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64MP OwlSight

Introduction

Arducam has released the highly influential and industry benchmark Arducam 64MP Hawkeye autofocus embedded camera for Raspberry Pi platform in 2022. Since the product was released, it has been widely praised. However, the camera, which is completely based on Arducam's independent research and development, cannot be natively supported by the Raspberry Pi platform. Users need to download the corresponding driver installation package to drive and use the camera.

Now, Arducam is coming with the latest Arducam 64MP OwlSight OV64A40 autofocus camera module. The biggest feature of the new 64MP OV64A40 OwlSight camera is that it will be fully supported by the mainstream software libcamera in the next updated version. In next version, You don't need to install any more drivers to plug in your camera and complete your project.

In addition, we have created a complete ecosystem for it, with accessories, products, and solutions available, which will greatly save you the energy and time spent in developing and implementing projects. We also support a deeper freedom in customization. You can share any of your ideas with us, and we will use our expertise and services to help you realize any project.

Highlight Features

Highlight Features
+ Native Supported by libcamera: Raspberry Pi mainstream software libcamera directly drives the camera, eliminating the need to install the camera driver and simplifying user access.
+ Ultra-high resolution: ultra-clear picture quality, maximum resolution 9248x 6944 (64MP).
+ Excellent photosensitive performance: larger optic format (1/1.32). The largest pixel size among sensors of the same level.
+ Higher frame rate: Higher frame rate can still be obtained at high resolution. (Sensor Max Frame Rate: 9248x6944@15fps).
+ Dual mode Focus: CDAF Autofocus & software control manual focus.
+ Rich peripheral accessories: one-stop supporting parts and the overall industry ecosystem. From modules -> products -> solutions.

Specifications

Basic Specs

Image Sensor
Image Sensor OV64A40
Still Resolution 64 Megapixels
Color Filter Type Color
Shutter Type Rolling
Optical Size 1/1.32″
Pixel Size 1.008 µm x 1.008 µm
Sensor Active Area 9248(H)×6944(V)
Output Format JPEG/YUV/RGB/RAW10
Video Modes
(on Raspberry Pi)		 1080p30,720p60 and 640×480p60/90
Video Modes
(Camera Module)		 9152×6944@2fps, 8000×6000@2.5fps, 4624×3472@7.6fps, 3840×2160@14.8fps, 2312×1736@26.7fps, 1920×1080@45fps.
IR Sensitivity Integral IR-cut Filter, visible light only
Lens
Focus Type Manual/Auto
Focal Length 6.65mm
F.NO F1.9
Field of View (FOV) 84°(D)×68°(H)×56°(V)
Lens Mount Stock Lens
Default Focus Range 12cm~∞
Electrical and Mechanical
Power Requirements 3.3V/300mA
Camera Board Size 25×24 mm
Functionality and Compatibility
Supported OS Raspberry Pi OS
Supported Platforms* Raspberry Pi 5/4B/3B+/3/2/CM3/CM4/Zero W/Zero 2 W

Note: Capturing maximum resolution on the Pi 4 and CM4 may be impacted by CMA, which can be fixed by switching the GUI mode to terminal mode.

Resolution & Frame Rates

Sensor Transfer Speed Resolution Frame Rate
OV64A40 High Speed* 9152×6944 2.6fps
8000×6000 2.5fps
4624×3472 10fps
3840×2160 20fps
2312×1736 30fps
1920×1080 60fps
Low Speed* 9152×6944 2fps
8000×6000 2.5fps
4624×3472 7.6fps
3840×2160 14.8fps
2312×1736 26.7fps
1920×1080 45fps

High speed/Low speed: It is supported to adjust the link-freq speed with Arducam OwlSight OV64A40 Camera, for details, please refer to Adjust link-freq speed with Arducam OV64A40 Camera.

Product

Product Image SKU Resolution Sensor Interface Features Focus Type Focus Distance Field of View(DxHxV) IR Sensitivity
B0483 64MP OV64A40 MIPI CSI-2 Ultra High Resolution Manual/Autofocus 12cm-infinite 84°(D)x68°(H)x56°(V) Integral IR-cut Filter
B0487 64MP OV64A40 MIPI CSI-2 Quad-Camera Kit Manual/Autofocus 12cm-infinite 84°(D)x68°(H)x56°(V) Integral IR-cut Filter

Note

Please refer to the following doc if you need to access the Arducam 64MP OV64A40 Quad-Camera Kit:

Quick Start Guide for Arducam 64MP OV64A40 Quad-Camera Kit

Accessory List

ABS Camera Case

SKU: U6251

Get one Now

HDMI Camera Extension Kit

SKU: B0091

Get one Now More Details

Ethernet Cable Extension Kit

SKU: U6279

Get one Now More Details

Pan-Tilt Kit

SKU: B0283

Get one Now More Details

15pin-22pin FPC Cable

SKU: B0210

Get one Now More Details

100cm 15pin-15pin Camera Extension Cable

SKU: CB012

Get one Now More Details

Quick Start Guide

Hardware Connection

Camera Schematic

Package List

Connection on Pi 4

(15pin-15pin FFC Cable)

Connection on Pi 5

(15pin-22pin FPC Cable)

Note

The camera tripod shown in the above picture is not included in the product package. The above is only a diagram for demonstration. If you need a related tripod, please contact sales@arducam.com for it.

