtag #ShotOnRaspberryPi. And don’t forget #Vilros – we can’t wait to cheer you on as you develop your photography and videography skills!

And don’t forget to bookmark our Vilros blog for more inspiration and news for Raspberry Pi & Arduino!