I’ve got everything physically connected and followed the Arducam setup docs, but the Pi 5 just won’t recognize either camera at all. libcamera doesn’t see them, nothing in /dev, just dead.
Anyone else run into this with the B012001 and IMX708 combo? Am I missing something obvious in the config or is this a compatibility thing?
Can you share a bit more detail about your wiring? Specifically, how are you connecting the IMX708 modules to the B012001 adapter — are you using the standard ribbon cables that came with the cameras?
Also, what does libcamera-hello --list-cameras return when you run it? That’ll help narrow down whether the Pi is seeing anything on the CSI bus at all.
Yeah, using the standard flex ribbon cables that came with the IMX708 modules. Everything is seated properly, I’ve reseated multiple times.
libcamera-hello --list-cameras just comes back empty — no cameras detected. Same result whether I have one or both modules connected through the adapter.
I should mention — if I connect a single IMX708 directly to the Pi 5’s CSI port (bypassing the B012001), it works fine. So the cameras themselves are good. The problem only shows up when going through the adapter board.
That’s a useful data point — cameras working direct on CSI but not through the adapter definitely points to a compatibility issue between the B012001 and the IMX708 modules.
The B012001 Multi-Camera Adapter Board was designed for older camera sensors (like the OV5647 and IMX219 series). The IMX708 uses different signaling and requires specific driver support that the B012001’s onboard mux/switch chip doesn’t account for. The adapter essentially multiplexes the CSI lanes, and the IMX708’s higher bandwidth requirements combined with its different I2C addressing scheme create conflicts the adapter can’t resolve.
So unfortunately, it’s not a config issue — the B012001 is simply not compatible with the IMX708 sensor modules.
Well, that explains a lot. Wish that was clearer in the product listings.
So two follow-up questions:
What about the 12MP IMX378 camera modules? Would those work with the B012001 adapter? I saw them mentioned in some older threads and they seem similar to the IMX708.
I also stumbled across something called the B016601 Multi Camera Adapter Doubleplexer Stereo Module V2 — it says it’s for the Camera V3 series. Does anyone know if that would work with the IMX708 modules I already have? The product page on the Arducam site says it’s discontinued but maybe there’s stock somewhere?
Just trying to figure out if there’s any path forward that doesn’t involve throwing out the cameras I already bought.
IMX378 + B012001: No, this won’t work either. The IMX378 is a different sensor but shares the same fundamental compatibility gap with the B012001 — the adapter’s lane switching architecture was built for the older V1/V2 camera generations and can’t properly handle the signaling and driver model used by these newer 12MP sensors. You’d hit the same “no cameras detected” issue.
B016601 Doubleplexer: I would not recommend going down that road. That module was designed specifically for the Camera Module V3 (IMX708 in single-camera configurations on older Pi models) and has been discontinued. It’s no longer supported, no firmware updates, and there’s no guarantee it would behave correctly on a Pi 5 even if you found one. It’s also limited to two cameras, not four, and doesn’t offer synchronized capture. Not a viable path.
That’s frustrating but I appreciate the straight answer.
So if both the IMX708 and IMX378 are dead ends with the B012001, and the Doubleplexer is off the table… what are my actual options for running multiple IMX708 cameras on a Pi 5? Is there any adapter or HAT that works, or am I stuck?
There is a supported path, but it requires a different setup entirely.
The only solution designed and tested for multi-camera IMX708 operation on Raspberry Pi is the Arducam 12MP IMX708 Quad-Camera Kit. It’s a purpose-built HAT that comes with four synchronized autofocus IMX708 modules — the HAT handles all the multiplexing, clock distribution, and lane switching in a way that’s fully compatible with the IMX708 sensor and the Pi 5’s CSI hardware.
Key difference from the B012001 approach:
The Quad-Camera Kit HAT has onboard hardware specifically designed for the IMX708’s signaling requirements
All four cameras are frame-synchronized (the B012001 can’t do synchronized capture)
Each module has autofocus, and the driver stack supports controlling them independently
It’s actively supported with firmware and libcamera integration
It’s a complete replacement — you wouldn’t use the B012001 at all, and the kit includes everything (HAT + 4 camera modules with flex cables).
Okay, that makes sense. The synchronized capture is actually a nice feature I didn’t know I’d need.
So the B012001 is basically only good for older V1/V2 camera modules then? And for anything IMX708-based in a multi-camera config, the Quad-Camera Kit is the only game in town?
I’m interested but I just dropped money on the two IMX708 modules and the B012001, so this stings a bit. Is there any trade-in or anything, or am I just eating the cost of the incompatible parts?
Correct — the B012001 is strictly for legacy V1 (OV5647) and V2 (IMX219) camera modules. Anything 12MP (IMX708, IMX378, etc.) needs a different hardware path, and for multi-camera IMX708 specifically, the Quad-Camera Kit is indeed the only supported route.
Regarding your existing hardware — I’ve sent you a private message with some options that might help bridge the gap. Check your inbox when you get a chance.
But to summarize the technical side for anyone else reading this thread:
B012001 + IMX708: Not compatible
B012001 + IMX378: Not compatible
B016601 Doubleplexer: Discontinued, unsupported, not a solution
Arducam 12MP IMX708 Quad-Camera Kit: The supported path for synchronized multi-camera IMX708 on Raspberry Pi
Not compatible
The supported path for synchronized multi-camera IMX708 on Raspberry Pi