ExJ Ultraviolet Camera

Ever wonder at the world of insects, birds, reptiles, and fish that see ultraviolet as a separate primary color? This camera lets you take stunning ultraviolet photos in color, by remapping green, blue, and UV to RGB color space.

The magic happens in the filters used, combined with the custom camera software. The Pi NoIR camera, popular for its infrared sensitivity, can also image ultraviolet, though faintly. The specific filters selected for this project compensate for the camera's low sensitivity to UV by diminishing blue and green light, and completely eliminating longer wavelengths that would interfere with taking the photo. These filters are expensive but well worth the price tag for the photos you'll be able to take.

Some soldering required.

Parts List

• Raspberry Pi 3B or 3B+ with installed Raspbian on micro SD. (You may be able to get this to work with a Pi 4, but the HDMI plug will be different.)
• Raspberry Pi NoIR v2 camera.
• 25mm round, 3mm thick BG38 filter https://www.edmundoptics.com/p/bg-38-vis-254mm-dia-colored-glass-bandpass-filter/6862/
• 25mm round, 1mm thick U330 filter https://www.edmundoptics.com/p/hoya-u330-uv-254mm-dia-1mm-thick-colored-glass-bandpass-filter/46331/
• 50mm round 550nm shortpass filter https://www.edmundoptics.com/p/550nm-50mm-diameter-od-2-shortpass-filter/19370/
• This specific USB battery pack: https://www.adafruit.com/product/1566
• Adafruit PiTFT 3.5" 480x320 capacitive touch screen (https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/adafruit-industries-llc/2441/1528-1348-ND/5356833)
• 1000 μF capacitor
• This specific power switch: https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/zf-electronics/PRK22J5DBBNN/CH865-ND/1083858
• Green 525nm LED, diffused (for example https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/kingbright/WP7083ZGD-G/754-1890-ND/3084179).
• 470 ohm resistor.
• Adafruit long 40 pin header (not the extra long) https://www.adafruit.com/product/2223
• USB-A male DIY connector.
• Jumper wires to connect to pins of various components.
• M3x30 screws, x2;
• M3x25 screws, x5;
• M3x20 screw, x1;
• M3 hex nut, x8;
• M2 machine screw x 12mm, x8 https://www.grainger.com/product/FABORY-M2-0-40mm-Machine-Screw-54FR48
• M2 hex nut x8 https://www.grainger.com/product/FABORY-M2-0-40-Hex-Nut-26KR83
• 1/4"-20 nut for the camera shoe interface.
• Cotton cording.

Please see the Print Settings and Post Printing sections to properly print and set up the camera.