Official Raspberry Pi AI Camera – SONY IMX500 Sensor | Compoden
Official Raspberry Pi AI Camera with SONY IMX500 Sensor
The Raspberry Pi AI Camera integrates a 12.3‑megapixel SONY IMX500 intelligent vision sensor directly onto a standard CSI board. All machine‑learning inference runs on‑sensor, so your Pi stays free for other tasks. You get real‑time object detection, pose estimation, and classification without adding a USB accelerator or GPU load.
Key Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Sensor | Sony IMX500 (stacked AI processor) |
| Resolution | 4056 × 3040 (still), 4Kp30 / 1080p60 (video) |
| AI engine | On‑sensor DSP; TensorFlow Lite micro models |
| Interface | 15‑pin MIPI CSI‑2 (ribbon cable) |
| Lens | Fixed‑focus, 78° diagonal FoV, f/2.0 |
| Dimensions | 25 × 24 × 11.5 mm (board only) |
What You Can Build With This
- Smart doorbell that triggers only for humans, not pets or leaves
- Barcode/QR‑code scanner with inline validity checks
- Industrial inspection camera that flags missing screws or scratches
- Wildlife cam that identifies bird species and logs timestamps
Compatibility
The AI Camera works with Raspberry Pi 4, Pi 5, and Pi Zero 2 W (using the standard CSI ribbon cable; Zero requires a mini‑to‑regular adapter). It runs on libcamera and the official IMX500 firmware stack. Power is drawn from the CSI port (3.3 V), with typical consumption around 1.1 W. Pair it with a PIR motion sensor, a relay, or a touch display for interactive kiosks.
Wiring Notes
Insert the ribbon cable with the metal contacts facing the HDMI port on a Pi 5, or facing the PCB edge on a Pi 4. No external power supply is needed. Keep the camera module in free air; the sensor can reach ~55 °C during continuous AI inference, which is normal.
Why Buy from Compoden
Every component is sourced from verified suppliers and tested for compatibility before listing. We've spent 10 years building projects for makers, schools, and institutions across India. Ships from Bengaluru in 3-5 days. If defective on arrival, replace within 7 days.
Is this compatible with Raspberry Pi 3?
No. The AI Camera requires the faster CSI lanes and ISP firmware available only on Pi 4, Pi 5, and Zero 2 W. A Pi 3 cannot drive the IMX500’s high-bandwidth output.
What software do I need to start?
Update Raspberry Pi OS (Bookworm or later), then install the imx500‑gstreamer or picamera2 packages. Pre‑compiled TensorFlow Lite models for object detection are included in the official examples.
Can I use it as a regular camera without AI?
Yes. The IMX500 can output standard YUV/RGB frames via the same libcamera stack. Simply omit the AI post‑processing pipeline, and it functions as a high‑resolution visible‑light camera.
📦 Free Setup Handoff Document Included
Every Compoden order includes a free setup handoff document — step-by-step instructions to get your component working within minutes. Download it via QR code on your package. The handoff document is also trained to help you troubleshoot the majority of problems.
Ask Soldr above what you can build with this — it knows every Compoden kit this part appears in.
Shipping Information
- Prepaid Orders: ₹75 for orders up to ₹999, FREE shipping above ₹999
- COD Orders: ₹125 shipping + ₹50 COD fee = ₹175 total
- Delivery Timeline: Dispatch in 1-2 days, delivery in 2-7 days depending on location
Returns & Warranty
- 7-Day Return: Manufacturing defects only (approval required)
- Warranty: 7 days from delivery
- Non-Returnable: Batteries, consumables, cut wires, clearance items