Questions about filming video with the Pinephone
#11
I dove into the datasheet for the rear camera and one manual I was able to find online and it is really really hard to figure out what the maximum frame rate at any resolution is. I've gone through many sensor and camera data sheets and manuals over the years, and this one was one of the most opaque (it seems that either they don't want tinkering or there is more documentation but it must be requested from the manufacturer). Most I can find is some information related to theoretical limits. A theoretical upper limit is set by the pixel clock and the fact that the special blank/black pixels and lines must be included. The datasheet indicates that the maximum pixel clock frequency is either 96 MHz or 192 MHz. There are 36 black lines and 20 black pixels per line. This means that if you are using the resolution A x B (A is rows, B is columns) with pixel clock C, the upper bound on the frame rate is

upper_bound_fps = C / ((A + 36) * (B + 20))

If you choose 1080p (A = 1920, B = 1080) and, you get an upper bound of 44.6 fps with a 96 MHz clock and 89.2 fps with a 192 MHz clock.

Now, note, that calculation of the upper bound assumes that there is no delay after reading one line before the next can be read, no delays when the last line has been read and the next image can begin, and that the interface the images are being read with can support that high a rate.

In reality, there will be a delay after each line is read before the next one can be read, there may be an extra delay after the last line is read and reading begins again for the next image. Also, I don't know what the limits on the camera interface are for the transfer rate.

And of course, the camera has to actually be configurable to such a limit. The settings may not allow such a thing.
  Reply
#12
I totally get wanting that easy, click-and-shoot video recording, using scripts and command lines just isn’t the same as a real camera app. I messed around with custom Linux phone setups for a bit, and honestly, recording video was way more complicated than on my Android or iPhone. Even when you did manage to record, getting decent quality with audio in sync and good codecs took a lot of fiddling. GUI apps are still catching up for open source phones, so I’d often end up moving footage to my PC to edit or add voice-overs properly.
  Reply


Possibly Related Threads…
Thread Author Replies Views Last Post
  PinePhone 16 GB – Free to a Good Home Anna 2 540 01-20-2026, 01:43 PM
Last Post: Anna
  Pinephone + Keyboard for sale, little use ruemoo 12 6,963 12-28-2025, 02:13 PM
Last Post: PinePhoneProUser
Bug PinePhone modem keeps "disappearing" Kevin Kofler 17 15,886 12-12-2025, 03:27 AM
Last Post: biketool
Sad PinePhone USB-C port and audio jack failure Kevin Kofler 5 6,536 12-11-2025, 08:57 AM
Last Post: jakfish
  Recycling pinephone as home server mdk 6 1,283 12-01-2025, 02:57 AM
Last Post: mdk
  PinePhone, PinePhone Pro, Keyboard/Accessories for sale brb78 5 909 11-30-2025, 05:45 AM
Last Post: biketool
  Modem Issues with the Pinephone Temmie19 5 4,269 07-02-2025, 12:50 PM
Last Post: biketool
Question Third-party cheap touchscreen/LCD for the Pinephone - lost knowledge? mikeb 2 3,010 06-21-2025, 05:19 PM
Last Post: mikeb
  Pinephone not booting sd card... bruv 1 2,258 03-25-2025, 08:51 PM
Last Post: Kevin Kofler
  Pinephone - broken power button rorus 13 20,019 12-16-2024, 08:32 PM
Last Post: tllim

Forum Jump:


Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)