[HN Gopher] ArduCAM High Resolution Autofocus Camera Module for ...
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       ArduCAM High Resolution Autofocus Camera Module for Raspberry Pi
        
       Author : lemariva
       Score  : 42 points
       Date   : 2021-12-29 17:37 UTC (5 hours ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (lemariva.com)
 (TXT) w3m dump (lemariva.com)
        
       | anfractuosity wrote:
       | I've been playing with 4x 5MP Arducam autofocus cameras along
       | with the Arducam Multi Camera Adapter to take 4 photos in
       | sequence of plants from different angles.
        
       | jcun4128 wrote:
       | That's neat, I wonder how it compares to the big one with visible
       | motors to turn the lens.
        
         | lemariva wrote:
         | ArduCAM claims that it's better (see
         | https://www.arducam.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/camera-
         | mo...). It has better resolution (16MP vs 12.3MP). However, the
         | HQ has better changeable lenses available. I'm updating the
         | rPIFocus (https://github.com/lemariva/rPIFocus) repository to
         | include the camera and test it. The autofocus speed will be
         | definitely faster :).
        
           | jcun4128 wrote:
           | We might be talking of different cameras my bad, I was
           | referring to this tilt zoom one that looked interesting.
           | 
           | https://www.arducam.com/product/arducam-12mp-pan-tilt-
           | zoom-p...
        
             | lemariva wrote:
             | I thought you were talking about my "autofocus" project
             | (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrbyPmq_Z7Q). The
             | arducam-12mp-pan-tilt-zoom uses the same sensor (IMX477) as
             | the HQ. Thus, the resolution claim should be the same ;).
        
               | jcun4128 wrote:
               | Last question, what's the reason for the spiral gear?
               | 
               | Aperture ring belt, looks like it grips the adjusting
               | part of lens body and then something turns it, spiral is
               | just excess material.
        
               | lemariva wrote:
               | I used two steppers to turn the aperture and the focal
               | length rings of the lens independently. Then, you can set
               | the aperture ring to 1.4, 2.8, 5.6, 8, or 16 and then
               | focus the image with the other ring/belt. Both rings or
               | belts move independently. In the beginning, I used a
               | calibration routine to identify the maximal or minimal
               | position of the rings. Both limits are detected by moving
               | the rings in both directions and measuring the stepper
               | currents. When the stepper reaches a limit, a current
               | peak is measured, and that gives me the minimal o maximal
               | angle.
        
       | baldeagle wrote:
       | Can we shoot this at 660fps? Or is that only available on the v1
       | and v2 cams?
        
         | lemariva wrote:
         | You mean using this hack:
         | https://blog.robertelder.org/recording-660-fps-on-raspberry-...
         | I didn't check that yet, but using the provided software and
         | the flag (--framerate), I got the following timestamps: #
         | timecode format v2 0.000 8.329 16.657 24.987 33.316 41.644
         | 49.972 58.302 Meaning that the camera is working at max.
         | 120fps@640x480
        
       | omginternets wrote:
       | I have a tangentially related question: I've been toying with the
       | idea of building some hacky night-vision goggles by popping the
       | IR filter off of a CMOS (or similar) sensor.
       | 
       | Is HN aware of any good camera modules for such a purpose?
        
         | anfractuosity wrote:
         | You could look at the pi noir cameras, which already have no IR
         | filter, I use one for a wildlife camera and IR lamp.
        
         | jeffreygoesto wrote:
         | ST Micro has some with significant near IR sensitivity, quick
         | googling brought up [0]. For real "night vision" you need an
         | imager without color array, it filters out too much light, and
         | a HDR one like [1]. Then you need to map from the HDR to 8bit
         | with some tonemapping. What you can expect max is something
         | like [2].
         | 
         | [0] https://www.systemplus.fr/reverse-costing-
         | reports/stmicroele...
         | 
         | [1] https://www.st.com/resource/en/data_brief/vd5640.pdf
         | 
         | [2]
         | https://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s119/turntwomotorsports/...
        
