As you probably know there are two different sorts of Raspberry Pi camera’s the normal camera and then there is the Raspberry Pi Noir camera. In this guide I will take you through the pros and
cons of each of the cameras so you can get the one best for your project.

The best way to the grasp the differences between the two cameras would be to see it in action visually and that’s why I created the video below.

The video will show you both the Raspberry Pi camera and the Raspberry NOIR Camera and the main differences between the two cameras. This includes showing the differences at night and during the day.

Equipment Used

The equipment I used to carry out this guide is listed below.

Raspberry Pi x 2

Raspberry Pi Camera Board

Raspberry Pi NOIR camera

Camera Cases x 2

Power Packs x2

IR Illuminator

Raspberry Pi Camera and NOIR Camera Day Time Shots

If you look at the image below you can clearly see that the camera that doesn’t have the IR (Infra-red) filter is really washed out and doesn’t look nearly as good and clear as the one on the right that does have the filter. This is probably the main difference between the two during the day. I did notice some image tearing with the NOIR camera however I am not sure if this was a camera issue or the connection to the Pi.

You can still do some pretty cool photography with the NOIR camera during the day but if you’re after a clear normal picture then the normal Raspberry Pi camera board is the way to go.

The normal Raspberry Pi camera is perfect if you plan on doing a time-lapse, webcam server or any other project where the image quality has a large impact on the overall result of the project.

Night Time Shots with IR Illuminator

If you plan on doing night time filming or photos then the NOIR camera is the way to go. Using an IR illuminator you’re able to get Raspberry Pi night vision as you can clearly see in the photo below. The NOIR camera also is able to see a lot better in low light environments even without the assistance of the IR illuminator.

The NOIR has quite a few uses apart from just allowing you to film at night. It has been used to do cool creative photography and can even be used to monitor the health of green plants.

You’re also able to use the Raspberry NOIR camera for surveillance systems (vision at night very important), nightlife watcher and much more.

Hopefully this guide has helped you be able to decide which Raspberry Pi camera you will need for your future project. There are benefits and cons to both of them but hopefully this guide has been clear enough to point out what those differences are.

If you’re looking to start a new Raspberry Pi project then you should check out some of my cool projects I currently have up. I also have plenty more on the way so make sure you check back in the future.