IMX219 8MP Camera Module - 160° Ultra-Wide Fisheye FOV for Raspberry Pi 5 (Includes Pi 5 / 22-pin Cable)

Specifications

• Sensor Type: Sony IMX219 Color CMOS

• Resolution: 8 Megapixels (3280 x 2464 pixels)

• Field of View (FOV): 160° (Ultra-Wide Fisheye)

• Interface: MIPI CSI-2 (15-Pin standard on board)

• Operating Voltage: 3.3V to 5V DC

• Dimensions: 25.00mm x 24.00mm (Board), ~18.00mm (Lens Height)

• Mounting Holes: 4 holes (approx. 2.2mm diameter)

• Compatibility:  Pi 5 natively and Pi 4B/3B+/3A+Pi Zero (requires adapter cable).

Key Applications and Projects

• Full-Room Security: Mounting the camera in a ceiling corner to achieve complete, wall-to-wall coverage of a room without needing mechanical pan/tilt servos.

• Dashcams & Action Cameras: Building a custom DIY dashcam that captures all lanes of traffic simultaneously.

• Drone FPV: Providing a massive peripheral view for First-Person View drone piloting to avoid side collisions.

Unlock New Capabilities (Project Evolution)

• Software De-warping: Use Python and OpenCV camera calibration libraries to mathematically "flatten" the fisheye distortion in real-time, giving you a massive panoramic image without the curved edges.

• AI Edge Detection: Pair this with a Raspberry Pi 5 to run object-detection models across a huge physical area, allowing a single camera to track multiple subjects across an entire warehouse floor.

Package Includes:

• 1 x IMX219 8MP Camera Module (160° FOV)

• 1 x Protective Plastic Lens Cap

• 1 x 15-pin to 22-pin CSI Ribbon Cable

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

1. What is the maximum resolution of this camera? It features an 8 Megapixel sensor capable of capturing still images at 3280 x 2464 pixels.

2. What does "160° FOV" mean? It has a 160-degree Field of View. This is an ultra-wide angle, often called a "fisheye" lens, which captures a massive amount of the surrounding area horizontally and vertically.

3. Will a 160-degree lens cause image distortion? Yes. A lens this wide inherently produces significant barrel distortion, making straight lines near the edges of the frame appear curved.

4. Can the fisheye distortion be fixed? Yes, you can use software libraries like OpenCV to calculate a calibration matrix and digitally "de-warp" the image to make the lines straight again.

5. Is this compatible with the Raspberry Pi 5?  Yes, it is natively plug-and-play with the Raspberry Pi 5 using the included 22-pin cable. Note: If you wish to use it with a Raspberry Pi 4 or 3, you will need a separate standard 15-pin to 15-pin cable.

6. What is the black plastic circle included in the photo? That is a protective lens cap. Because the fisheye lens glass protrudes outward, the cap protects it from scratches when not in use.

7. What are the dimensions of the circuit board? The PCB is exactly 25.00mm wide by 24.00mm high.

8. How far does the lens stick out? The lens barrel extends approximately 18.00mm from the surface of the circuit board.

9. Does it have auto-focus? No, this module features a fixed-focus fisheye lens. Ultra-wide lenses naturally have an enormous depth of field, keeping almost everything from a few inches away to infinity in focus.

10. Can I record video with it? Yes, it supports video recording at 1080p30, 720p60, and VGA90 resolutions natively through the Pi.

11. What does Pin 1 do on the ribbon cable? Pin 1 accepts the 3.3V to 5V power supply from the Raspberry Pi.

12. What are the SDA and SCL pins used for? Pins 2 and 3 are the I2C communication lines used by the Pi to configure camera registers, such as exposure time and sensor gain.

13. Does this camera capture audio? No, standard MIPI CSI-2 camera modules do not include microphones. You will need a separate USB microphone.

14. Do I need to install special drivers? No, the Sony IMX219 is natively supported by the Raspberry Pi OS and works perfectly with the standard libcamera software stack.

15. Does it have night vision capabilities? No, this is a standard daylight RGB sensor equipped with an IR-cut filter. It cannot see infrared light in the dark.

16. How do I mount it? The board features four mounting holes (approximately 2.2mm in diameter) spaced appropriately for standard M2 machine screws.

17. Can I change or unscrew the lens? The lens is factory-focused and usually glued into the threaded mount. Attempting to unscrew it aggressively will likely break the sensor housing.

18. Why are there so many GND pins? High-speed differential data signals require excellent grounding to prevent signal corruption. Pins 6, 9, 12, and 15 provide vital ground references for the data lanes.

19. Can I use this with an Arduino? No, standard 8-bit or 32-bit Arduinos lack the processing power, RAM, and the MIPI CSI hardware interface required to handle high-resolution video streams.

20. Can I extend the ribbon cable? You can purchase longer 15-pin FFC cables, but keeping it under 30cm to 50cm is recommended to prevent electromagnetic interference from degrading the image data.