When a project needs to see clearly in dim light, the sensor gets most of the attention, but the lens decides what ends up in the frame. Chinneo's IMX290 2MP camera module with 4mm lens fits the IMX290 low-light sensor with a standard 4mm M12 lens. It also has an IR-CUT filter switcher on the board.
Key specs
Specifications
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Sensor | IMX290, 2MP, 1920x1080 |
| Pixel size | 2.9 µm x 2.9 µm pixels, 1/2.8 inch optical format, rolling shutter |
| Lens | M12 lens, 3.95mm focal length (the standard 4mm lens), F2.0, 90 degree diagonal field of view, distortion <5% |
| Focus | Fixed focus |
| Video output | 1080P at 60FPS |
| IR-CUT | Integrated IR-CUT filter switcher, switched manually on the board or by software from Raspberry Pi GPIO |
| Interface | MIPI CSI, 15-pin connector |
| Board size | 38mm x 38mm |
What is in the box
- The Raspberry Pi board shown in the connection illustration is not included
Why the lens matters
A 4mm lens gives a narrower view than the very wide lenses used on many board cameras. The subject fills more of the frame at a given distance, which helps with doorways, driveways and machine areas where you watch one zone. Because the lens uses the M12 thread, you can fit another M12 lens later if your scene changes.
IR-CUT on the board
The filter can be switched by hand or from Raspberry Pi GPIO, so the camera can move between day and night modes. Plan an infrared light source for scenes with no visible light. The listing does not show one.
Questions to settle before you order
- Whether a cable is included, and its length. This is not specified.
- Your infrared lighting plan for fully dark scenes.
- The camera connector on your Raspberry Pi model.
Full details are on the IMX290 4mm camera page.
This guide is based on the published specifications for this module. Chinneo has not run hands-on tests of this module.