Raspberry Pi High Quality Camera Module Brings a Better Sensor, Interchangeable Lens Support

The Raspberry Pi Foundation has announced the launch of its latest Camera Serial Interface (CSI) add-on for its eponymous single-board computers: the Raspberry Pi High Quality Camera Module, boasting a 12.3-megapixel back-side illuminated sensor and support for interchangeable lenses.

The Raspberry Pi Camera Module, available in standard and "NoIR" variants for visible-light and infrared photography respectively, has long been a popular add-on both for the Raspberry Pi family of single-board computers and any other devices with compatible CSI ports. The new Raspberry Pi High Quality Camera Module, though, is a step above — thanks to its first official support for interchangeable lenses and a new high-quality 12.3-megapixel image sensor.

Built on a Sony IMX477 sensor — a major upgrade from the eight-megapixel Sony IMX219 powering the standard Camera Module, itself an upgrade from the discontinued OmniVision OV5647 five-megapixel sensor which powered the original model — the new variant offers back-side illumination (BSI) and double the pixel size of its predecessor for improved sensitivity in low-light conditions.

Externally, the sensor is fitted to a board which includes support for C- and CS-mount lens types commonly used in the security camera market, though the standard package does not include a lens — bumping up the cost over the headline $50 entry fee. The board does, however, include a back-focus adjustment ring and an integrated tripod mount — both new features for the redesign.

More details on the Raspberry Pi High Quality Camera Module, including two sample shots taken with a macro lens and a standard lens, are available on the Raspberry Pi blog; the camera module itself is available in the channel for $50, with official lens accessories including a 6mm CS-mount lens for $25 and a 16mm C-mount lens for $50.