Raspberry Pi Gets 8-Megapixel Sony Camera Modules, Including Infrared

The Raspberry Pi is a ideal little computer which in the hands of a developer can prove to be very capable. A conversation was struck up with Sony's image sensor division and thus, Raspberry Pi now has an 8 megapixel camera accessory from the company.

The Raspberry Pi itself has been refreshed several times since it first launched in 2012, but the 5-megapixel camera module has remained unchanged since it was introduced three years ago.

Upton explained that the camera stood still while the Foundation worked through an inventory and updated the main hardware to version 3, but has now made a 3MP leap forward. The NoIR camera v2 has a No InfraRed (NoIR) filter on the lens making it suitable for infrared photography or for taking pictures in lowlight environments.

The Raspberry Pi Camera v2 and Raspberry Pi NoIR Camera v2 are available at the same $25 price through element14. As with the old model, these can be used in a variety of projects, including telescopes, kites with aerial views, science lessons, hyperspectral imaging hacks, and the list goes on.

"As many of you know, the OmniVision OV5647 sensor used in both boards was end-of-lifed at the end of 2014. Our partners both bought up large stockpiles, but these are now nearly completely depleted, so we needed to do something new", explained Raspberry Pi founder Eben Upton. This led the Raspberry Pi Foundation to source a new sensor from Sony which allowed for the upgrade.

This particular camera sensor was chosen for the impressive image quality that it provides as well as the exceptional colour fidelity for a sensor its size and the low-light performance. Despite the upgrade, the camera still costs just $25.

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Source: Raspberry Pi Gets 8-Megapixel Sony Camera Modules, Including Infrared