Linux support for 2nd generation webcam seems lacking?

Framework Laptop 13 Linux
1

So I’m running Debian testing over here, currently running kernel 6.12.15-amd64 on a first generation Framework 13 (11th gen Intel).

I decided to spring for the second generation webcam, and while the physical install of the component went pretty smoothly (minus my not noticing I needed to remove the lens protector film…) and Linux recognizes the module as a second gen unit, I’ve noticed that the Linux support for this module appears to be pretty lacking?

Specifically, I’m capped out at 1920x1080@30 when using MJPEG (and obviously far lower than that with YUV), and the image has a fair bit of noise, particularly in low light conditions.

Is this a known limitation of the current Linux drivers for the RTS5879 camera controller, or is there something I can do to get this module fully functioning with all advertised features?

Heck, is anyone else experiencing this issue?

BTW, just to illustrate Linux does detect the module, here’s the output from dmesg:

[    2.004998] usb 3-7: New USB device found, idVendor=32ac, idProduct=001c, bcdDevice= 1.11
[    2.005001] usb 3-7: New USB device strings: Mfr=3, Product=1, SerialNumber=2
[    2.005003] usb 3-7: Product: Laptop Webcam Module (2nd Gen)
[    2.005004] usb 3-7: Manufacturer: Framework
[    2.005005] usb 3-7: SerialNumber: FRANJBCHA14302021W

And from lsusb:

Bus 003 Device 002: ID 32ac:001c Framework Laptop Webcam Module (2nd Gen)
Negotiated speed: High Speed (480Mbps)
Device Descriptor:
  bLength                18
  bDescriptorType         1
  bcdUSB               2.01
  bDeviceClass          239 Miscellaneous Device
  bDeviceSubClass         2 [unknown]
  bDeviceProtocol         1 Interface Association
  bMaxPacketSize0        64
  idVendor           0x32ac Framework
  idProduct          0x001c Laptop Webcam Module (2nd Gen)
  bcdDevice            1.11
  iManufacturer           3 Framework
  iProduct                1 Laptop Webcam Module (2nd Gen)
  iSerial                 2 FRANJBCHA14302021W
  bNumConfigurations      1
2

The second generation webcam only advertises 1920x1080@30 in the specifications section on its product page. What feature are you missing out on?

3

I’m misreading the specs. I gather the 2880x1620 res is referring to the pixel binning on the sensor.

Still a bit concerned with the noise but we’ll see how it performs in brighter conditions.

Thanks!

Update: Just a quick note, I did some additional testing with better lighting levels (and streaming directly with mpv, which does a better job rendering the feed) and it actually approaches (though doesn’t quite meet) the quality of the Samsung Slimfit camera I have, which is impressive given the latter is a much larger, discrete camera unit. The biggest difference is definitely the noise levels, where the Slimfit is still much better. Of course, now I wish I took some video with the old camera to compare, but alas, hindsight…

As an aside, the upgrade of the unit was really quite easy minus having to wrangle that tiny ribbon connector… oh, and also my not noticing you have to remove the scratch protector film from the lens. For a while I was worried I’d damaged the unit until I realized I’d just left that film in place by accident…

1 Like