Sony IMX585-AJ1: Product Data Sheet
The Sony IMX585 is a 4K CMOS image sensor of the STARVIS-2 generation, which is characterized by high sensitivity and extended dynamic range. It finds applications in various embedded-vision areas, from security technology to robotics. The actual image quality, however, depends heavily on integration and tuning.
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Introduction & Overview
The IMX585 is a rolling shutter sensor with 8.40 million effective pixels and a pixel size of 2.9 µm. The image circle is type 1/1.2 (diagonal 12.84 mm). Sony offers the sensor as a color variant (IMX585-AAQJ1) and mono variant (IMX585-AAMJ1). The suffixes AAQJ1 and AAMJ1 designate, among other things, color filter and mono implementation according to Flyer. . STARVIS 2 stands for very high sensitivity and extended dynamic range compared to the previous STARVIS generation at the same pixel size, as described by Sony defines.
Technical Details & Integration
Sony specifies for the IMX585 recommended capture pixels of 3840×2160. The sensor achieves up to 90 fps in 10-bit and 60 fps in 12-bit in all-pixel-scan. HDR operation is possible via DOL-HDR and Clear-HDR, as in the Datasheet described. The mono variant mirrors these key data points ( Sony Flyer). ). The interface is CSI-2, with support for 2/4/8 lanes or 4 lanes × 2 channels, and RAW10/12 (Clear-HDR up to RAW16) ( Sony Flyer). ). Module vendors implement this differently. The FRAMOS FSM-IMX585 module uses MIPI-CSI-2 with up to 4 lanes and provides reference drivers for Jetson platforms ( FRAMOS). ). e-con Systems offers for Jetson AGX Orin complete V4L2 driver packages, sample apps and controls via IOCTL for their IMX585 solution ( e-con Systems). ). An IMX585 driver for the Linux Media Subsystem is in development for 2025, with patch series and reports for validation on Raspberry Pi 4/5 with libcamera ( LWN.net, Patchwork, libcamera-devel). ). Community drivers and experiments for the Raspberry Pi already exist, partly with own overlays and libcamera adjustments ( GitHub, GitHub). ). It is important to note that some IMX585 cameras are pure USB-UVC modules and not MIPI-CSI cameras, which affects the software stack ( Arducam Forum).
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Technical specifications of the Sony IMX585 color sensor.
Analysis & Evaluation
The IMX585 is present for several reasons. First, the 2.9-µm pixels and the 1/1.2-type image circle provide robust low-light performance in 4K, without the data rates and costs of a larger global shutter sensor ( Sony Flyer). ). Secondly, Clear-HDR addresses color fringing and artifacts of DOL-HDR, which is especially relevant in dynamic scenes ( Sony Flyer). ). Third, the sensor is integrated into ecosystems with ready-made MIPI boards, drivers and example pipelines, which lowers the barrier for prototyping ( FRAMOS, e-con Systems). ). Manufacturer demos and community clips reinforce the sensor's reputation in low-light conditions, which boosts demand in areas such as security, automotive and maker projects ( e-con Systems).
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Fact-check: Evidence vs. Claims
It is documented that the sensor has a 1/1.2-type, 2.9 µm pixel size, delivers the recommended 3840×2160 pixels, achieves up to 90 fps (10-bit), supports DOL-HDR and Clear-HDR, outputs CSI-2 and processes RAW10/12/16 (Clear-HDR) ( Sony Flyer, Sony Flyer). ). Also documented is the availability of modules with MIPI-CSI-2 and V4L2 support for Jetson, including software, sample apps and controls ( e-con Systems, FRAMOS). ). It is unclear what the exact driver-feature status is depending on kernel/board; upstream work is ongoing, but details such as specific controls or Clear-HDR workflows can vary depending on the version ( LWN.net, libcamera-devel). ). False or misleading are claims of a \"Global Shutter\", since the IMX585 is a rolling-shutter sensor; Global-Shutter-claims confuse it with Pregius S sensors ( Sony Flyer). ). Also statements like \"1/2 inch\" are misleading, since Sony specifies the image circle as type 1/1.2; if there are deviations on module sides, that should be the Datasheet should be checked.
Reactions & Counterarguments
Developer forums show that the community ports the sensor to Raspberry-Pi systems, including patches and discussions on 16-bit Clear-HDR and endianness ( GitHub, Patchwork). ). Manufacturers emphasize instead \"drop-in experiences\" on Jetson with ready-made drivers and controls ( e-con Systems). ). Industry media highlight HDR dynamics and low-light capabilities, such as 88 dB DR in a VC-MIPI context, underscoring suitability for demanding scenarios ( Edge AI Vision).
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Quantum efficiency of the IMX585 sensor.
Practical Applications & Implications
When choosing the IMX585, the target platform is crucial. For Jetson platforms, ready-made V4L2 drivers and example code are available, which significantly speed up commissioning ( e-con Systems). ). For Raspberry Pi, the situation is more dynamic; there are active patches and repositories, but support varies depending on kernel and libcamera status ( LWN.net, GitHub). ). For optics, C/CS-mount options are common; focal length should be chosen according to the required FoV and working distance, using standard formulas or tools ( FRAMOS, Edmund Optics, Arducam Blog). ). For color accuracy in daylight, an IR-cut filter is necessary; for night or NIR applications a NIR long-pass filter (e.g., 850 nm) is used ( e-con Systems Blog, Edmund Optics). ). In motion HDR can show DOL-HDR motion artifacts; Clear-HDR reduces such color fringing according to Sony Comparison.
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Outlook & Conclusion
Open questions concern the maturity of mainline support and which controls (e.g., HDR specifics) land stably in libcamera/V4L2. The patch series indicate progress, but production-ready support depends on kernel version, device-tree and tuning ( LWN.net, libcamera-devel). ). For Pi users it is also unclear which rpicam-app paths and Clear-HDR workflows are officially documented ( GitHub).
The Sony IMX585 AJ1 is a versatile 4K low-light sensor with strong dynamic range and two practical HDR modes. Jetson users benefit from mature MIPI-CSI stacks; on Raspberry Pi the path is also feasible, but requires careful attention to kernel/libcamera and the sensor module. Image quality depends on optics, filters and tuning. Careful planning and use of reliable sources lead to robust results in embedded deployments ( Sony Flyer, FRAMOS, e-con Systems).