Choosing between Arducam and Raspberry Pi camera modules is one of the first decisions for any vision project. Both connect via the CSI interface on the Raspberry Pi, but they differ significantly in resolution, lens flexibility, autofocus capability, and price. Whether you are building a security camera, machine vision system, or wildlife monitoring setup in India, this comparison helps you choose the right camera module for your needs.
Table of Contents
- Overview of Both Camera Ecosystems
- Specifications Comparison
- Lens Options and Flexibility
- Autofocus Capabilities
- Best Use Cases for Each
- Software and Driver Support
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
Overview of Both Camera Ecosystems
The official Raspberry Pi Camera Module (now in its V3 iteration) is designed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation with tight integration into the Pi ecosystem. Arducam is a third-party manufacturer that produces a wide range of camera modules compatible with Raspberry Pi, Arduino, and other platforms. The key difference: Pi cameras offer simplicity and reliability, while Arducam offers variety and advanced features.
Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Pi Camera V3 | Arducam 16MP | Arducam 64MP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 12MP (IMX708) | 16MP (IMX519) | 64MP (Samsung GN1) |
| Autofocus | PDAF + CDAF | PDAF | PDAF |
| Video | 4K30, 1080p50 | 4K30, 1080p60 | 4K30 |
| FOV | 66° / 102° (wide) | 84° | 80° |
| HDR | Yes | No | Yes |
| Interface | CSI-2 (2-lane) | CSI-2 (2/4-lane) | CSI-2 (4-lane) |
| Approx. Price (₹) | 2,500-3,000 | 2,800-3,500 | 4,000-5,000 |
Lens Options and Flexibility
This is where Arducam excels. The official Pi Camera has a fixed lens (standard or wide-angle variant). Arducam offers interchangeable lens mounts including:
- M12 mount: Wide range of fisheye, telephoto, and IR-cut lenses available for under ₹300 each
- CS/C mount: Professional-grade industrial lenses for machine vision
- Motorised zoom: 4x optical zoom with remote focus control via I2C
For applications like drone surveillance or wildlife monitoring where you need telephoto capability, Arducam with a CS-mount telephoto lens is the only practical choice.
Autofocus Capabilities
The Pi Camera V3 introduced phase-detect autofocus (PDAF) combined with contrast-detect autofocus, making it exceptionally fast and accurate. Arducam cameras with the IMX519 also offer PDAF. For fixed-distance applications like PCB inspection or document scanning, a manual focus lens is actually preferable (no hunting, consistent focus).
Best Use Cases for Each
Choose Pi Camera V3 When:
- You need guaranteed software compatibility with the latest Raspberry Pi OS
- HDR photography or video is required
- You want the simplest setup with no driver hassles
- Standard field of view is sufficient
Choose Arducam When:
- You need resolution above 12MP (16MP or 64MP options)
- Custom lens options are required (telephoto, fisheye, IR)
- Multiple cameras on one Pi (Arducam multi-camera adapter supports up to 4)
- Budget is flexible and advanced features justify the cost
Software and Driver Support
Pi Camera modules work out of the box with libcamera on the latest Raspberry Pi OS. No additional drivers needed. Arducam cameras require the Arducam driver package, which adds a step but is well-documented. For OpenCV projects, both work equally well once the camera is initialised.
# Pi Camera V3 - works immediately
libcamera-still -o image.jpg
# Arducam 16MP - install driver first
wget -O install_pivariety_pkgs.sh https://github.com/ArduCAM/Arducam-Pivariety-V4L2-Driver/releases/download/install_script/install_pivariety_pkgs.sh
chmod +x install_pivariety_pkgs.sh
./install_pivariety_pkgs.sh -p imx519_kernel_driver
# Then use same libcamera commands
libcamera-still -o image.jpg
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Arducam with Arduino instead of Raspberry Pi?
Arducam makes dedicated Arduino-compatible camera modules (SPI interface) that capture still images. These are lower resolution (2-5MP) and cannot do video processing. For serious machine vision, Raspberry Pi is the minimum platform.
Which camera is better for night vision?
Both Pi Camera V3 and Arducam offer NoIR (no infrared filter) variants. The Arducam with an M12 mount is more flexible because you can add a motorised IR-cut filter that switches between day and night modes automatically.
Do these cameras work with Raspberry Pi 5?
Yes. Both the official Pi Camera V3 and Arducam 16MP/64MP are fully compatible with Raspberry Pi 5 via the standard CSI connector. The Pi 5’s improved ISP provides better image processing performance with all compatible cameras.
What about ESP32-CAM as an alternative?
ESP32-CAM is a completely different category: it costs under ₹500 but is limited to 2MP (OV2640), no autofocus, and minimal processing power. Suitable for basic surveillance or QR code scanning, not for machine vision.
Conclusion
The Pi Camera V3 is the default choice for most projects: reliable, well-supported, and capable. Choose Arducam when you need specific features like higher resolution, interchangeable lenses, or multi-camera setups that the official camera cannot provide. Both are available through Zbotic with detailed specifications to help you choose.
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