Software

Supported Platforms and OS

Note for Supported Platform and OS
Platform Bookworm(rpicam/libcamera) Bullseye(libcamera) Buster(raspistill)
Raspberry Pi 5 √    
Raspberry Pi 4B / 3B+ / 3A+ / Zero / Zero 2 W √    
Raspberry Pi CM3 / CM3+ / CM4
(extra adapter board required)		 √    

Preparation

  • Please keep the kernel up-to-date and restart after updating.
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
  • Supported Raspberry Pi OS

Raspberry Pi Bookworm OS

  • Supported Raspberry Pi Kernel Version

Info

Please do not update the kernel to a non-stable version, such as via sudo rpi-update:

6.1.73 and later version

You can check your kernel version by:

uname -v | grep -oP '\d+\.\d+\.\d+'

  • Supported Raspberry Pi platforms(All tested)

Raspberry Pi 5/Raspberry Pi 4/Raspberry Pi 3


Enable the camera driver

Step 1. Open and edit the config file 

sudo nano /boot/firmware/config.txt

Step 2. Add dtoverlay to enable the OwlSight camera

Note

Arducam OV64A40 camera supports adjusting the image speed (link-freq parameter under config.txt).

There are currently two speeds: 360000000 and 456000000

Option 1. If you want to choose link-freq 360000000, you need to add the sentence below under [all] in the config file:

dtoverlay=ov64a40,link-frequency=360000000
camera_auto_detect=0

The cam1 port is enabled on Pi 5 by default. If you want to enable the camera on the cam0 port of Pi5, please refer to the following modifications:

sudo nano /boot/firmware/config.txt 
#Find the line: [all], add the following item under it:
dtoverlay=ov64a40,cam0,link-frequency=360000000
#Save and reboot.

Option 2. If you want to choose link-freq 456000000, you need to add the sentence below under [all] in the config file: 

dtoverlay=ov64a40,link-frequency=456000000
camera_auto_detect=0

The cam1 port is enabled on Pi 5 by default. If you want to enable the camera on the cam0 port of Pi5, please refer to the following modifications:

sudo nano /boot/firmware/config.txt 
#Find the line: [all], add the following item under it:
dtoverlay=ov64a40,cam0,link-frequency=456000000
#Save and reboot.

Warning

  • Please make sure you have only one dtoverlay sentence enabled in your config file, either 360000000 or 456000000.

  • If both dtoverlay sentences are enabled in your config file,there will be a conflict.

  • In addition, When link-frequency=456000000 is settled, the camera extension solution may have data transfer issues. Only a single camera can be used at this time. Please also ensure that the length of the flexible cable is short.

Step 3. Reboot to take effect

Please reboot your Pi when you finish the installation.

sudo reboot

Step4. Use libcamera to access Arducam 64MP Camera

Preview 5 seconds.

libcamera-still -t 5000

If you don't have a display screen, you can save an image without displaying it. And an image of test.jpg will be saved in the current directory.

libcamera-still -t 5000 -n -o test.jpg

For more instructions, please refer to: libcamera User Guide


Autofocus/Manual Focus Function

Continuous Autofocus

libcamera-still -t 0 

libcamera-still -t 0 --autofocus-mode continuous

Single Autofocus

libcamera-still -t 0 --autofocus-mode auto

Manual Focus

libcamera-still -t 0 --autofocus-mode manual
# Use keyboard to control focus
# "f" trigger one-shot autofocus
# "a" add the lens position, "d" decrease the lens position, the minimum unit of step adjustment is 1
libcamera-still -t 0 --autofocus-mode manual -k

Adjust Lens Position

libcamera-still -t 0 --autofocus-mode manual --lens-position 5

Autofocus Before Capture Images

libcamera-still -t 0 --autofocus-on-capture

Set Focus Range

# Normal
libcamera-still -t 0 --autofocus-range normal

# Close Focus
libcamera-still -t 0 --autofocus-range macro


Long Exposure Guide

Exposure Time Table

  • Low Speed Mode
Resolution Max Exposure Time(s)
1280x720 204.01
1920x1080 304.22
2312x1736 336.43
3840x2160 492.57
4624x3472 608.45
8000x6000 1059.42
9248x6944 1173.95
  • High Speed Mode
Resolution Max Exposure Time(s)
1280x720 146.74
1920x1080 196.85
2312x1736 279.17
3840x2160 378.04
4624x3472 472.44
8000x6000 860.78
9248x6944 910.88

Operation Guide

  • libcamera-still parameters instruction

-t: Program running time, which is usually preview time

--shutter: Fixed exposure time, the unit is us

-o: The name of the saved image

  • Examples

set exposure time as 1s:

libcamera-still -t 10000 --shutter 1000000 -o shutter_1s.jpg

Set exposure time as 5s:

libcamera-still -t 10000 --shutter 5000000 -o shutter_5s.jpg

Set exposure time as 10s:

libcamera-still -t 10000 --shutter 10000000 -o shutter_10s.jpg
  • Contrast

Additional Resources