Product Description

The 5MP OV5647 NoIR Camera Module for Raspberry Pi is an infrared-sensitive camera designed for daytime imaging, night vision, surveillance, robotics, and computer vision applications. It uses the OmniVision OV5647 5MP CMOS image sensor and can capture still images at resolutions up to 2592 × 1944 pixels.

This NoIR camera does not use an infrared-cut filter, allowing it to detect infrared light and capture images in low-light environments when used with suitable IR illumination. It supports multiple video modes, including 1080p at 30fps, 720p at 60fps, and 640 × 480 at up to 90fps.

The camera features a 2.8mm manually adjustable lens with an approximately 90° field of view, making it suitable for applications requiring a wider viewing area. The lens can be rotated to adjust the focus according to the required working distance.

An onboard light-detection system automatically monitors ambient lighting conditions. A trimpot allows users to adjust the darkness threshold at which connected IR LEDs can be activated, making the module suitable for automatic day/night or low-light monitoring systems.

The camera connects to compatible Raspberry Pi boards through the MIPI CSI camera interface. Its compact approximately 31 × 32mm PCB makes it convenient for integration into custom enclosures, robots, surveillance systems, and other embedded projects.

Features

• 5MP OmniVision OV5647 CMOS image sensor
• Up to 2592 × 1944 still-image resolution
• Infrared-sensitive NoIR camera design
• Suitable for night vision applications
• Supports 1080p @ 30fps
• Supports 720p @ 60fps
• Supports 640 × 480 @ 60/90fps
• 2.8mm lens
• Approximately 90° field of view
• Manually adjustable focus
• Automatic ambient-light detection
• Onboard trimpot for darkness threshold adjustment
• Supports IR LED activation control
• Raspberry Pi MIPI CSI camera interface
• Compact approximately 31 × 32mm board
• Rolling shutter sensor
• Suitable for surveillance, robotics, and computer vision

Specifications

Design and Construction

The camera is built around the OV5647 CMOS image sensor on a compact PCB measuring approximately 31 × 32mm. Its small form factor allows it to be installed easily in custom camera housings and embedded systems.

The module includes a 2.8mm manually adjustable lens, allowing the user to rotate the lens for focus adjustment. With an approximately 90° field of view, it provides a broad viewing area suitable for monitoring and vision applications.

As a NoIR camera, the module is sensitive to infrared wavelengths, making it suitable for use with external infrared illumination in dark environments.

Working Principle

The OV5647 sensor captures incoming light and converts it into digital image data that can be transferred to a compatible Raspberry Pi through the MIPI CSI camera interface.

Because the camera is designed without an infrared-cut filter, it can detect infrared illumination in addition to visible light. When used with an external IR LED source, this allows the camera to capture images in low-light or dark environments.

The onboard light sensors monitor ambient brightness, while the trimpot can be adjusted to determine the darkness level at which the connected IR LEDs should activate. This enables automatic illumination control for night vision applications.

Lens and Focus

The camera uses a 2.8mm lens with an approximately 90° field of view. The focus is manually adjustable by rotating the lens.

This allows users to optimize image sharpness according to the distance between the camera and the subject. Manual focus adjustment is useful for fixed installations where the camera is positioned at a specific distance from the target area.

Night Vision Function

The NoIR design makes the camera sensitive to infrared light, which is useful for nighttime surveillance and low-light applications. An external IR LED or infrared illumination source can be used to provide the required infrared light in dark environments.

The onboard light-detection circuit and adjustable trimpot can be used to control the activation threshold of compatible IR illumination.

Note: The camera itself does not generate sufficient infrared illumination for complete darkness unless an appropriate external IR light source is provided.

Applications

• Raspberry Pi night vision projects
• CCTV and security cameras
• Home surveillance
• Robotics and computer vision
• Object detection
• Machine vision projects
• Wildlife monitoring
• Low-light monitoring
• Smart security systems
• IoT camera systems
• DIY surveillance projects
• Time-lapse photography
• Industrial monitoring prototypes
• Educational Raspberry Pi projects
• Embedded vision applications

Compatible Interface

The camera uses the Raspberry Pi MIPI CSI camera interface for connecting the camera module to a compatible Raspberry Pi board.

Please verify the camera connector and software compatibility of your Raspberry Pi model before installation.

Package Includes

• 1 × 5MP OV5647 NoIR Camera Module
• 1 × Compatible Camera FPC/Ribbon Cable (if included with the supplied product)

Product Disclaimer

This is an infrared-sensitive NoIR camera and may produce different colour characteristics under visible-light conditions compared with cameras equipped with an IR-cut filter.

An external IR LED/IR illuminator may be required for effective night vision in dark environments and is not included unless specifically mentioned in the package contents.

The lens is manually adjustable and does not provide autofocus.

Product images are for representation only. The actual product may vary slightly in colour, appearance, component placement, or dimensions depending on the manufacturing batch.