64MP OwlSight

Introduction

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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

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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

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Basic Specs

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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

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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

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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

Accessory List

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ABS Camera Case

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SKU: U6251

Get one Now

HDMI Camera Extension Kit

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SKU: B0091

Get one Now More Details

Ethernet Cable Extension Kit

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SKU: U6279

Get one Now More Details

Pan-Tilt Kit

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SKU: B0283

Get one Now More Details

15pin-22pin FPC Cable

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SKU: B0210

Get one Now More Details

100cm 15pin-15pin Camera Extension Cable

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SKU: CB012

Get one Now More Details

Quick Start Guide

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Hardware Connection

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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

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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)	√

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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

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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

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Autofocus/Manual Focus Function

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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

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Long Exposure Guide

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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

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• Product Brief - Arducam 64MP OV64A40 Autofocus Camera (PDF)

• Manual - Arducam 64MP OV64A40 Autofocus Camera (PDF)

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