       | amelius wrote:
       | I hope the software interface has improved since the previous
       | time I tried to use an arducam. Turned out that controlling basic
       | settings such as exposure time and gain wasn't supported. The
       | magic incantations necessary to get it done were kept secret by
       | the manufacturer (Sony) of the imaging chip.
        
         | lemariva wrote:
         | I tested both options (--shutter and --gain) and they are
         | working as described here:
         | https://www.arducam.com/docs/cameras-for-raspberry-pi/raspbe...
        
       | WaitWaitWha wrote:
       | I have yet to be able to _manual focus_ through code the Arducam.
       | : '-(
        
         | lemariva wrote:
         | Not only, if has an autofocus option (--autofocus flag).
         | However, you cannot select the focus area (or focus points like
         | in a pro camera) :(. But, the autofocus function is implemented
         | and works nicely.
        
           | amelius wrote:
           | Manufacturers should stop calling it a day right after they
           | get their stuff to "sort of" work. Especially if they make
           | DIY products. Passing on the complexity of hardware
           | interfaces to novice users is just cruel.
        
       | textcortex wrote:
       | Why would anyone opt in for Arduino while there is a superior
       | platform like Raspberry pi? It's much more capable with same
       | maybe less price. You can even get 4 core cpu with Rpi zero 2 for
       | 15 bucks.
        
         | pyprism wrote:
         | Not everyone living in first world countries. For me, arduino
         | is cheap(clone), required much less power than any SBC. Power
         | outage is common in my area. Memory card of any SBC can't
         | survive frequent power outage .
        
         | MrBuddyCasino wrote:
         | Invariably, someone always asks this question. For most things
         | I'd prefer a Pi Zero, less hassle, familiar environment. But
         | consider:
         | 
         | - energy consumption
         | 
         | - latency
         | 
         | - learning experience
         | 
         | - the challenge of writing embedded software
         | 
         | - wanting certain peripherals
         | 
         | ...
        
         | walrus01 wrote:
         | things generally in the same family as an arduino, such an
         | STM32F7 based flight controller for a hobby UAV, can have
         | features like eight UARTs and other things not found on a
         | raspberry pi. and also in a much smaller form factor. There are
         | some that measure 20x20mm.
         | 
         | https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=stm32f7...
         | 
         | https://oscarliang.com/f1-f3-f4-flight-controller/
         | 
         | for instance: http://www.mateksys.com/?portfolio=f722-se
        
         | djbeadle wrote:
         | Note that despite the similar price points and form factors
         | they serve two different purposes.
         | 
         | The Raspberry Pi is a full computer shrunk down and made
         | (relatively) cheaply.
         | 
         | The Arduino is a cheap microcontroller made large for
         | convenience. Things like on-board voltage regulation and USB
         | make prototyping much easier. But these conveniences cost money
         | and make the total cost (relatively) expensive. A professional
         | might (keyword: might, don't come at me professional hardware
         | designers!) use an Arduino board for creating a prototype and
         | then design fully a custom product based on what they learned.
         | 
         | You wouldn't (in 2021) try to build a computer around the
         | microcontroller in the Arduino because it's so underpowered but
         | you might use it for a smart, cheap motion sensor with a long
         | battery life.
        
           | textcortex wrote:
           | I see your points and its valid. If battery life is not a
           | problem and the project is more than blinking a light, Rpi is
           | way to go.
        
         | geerlingguy wrote:
         | This comment might have been made in reference to the company
         | name (ArduCam) and not the actual product being reviewed (a
         | camera for the Raspberry Pi)--I don't believe this camera has
         | any support for Arduino at all.
        
           | textcortex wrote:
           | Ah yes, didn't realise that.
        
           | lemariva wrote:
           | a good point there! ;) No, it doesn't.
        
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       (page generated 2021-12-29 23:01 UTC)