M12 | Camera solutions for Raspberry Pi, Arduino and Jetson Nano. Camera modules and lenses.

In our last post of the new M12 Lens Kit, we introduced a variety of lenses that will cover most of the use case scenarios. However, “most” is not enough, and we want to take a step forward to face bigger challenges. Today we are glad to add several new low distortion lenses to our product family.

Seeing is believing

To put it simply, the broader Field of View (FOV) you need, the easier you will have distortion. Because with more details captured, you’ve got to find a way to squeeze all the information onto the image sensor. The optical design decides that you will face this “lens error.” After all, it’s hard to think of another method that allows you to shot 180 FOV without bending the image to a sphere.

When we use cameras to take pictures, we are capturing the light and squeezing it onto the sensor frame, so technically speaking, we have not reproduced the object, but instead, imaged it.

Straight Forward

If you are using our cameras for surveillance, it would be okay to have those distortions, and the fisheye effect is even somehow aesthetically interesting. However, if the image is for the computers and microcontrollers to process, you will want it to be as accurate as possible. We can use an algorithm to restore the degradation of the image, but industrial cameras that can correct and restore the distortion is actually not cost-effective. Why not reduce the distortion at the beginning with a low distortion lens? That will make life a lot easier.

Look ahead

As the distortion is a “lens error,” we will need lenses to handle this error. The optical design of those zero distortion cameras is different and efficient enough to present you with what the image really is. We’ve tested one of the lenses on an OV5647 sensor, and you can see from the pictures below about the clear difference between the low distortion lens and the normal ones.

Here are the newly arrived low distortion lenses:

PN	EFL	Format	H-FOV		V-FOV		D-FOV		Distortion
			1/2.5”	1/4”	1/2.5”	1/4”	1/2.5”	1/4”
M2504ZH05S	4	1/2.5”	75	45	60	33	96	55	3%
M25360H06S	3.6	1/2.5”	90	55	75	41	120	68	3%
			1/2.7”	1/4”	1/2.7”	1/4”	1/2.7”	1/4”
M27280M07S	2.8	1/2.7”	110	74	85	55	125	92	<1%
				1/4”		1/4”		1/4”
M40210M09S	2.1	1/4”		93		70		110	<1%
M40320M06S	3.2	1/4”		64		51		85	<1%

Check out these zero-distortion lenses or get them from one of our distributors.

Over the past few years, Arducam has launched many camera boards for Raspberry Pi with M12 or CS mount lens holders. One of the many features that outperformed the official ones was the interchangeable lenses, a feature also on our SPI cameras for Arduino. We are excited to announce that the Arducam M12 Mount Lens Kit for Raspberry Pi and Arduino Cameras has already been on sale.

The new lens kit that we have carefully prepared for you

The lens kit has 10 M12 Mount lenses that we have selected from a wide array of lens options, and the Horizontal Field of View (HFOV) of those lenses from 10 to over 200 degrees (on a 1/4-inch RPi cam or Arduino cam). It comes with labeled caps, four lens holders, a lens cleaning cloth and screws, which allows you to select and change for the best lens you need.

Pi Cam – Optimized Optical Performance

The official RPi camera module has permanently attached lenses which could not be changed, so whether you are satisfied or not, you are stuck with what comes from the factory. Sometimes you may want extremely closeup macro photography or a wider field of view, but you just can’t with the official ones. On the other side, Arducam-designed camera boards with interchangeable lenses extend the capabilities and flexibilities of Raspberry Pi and Arduino camera, and you can finally have better control over what gets into the frame of the images and videos.

Arducam M12 Mount for Pi Cam

Arducam CS Mount for Pi Cam

Lens kit that thinks for you

To meet the increasing market demands for more lens options to address different use cases, Arducam selected and tested a wide range of M12 optimal lenses from long focus to fisheye for shooting on your Raspberry Pi or Arduino cameras. We have also labeled every lens on its cap, provided multiple lens holders and a piece of length cloth. It is now much easier for you to get the best lens you will need, and we will keep the lens list growing.

We have thought in advance about what you might need

That is the part we have put in the box. Aside from that, we have made a PDF document that contains the details specifications of each lens, and a video that shows how to replace the lenses on Arducam Cameras.

An overview of the specifications of those lenses

To the top

To test what a Raspberry Pi can shoot with our lenses, we decided to take a field visit to the rooftop of one of the tallest building here so that we can capture the view of this city. We’ve also planned a trip to the bookstore. Here was what we brought with us:

1. A Raspberry Pi Zero W with SD card.
2. A power bank to supply 5v power to the Pi zero
3. An Android phone with our app preinstalled to connect to the Pi’s hotspot for the preview
4. Some tapes and elastic bands to hold the setup steady

Our M12 Mount Lens Kit

Lens Kit shot by Mi A1

Pi and Cam shot by iPhone 6S Plus

Wait and see

After we went back from downtown, we pulled the micro SD card and got the pictures out. Our designer really liked those lenses and was surprised by the picture quality. He thought there would be no need to risk climbing to the rooftop with his heavy DSLR lens anymore.

Here are some of the pictures that we’ve taken with Arducam M12 Mount lenses on an OV5647 sensor.

Tag Archives: m12

New Arrival: Arducam’s New Low Distortion Lenses

Featured

Check out these zero-distortion lenses or get them from one of our distributors.

Arducam M12 Mount Lens Kit for Raspberry Pi and Arduino Cameras

Pi Cam – Optimized Optical Performance

Lens kit that thinks for you

To the top

Wait and see

Find the lens kit here or buy these lenses from one of our distributors now!