Best Raspberry Pi Cameras of 2026

The first thing we noticed is the cable bundle: Arducam includes a 15-to-22-pin FFC cable, which is the difference between a straightforward Pi Zero build and a scavenger hunt for the right ribbon. The board itself uses the 12MP IMX708 sensor, with a 75-degree diagonal view and an autofocus lens that combines PDAF and CDAF.

That makes it the closest thing here to the official Camera Module 3 in a package that also covers the Zero. We like the 4608 x 2592 stills and the HDR support, and the autofocus is the feature to pay for if you are pointing the camera at something that moves. It supports libcamera and Picamera2, but this is not an official drop-in: Arducam says the board needs a configuration step before it behaves correctly, so budget time for that.

The 75-degree diagonal view suits a desk or printer enclosure where the camera sits close and still needs to see the whole work area. It is a more deliberate purchase than the official module, but the cable bundle and the familiar sensor make it the one we point Pi Zero builders toward.

We like this board for the job standard cameras ignore: color when the lights are on, usable infrared when they are off, without the pink cast a bare NoIR sensor can give you. Arducam's Day-Night Vision module handles that with an automatic IR-cut filter and a built-in IR LED illuminator, so the same board can cover a lit hallway and a dark porch.

The 5MP OV5647 sensor is the compromise. It will not match the 12MP modules for detail, but it is enough for a security view, a printer enclosure, or a motion-triggered clip. The M12 lens mount is a useful bonus: you can swap to a different focal length instead of buying another board, and Arducam includes a ribbon cable for the Pi Zero along with heat sinks for the IR LEDs.

The automatic IR-cut is the feature to test first. If it does not switch, you are looking at a dim or discolored image and blaming the wrong part of the setup. This is a project camera, not a plug-in webcam, and it rewards a careful look at the control scripts before you mount it.

Some projects do not want a camera that sees what your eye sees. The NoIR Camera Module V2 is built for infrared photography, low-light monitoring, and plant-growth timelapses, and the missing IR-cut filter is the feature: it lets the sensor pick up infrared light that a normal module blocks.

The 8MP sensor captures 3280 x 2464 stills and 1080p30 video, which is more than enough for a plant cam or a low-light security view. The trade-off is color: without an IR-cut filter, daylight images can look washed out or unnaturally tinted, so this is not the module to buy for family snapshots.

We see the NoIR V2 as a specialist, not an all-rounder. If your project is infrared imaging or a monitored grow shelf, the official Raspbian support and 8MP resolution make it a sensible choice. If you just want a general camera, the Camera Module 3 is the better buy.

The RasTech set is the one to look at if you want to open one box and have a working camera, a mount, and the right cables for whatever Pi you own. It includes the 5MP OV5647 board, an acrylic protective case, a long 19.7-inch cable, and two short 5.9-inch cables.

We like that completeness for a first build. The 5MP sensor handles 2592 x 1944 stills and 1080p30 video, which is plenty for an OctoPrint view or a simple security cam, and the cables cover both full-size Pi boards and the Zero. The fixed-focus lens keeps the setup simple, and the acrylic case gives the board some protection without a separate purchase.

The case is where the bundle asks for patience. The acrylic enclosure has more pieces than a bare board, and the assembly is not as self-explanatory as the camera connection. If you already have a mount, a bare board is simpler; if you want the all-in-one, set aside a few minutes and follow the pictured steps.

The DORHEA board is the budget option we reach for when the project is a full-size Pi, the camera stays in one place, and nobody needs autofocus or a case. It is a bare 5MP OV5647 module with a 15cm 15-pin ribbon cable, and it does the basic job without extra pieces.

The specs are the familiar OV5647 set: 2592 x 1944 stills, 1080p30 video, and a fixed-focus lens that is happiest on general scenes rather than close work. For OctoPrint, MotionEye, or a simple timelapse, that is enough, and the board is small enough to fit inside a tight enclosure.

What we like is the honesty of the thing: no adapter, no case, no autofocus, just the sensor and cable. If you need a camera for a full-size Pi and you already have a mount, it is the least expensive way here to get a usable 5MP feed. The moment you need a Pi Zero cable, autofocus, or a finished enclosure, one of the other picks is the better buy.