CircuitValley Launches Open-Source Modular Camera
German electronics firm CircuitValley has launched the CHC5, an open-source camera system with swappable sensors and lens mounts, aimed at engineers and
German electronics company CircuitValley has launched the CHC5 on Kickstarter. It calls the device the world's first commercially available modular camera system for advanced imaging.
The CHC5's core feature is its fully swappable image capture unit. Users can rotate through various sensor sizes and formats. The system is designed primarily for engineers, researchers, and developers, not general photographers. These users often need to build custom solutions or buy expensive, specialized imaging equipment.
CircuitValley says the platform solves common development challenges. "For developers, researchers, and engineers, building a custom camera solution typically means working around closed ecosystems, limited hardware options, and restricted software access," the company explains. It states that even simple modifications can be complex or impossible with traditional cameras.
System Design and Flexibility
The CHC5 is a fully modular and programmable platform. Every component can be changed or upgraded. CircuitValley describes it not as just a camera, but as a flexible imaging platform. The system uses interchangeable imaging units mounted on uniform boards. It also features swappable lens mounts and open-source software. This design aims to make customization easy for niche applications.
The concept of a modular camera is not entirely new. Ricoh previously employed it with its GXR compact digital camera. That system used swappable camera-unit modules with different sensor and lens combinations. The Ricoh GXR ultimately failed to achieve commercial success. The CHC5 is similar in spirit but differs in execution and target audience.
Available Hardware Components
The system offers a range of interchangeable parts. Available lens mounts include C, CS, Canon RF, Sony E, M42, S, and M43. There are both rolling shutter and global shutter capture devices available. These include various Sony IMX models with resolutions from 5 to 20.3 megapixels. The largest imaging unit currently listed is a 10.7-megapixel Sony IMX294 Micro Four Thirds component. This unit uses Sony's Starvis technology for high-sensitivity performance.
| Component Type | Available Options |
|---|---|
| Lens Mounts | C, CS, Canon RF, Sony E, M42, S, M43 |
| Capture Device Types | Rolling Shutter, Global Shutter |
| Resolution Range | 5 to 20.3 megapixels |
| Largest Imaging Unit | 10.7MP Sony IMX294 (Micro Four Thirds, Starvis) |
Pricing and Launch Timeline
Pricing for the system starts at under $200 for individual imaging modules for Kickstarter backers. The camera base itself, which includes a capture unit and mount of choice, starts at around $680. A comprehensive developer kit is also available. This kit includes all available imaging modules and lens mounts for €2,999, which is approximately $3,473 at current exchange rates.
The project has been in development for four years. CircuitValley expects to begin shipping the CHC5 to backers in January. The company emphasizes the open-source nature of the system, which provides full control over firmware and software. This approach is intended to give users unprecedented freedom to adapt the camera to specific imaging tasks, from machine vision to high-end image acquisition.
