Creator Designs a Customizable 3D-Printed Raspberry Pi Camera
Creator Boaz crafted a custom camera module with a 3D-printed case using Raspberry Pi.
The idea for the DIY camera came to Boaz as an alternative to basic camera design, which, regardless of make or model, do not offer much variance. The shutter button is at the top right and menu buttons are on the back, at the right.
“Today, cameras are designed to be one size fits most and as a videographer and photographer this presents some frustrations,” Boaz tells PetaPixel over email. “As I am right handed I cannot personally speak to the difficulties of being left handed and pursuing photography, but I can only imagine the frustration as all popular models of cameras are designed for right handed people.”
Boaz adds that, as a creator, they spend most of their time in front of the camera rather than behind it. Even with flip out screens becoming nearly ubiquitous, this still makes changing settings difficult since none of the buttons are visible.
“I don’t know what I am pressing and this leads to errors, delays, and the purchase of more equipment to remedy issues that didn’t have to exist,” Boaz says. “This is just one example of a change that is enabled by this new and open design for a camera.”
Enter Boaz’s Raspberry Pi creation. Now, this isn’t the first camera module to use Raspberry Pi, but Boaz notes that many examples, at least among those shared online, require a full keyboard to operate or are inaccessible to many useres. This new creation instead feels more like a traditional camera with a familiar body. Only this time, it’s 3D printed and can be customized to suit the photographer’s needs.
Additionally, Boaz breaks down the process in a video on their YouTube page as well as in a GitHub page. This shows how to put the body together, get the software running, and includes some of the creator’s insights, which sheds further light on the project.
“I truly believe that the ‘killer app’ that will elevate 3D printing to the mainstream is hyper personalization, in short, the ability to customize your devices specifically to you,” Boaz tells PetaPixel. “And I plan to expand upon this concept in future revisions of this camera as well as other projects.”
Image credits: Boaz
