For a low-light mono design, how do the FSM-IMX297M-000-V1A and FSM-IMX264M-000-V1A differ in pixel pitch, data interface and bit depth?

Question

Rapidflare · Accepted Answer

Here's how the two FRAMOS monochrome sensor modules compare on those three points — all data from the catalog:

| Attribute | FSM-IMX297M-000-V1A | FSM-IMX264M-000-V1A |
|---|---|---|
| **Pixel pitch** | 6.9 µm × 6.9 µm | 3.45 µm × 3.45 µm |
| **Native data interface** | MIPI CSI-2 (1 lane) | SubLVDS (4 lanes) |
| **Pixel bit depth** | 10 bit | 12 bit |

**What this means for a low-light mono design:**

- **Pixel pitch:** The IMX297 module's 6.9 µm pixels are twice as large (linear) as the IMX264's 3.45 µm pixels, which is generally the more favorable geometry for low-light sensitivity.
- **Data interface:** The IMX297 module outputs over a single-lane MIPI CSI-2 connection, while the IMX264 module uses a 4-lane SubLVDS interface — note that both SKUs require a host and, where applicable, a separate interface adapter.
- **Bit depth:** The IMX264 module provides 12-bit pixel data versus 10-bit on the IMX297 module, giving finer tonal resolution.

Both modules share the same functional temperature range of −30 °C to 75 °C and performance temperature range of −10 °C to 60 °C, and both run from 1.2 V, 1.8 V, and 3.3 V input rails.

In short: the IMX297-based module favors low-light performance with its larger pixels and simpler MIPI CSI-2 hookup; the IMX264-based module trades smaller pixels for higher bit depth and higher-bandwidth SubLVDS output.

FRAMOS FSM-IMX297M-000-V1A vs FSM-IMX264M-000-V1A: pixel pitch, interface, bit depth

Sources

Attribute	FSM-IMX297M-000-V1A	FSM-IMX264M-000-V1A
Pixel pitch	6.9 µm × 6.9 µm	3.45 µm × 3.45 µm
Native data interface	MIPI CSI-2 (1 lane)	SubLVDS (4 lanes)
Pixel bit depth	10 bit	12 bit