Arducam 12MP USB Camera Module, 4K@15fps Lightburn Camera with M12 Manual Focus Lens for Raspberry Pi, Windows, and Mac OS

Edit: After learning more about FFMPEG, I have posted formats for this camera. It reports maximum 10fps at 4K, but OBS claims it can record at 30fps. I was able to use V4L2 to enable/disable dynamic framerate, so maybe it's possible, despite what the driver reports? The value is still fantastic. Format printouts attached to this review for reference. Original review below. I can confirm that these output 4k@30fps on Windows, Linux and Android. On Windows (a PC with an NVidia RTX 4090) I can record two cameras side-by-side at 7680*3032 at 30fps using OBS. On Android I've managed to get 1 camera running at 14fps, limited by the mobile device's hardware, not the camera. On a Linux laptop I finally managed to dump the camera's bitstream directly to disk using ffmpeg (for later repacking in a video container and recoding to a reasonable playback rate) and successfully captured 8K 15fps streams from two cameras simultaneously. While it falls short of 30fps for reasons I do not understand, I delighted with the results. :-)

I'm extremely disappointed with this camera module. Despite the description claiming it can output 4K at 30fps, we were unable to achieve this resolution and frame rate no matter what we tried. We followed the instructions to the letter, updated the firmware, and even tried different settings, but the best we could get was a lower resolution. But the problems don't stop there. The camera module is also incredibly difficult to use. The interface is clunky and unintuitive, making it a chore to navigate and adjust settings. We spent hours trying to get it to work as advertised, but it was a frustrating and fruitless experience. For a product that claims to offer high-quality video output, it's shocking that it falls so short. The lack of 4K 30fps support is a major deal-breaker, and the poor user experience only adds to the disappointment. Unless the manufacturer addresses these issues and provides a software update to enable 4K 30fps output, I would strongly advise against purchasing this camera module. Save your money and look elsewhere for a reliable and user-friendly camera solution. Pros: None Cons: Unable to achieve 4K 30fps output as advertised Difficult and frustrating to use Poor interface and navigation Not worth the money Would not recommend.

connected this via USB to my raspberry pi. works fine with v4l2. only issue is auto exposure has a hard time dealing with bright sunlight and picture gets washed out. not able to improve much with manual exposure so far, so working on that. works better in not so bright and indoor situations. The focus is not adjustable but that is not an issue for my use.

Camera works fine but the cord it came with is short, about 3’ 3”. If you use extension limit it to 10’, otherwise your camera may freeze. Get cords with ferrite if possible! I used two 10’ cords and my camera was freezing a lot. Now I use only 10’ extension with ferrites and no more freezing!

great camera

I use this camera on my laser engraver. This camera was easy to set up as it is plug and play with a USB connection to my laptop. If using Lightburn, the instructions within are clear and easy to follow. Once setup you will see your laser area within Lighburn in real time making it easy to place items to be burned or engraved. No more messing around framing pieces over and over when you can simply place your image and select the type of job you want to run. This camera has saved me hours of wasted time trying to line up my material.

This camera stopped working just over a month in not worth the money.

I've been using this camera for my 3D printer. The camera is on the smaller side and the quality is decent. In terms of image quality, it captures clear and sharp images for both 3D printing monitoring and video calls. However, there are moments where I wish for a little more clarity, especially in low-light conditions. Considering its price point, it's a solid performer, but it's not going to blow you away with exceptional image quality. It's good for most purposes, but if you're looking for professional-level camera performance, you might need to explore other options. Nonetheless, its versatility and the fact that it can serve both as a 3D printer camera and a basic webcam do add significant value. So, while the camera quality isn't perfect, it's still a practical choice for various applications.