Sony IMX219 Camera Module
The Sony IMX219 is the latest official camera module announced by the Raspberry Pi Foundation in 2016. It features an 8 megapixel fixed focus CMOS sensor that provides a maximum 3240x2464 resolution and connects to the Raspberry Pi via the CSI2 bus using a ribbon cable. The camera module replaces the original OmniVision OV5647 module which was released in 2013.
Image courtesy of Raspberry Pi Foundation
The IMX219 is capable of video recording at 1080p30 but can also output 720p between 40 - 90 fps (120 fps if overclocked) and 640x480 between 40 - 90 fps (again, capable of 120 fps if overclocked).
Below you can see a full breakdown of the resolutions and attributes that this camera supports at various sensor modes:
| Mode | Resolution | Aspect Ratio | Framerate | FoV | Binning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1920x1080 | 16:9 | 1/10 - 30 | Partial | None |
| 2 | 3280x2464 | 4:3 | 1/10 - 15 | Full | None |
| 3 | 3280x2464 | 4:3 | 1/10 - 15 | Full | None |
| 4 | 1640x1232 | 4:3 | 1/10 - 40 | Full | 2x2 |
| 5 | 1640x922 | 16:9 | 1/10 - 40 | Full | 2x2 |
| 6 | 1280x720 | 16:9 | 40 - 90 (120*) | Partial | 2x2 |
| 7 | 640x480 | 4:3 | 40 - 90 (120*) | Partial | 2x2 |
* When overclocked
Note: It is important to note that the above list are not the only possible resolutions available when taking pictures on the Raspberry Pi - they are a set of resolutions the sensor can directly output to the Pi's GPU. The VideoCore IV GPU ISP (Image Sensor Pipeline) itself is then able to resize to the desired resolution.
Modes which support Full FoV (Field of View) will make use of the full 3280x2464 pixels available on the sensor, whereas the Partial FoV will capture from the center of the sensor.
The camera is suitable to a number of applications including: General purpose photography, bird watching, CCTV, astronomy and in-car camera recording. Users of the camera module have also taken the effort to fit 3rd party lens such as wide-angle and telephoto to adjust the angle of view.
Technical information for the IMX219: