Raspberry Pi Camera Module 3 Wide: specs and pinout
The wide-angle variant of Raspberry Pi Camera Module 3: a Sony IMX708 12-megapixel sensor with phase detection autofocus, HDR mode and CSI-2 output. The standard (non-NoIR) variants have an integrated infrared cut filter.
Specs
| Spec | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Sensor | Sony IMX708, 4608 x 2592 pixels (about 11.9 megapixels), 7.4 mm diagonal, pixel size 1.4 um x 1.4 um, output RAW10 | source Specification (page 3) |
| Wide variant optics | Focal length 2.75 mm; F2.2; horizontal FoV 102 degrees, vertical 67 degrees; focus range about 5 cm to infinity | source Hardware specifications table, Camera Module 3 Wide column |
| Autofocus | Phase detection autofocus (visible light) and contrast detection autofocus (visible and infrared) driven by a voice coil motor | source Camera Module 3 > Autofocus |
| Video modes | 2304 x 1296p56, 2304 x 1296p30 HDR, 1536 x 864p120 (documentation table); the brief lists common modes 1080p50, 720p100, 480p120 | source Hardware specifications table; brief page 3 |
| Exposure | Maximum exposure time 112 s | source Hardware specifications table |
| Dimensions | 25 x 24 x 11.5 mm (12.4 mm height for Wide variants); ribbon cable 200 mm; 15 x 1 mm FPC connector | source Specification (page 3) |
| Operating temperature | 0 C to 50 C | source Specification (page 3) |
| Interface | CSI-2 serial data output; 2-wire serial control (I2C fast mode and fast-mode plus) | source Overview (page 2) |
Power
| Value | Source | |
|---|---|---|
| Supply | 3.3 V from the camera connector (pin 15 on the 15-pin Raspberry Pi connector) | source Pinout information > 15-pin connector; no current figure in the brief |
Pinout
Rows are the 15-pin CSI connector on the Raspberry Pi side, as documented by Raspberry Pi; the camera board's own schematic is not covered for this variant. Raspberry Pi 5 and the Zero series use a 22-pin connector (different layout), so they need a different cable.
| Pin | Function | Voltage | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GND | Ground | source Pinout information > Camera connector pinout (15-pin); host-side table | |
| 2 | CAM_DN0 | D-PHY lane 0 (negative), input | source Pinout information > Camera connector pinout (15-pin); host-side table | |
| 3 | CAM_DP0 | D-PHY lane 0 (positive), input | source Pinout information > Camera connector pinout (15-pin); host-side table | |
| 4 | GND | Ground | source Pinout information > Camera connector pinout (15-pin); host-side table | |
| 5 | CAM_DN1 | D-PHY lane 1 (negative), input | source Pinout information > Camera connector pinout (15-pin); host-side table | |
| 6 | CAM_DP1 | D-PHY lane 1 (positive), input | source Pinout information > Camera connector pinout (15-pin); host-side table | |
| 7 | GND | Ground | source Pinout information > Camera connector pinout (15-pin); host-side table | |
| 8 | CAM_CN | D-PHY clock (negative), input | source Pinout information > Camera connector pinout (15-pin); host-side table | |
| 9 | CAM_CP | D-PHY clock (positive), input | source Pinout information > Camera connector pinout (15-pin); host-side table | |
| 10 | GND | Ground | source Pinout information > Camera connector pinout (15-pin); host-side table | |
| 11 | CAM_IO0 | 3.3 V | GPIO, typically an active-high power enable; bidirectional | source Pinout information > Camera connector pinout (15-pin); host-side table |
| 12 | CAM_IO1 | 3.3 V | GPIO (for example clock or LED); some products do not include it; bidirectional | source Pinout information > Camera connector pinout (15-pin); host-side table |
| 13 | SCL | 3.3 V | I2C clock; pulled up to 3.3 V on the Raspberry Pi board | source Pinout information > Camera connector pinout (15-pin); host-side table |
| 14 | SDA | 3.3 V | I2C data; pulled up to 3.3 V on the Raspberry Pi board | source Pinout information > Camera connector pinout (15-pin); host-side table |
| 15 | 3V3 | 3.3 V | 3.3 V supply, output from the Raspberry Pi | source Pinout information > Camera connector pinout (15-pin); host-side table |
Build with it
Project ideas for the Raspberry Pi Camera Module 3 Wide. Each link opens Soldr with the prompt filled in; Soldr assigns the pins, checks power and shows how to wire every part.
- Wide-angle shelf timelapse: The 102 degree horizontal field of view covers a shelf or workbench from close range, and the Pi 4 has the 15-pin connector the ribbon fits.
- Close-up board inspection camera: The Wide module focuses from about 5 cm, so a PCB can be viewed at a short distance; autofocus works in visible light.
- Parcel-shelf photo logger: The PIR output triggers a still. If the shelf is in a shared space where people can be captured, tell them and get consent.
- Wide-view object detection on a Pi 5: Raspberry Pi's AI HAT+ page says the camera applications use the HAT for post-processing. The Pi 5 needs a 15-to-22-pin camera cable (not included), and the AI HAT+ takes the Pi 5's single PCIe connector.
Common mistakes
- Using the supplied 200 mm 15-pin ribbon on a Raspberry Pi 5 or Zero: they use a 22-pin camera connector, so a 15-to-22-pin adapter cable is required (source: link, Pinout information; link, page 3).
- Expecting fast autofocus under infrared light or in low contrast: PDAF works with visible light only and CDAF is slower (source: link, Camera Module 3 > Autofocus).
- Fitting the Wide module into a mount made for the standard one: the Wide variant is 12.4 mm high against 11.5 mm (source: link, page 3).
Not covered by the official source
- No current-draw figure is given in the brief or documentation, so power current is not given.
- The pinout table is the 15-pin host-side connector from the Raspberry Pi documentation; the Camera Module 3 board schematic is not covered.
- The brief gives 11.9 megapixels; the documentation table rounds to 12 megapixels.