Raspberry Pi Camera Module 3 (Autofocus, HDR)

by Raspberry Pi

An improved camera for use with Raspberry Pi computers, featuring a 12-megapixel Sony IMX708 sensor, HDR support and powered phase-detect autofocus.

Camera Module 3 is the successor to the popular Raspberry Pi Camera v2, which launched in April 2016. Built around a 12-megapixel Sony IMX708 image sensor module, Camera Module 3 offers the following exciting improvements over its predecessor:

  • Improved low-light sensitivity
  • High dynamic range (HDR) support
  • Powered phase-detect autofocus (PDAF)

It can be used to take full HD video as well as still photographs, and features an HDR mode up to 3 megapixels. Its operation is fully supported by the libcamera library, including Camera Module 3’s rapid autofocus feature: this makes it easy for beginners to use, while offering plenty for advanced users.

Camera Module 3 is available with either a standard (75°) or wide-angle (120°) lens and in visible-light-only and infrared-sensitive (NoIR) variants (coming soon).

Features

  • Sony IMX708 12-megapixel sensor with I2C-controlled focus actuator
  • Large 7.4mm diagonal sensor
  • 75° or 120° diagonal angle of view
  • Compatible with all Raspberry Pi computers*
  • Datasheet

* A standard camera cable is included - this will let you connect it to the large 15 pin camera connector on Raspberry Pi 4 (and previous full-size versions).

If you want to connect it up to a Raspberry Pi that has a small 22 pin camera connector you'll need one of these cables (for Raspberry Pi Zero/Zero W/Zero 2 W) or one of these camera cables (for Raspberry Pi 5).

Resources

Note that Camera Module 3 requires a recent version of Raspberry Pi OS and the latest Picamera2 library.