YOU CAN BUILD A CINEMA CAMERA THAT RECORDS THE SAME RAW FORMAT AS THE PROFESSIONAL ONES
A buildable cinema camera that records the same 12-bit CinemaDNG RAW as professional workflows, powered by a Raspberry Pi 4.
by Csaba Nagy
Open-hardwareDisplays
- difficulty
- ●●●●○
- time
- a long weekend
- license
- CC-BY-SA-4.0
- repo
- repo ARCHIVED1,423 stars
●●●●○ · a long weekend · CC-BY-SA-4.0 · 1,423 stars · repo ARCHIVED
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
- 3D printer + filament — printable parts — files are in the repo
- Electronic parts — full list with part numbers in the repo BOM
- Dev board / microcontroller — runs the project firmware
Partner
COMPAREE VERDICT
This is for someone who wants a modifiable cinema camera and is comfortable modifying hardware to get it. The draw is genuine: 12-bit CinemaDNG RAW is the same frame-by-frame digital negative format used in professional grading suites, and no off-the-shelf camera in this price range offers it. The build replaces a kit with decisions — you choose the 4-inch touchscreen model, the LiPo size, the button layout — and the author encourages that flexibility on purpose. The constraint is the Super-8-sized sensor in the Raspberry Pi HQ module: it is far smaller than cinema or even Super35 sensors, so low-light performance and depth of field will not match larger formats no matter how good the RAW is. The README does not hide the difficulty: hardware modifications are required, soldering is assumed, and the software installation is manual terminal work, not a one-click image. If you have built electronics projects before and want a camera you can modify down to the enclosure, this is a real option. If you want something that works out of the box, or you have never soldered a wire to a LiPo protection board, this will eat your weekend and possibly your Pi.
IN THE REPO
NOT IN THE REPO
- —CAD files for the enclosure are present in STL and STEP formats, designed for standard FDM printing.
- —A parts list exists in the README, but no itemised BOM with part numbers or suppliers — you choose equivalents for the screen, battery and buttons.
- —The software is custom Python, with installation steps in the wiki. It requires flashing a specific Raspbian image and manual dependency installation.
- —The README explicitly states hardware modifications are needed and warns this is not for beginners uncomfortable with soldering.
- —Licence is CC BY-SA 4.0 — you may modify and sell, but derivatives must carry the same licence and credit the original.
- —No official kit or PCB — this is a full DIY build where you source, solder and assemble every component yourself.
Can I build this?
Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.
Partner · KickstarterHeyGears G1: 10M+ colors and transparent parts in one print, plus UV printing on flat objects. Figures, parts and labels — no painting.
Videos
CinePI 2.0 - Unboxing and First Impressions7:03
Shows the finished camera, interface walkthrough and sample footage — this is the source of the reel visuals.
Gallery
Start here
Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.
- 1.Read the README and wiki assembly guide fully before ordering anything — the parts list is generic and you must choose compatible equivalents. (The README warns about hardware modifications; take that seriously.)
- 2.Print the enclosure parts — STL files are in the repo. Use PETG or ABS for durability; PLA will warp if left in a hot car.(Expect 150-200 hours print time for all parts at 0.2mm layer height and 20% infill.)
- 3.Source the Raspberry Pi 4, HQ camera module, touchscreen, battery and remaining hardware — no official BOM with part numbers, so verify pin compatibility for the screen and RTC before buying.(The 4GB Pi is sufficient; 8GB adds cost without benefit for this application.)
- 4.Follow the wiki installation guide to flash the OS image, install dependencies and configure the camera software.(This is terminal work — if you have never used raspi-config or pip, budget extra time.)
KNOWN ISSUES
- Buying a touchscreen that is not DSI-compatible or does not match the mounting holes in the printed enclosure — the design assumes a specific 4-inch form factor.
- Underestimating the battery capacity needed: CinemaDNG RAW writes at high speed and the Pi under load will drain a small LiPo in under an hour.
- Soldering the battery without a protection board, or bypassing the low-voltage cutoff — this will either kill the cell or start a fire.
- Assuming the HQ camera module performs like a cinema sensor — it is Super-8 sized, so low-light and shallow depth of field are constrained by physics.
- Skipping the RTC module and discovering your clips have no usable timestamp metadata in post.
- Not testing the SSD write speed before a shoot — a slow USB 3 drive will drop frames and you will not know until you offload the footage.
What lenses can I use?
The Pi HQ camera has a C-mount, so any C-mount or CS-mount lens fits directly. You can adapt other mounts, but C-mount glass is cheap and plentiful.
How does the RAW compare to a Blackmagic or RED?
The format is 12-bit CinemaDNG, so the workflow is identical — you colour-grade the same way. The sensor is far smaller, so dynamic range, low-light and depth of field will not match larger cinema sensors.
Can I use this commercially?
Yes — the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence permits commercial use. If you sell a modified version, you must release the design files under the same licence and credit the original.
How long does the battery last?
Depends entirely on the LiPo size you choose. A 5000mAh cell gives roughly 90 minutes of recording; double the capacity for longer shoots.
Is there a kit or PCB available?
No — this is a full DIY build. You source every component, print the enclosure and assemble it yourself.
Community builds
No community builds yet — be the first, we feature the best ones.
Discussion1
FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM
The sensor is Super-8 sized, so depth of field and low-light are physically constrained — but the RAW workflow is real. What would you shoot with it?
Csaba Nagy
Csaba Nagy built CinePI to answer a specific question: could a modifiable cinema camera exist without the locked ecosystem of commercial manufacturers? The result is a camera where the only fixed components are the Pi and the sensor — everything else is yours to change.
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DISCLAIMER
- Comparee is not the author of the projects featured here. All rights to each project belong to its creator — every page links to the original source, and we never host creators’ files.
- Information is provided without warranty and may become outdated as projects evolve. Prices are indicative bands only — always check the creator’s parts list for current costs.
- Building and operating any project is at your own responsibility. Protective equipment, safe workshop practice and compliance with local regulations are the builder’s responsibility.
CompareeTEAM11d ago
Practical notes from our verification: the YouTube channel is official and active (the reel footage comes from there), the wiki exists but is light on troubleshooting — most of the community help happens in GitHub issues. The single biggest cost variable is the lens: cheap C-mount glass is under £30, but anything fast or wide jumps quickly. TheRepo shows active commits as of mid-2024, and the README has been updated to match the V2 hardware changes. No PCB to buy means no waiting on shipping, but also no shortcut around the soldering.