Which 3D camera is best for me?

THE CONTESTANTS:

DPI-10 Kit

RealSense D455

RealSense L515

RealSense D415

DPI-10SR Kit

Let's rank them! As the list of 3D cameras supported in Dot3D continues to grow, it's helpful to take a closer look at which options perform best in each of the following categories:

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ATTAINABLE MEASUREMENT ACCURACY:

1. ​DPI-10SR / DPI-XSR Kit (DP-calibrated PrimeSense Carmine 1.09)
2. DPI-10 / DPI-X Kit (DP-calibrated PrimeSense Carmine 1.082)
3. Intel® RealSense™ LiDAR Camera L515
4. Intel® RealSense™ Depth Camera D455
5. Intel® RealSense™ Depth Camera D415

NOTES: The DPI, DPI-SR, and L515 are arguably all tied for 1st here, with 2-5 mm attainable accuracies.

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MAXIMUM RANGE:

1. Intel® RealSense™ LiDAR Camera L515 (6.0 m / 20 ft)
2. Intel® RealSense™ Depth Camera D455 (​4.2 m / 14 ft)
3. DPI-10 / DPI-X Kit (3.7 m / 12 ft)
4. Intel® RealSense™ Depth Camera D415 (3.0 m / 10 ft)
5. DPI-10SR / DPI-XSR Kit (2.0 m / 6.5 ft)

NOTES: L515 range can be significantly limited by ambient lighting and/or certain surfaces (black/gray/shiny).

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MINIMUM RANGE:

1. DPI-10SR / DPI-XSR Kit (0.25 m / 0.75 ft)
2. Intel® RealSense™ Depth Camera D455 (​0.33 m / 1 ft)
3. Intel® RealSense™ LiDAR Camera L515 (0.5 m / 1.5 ft)
4. DPI-10 / DPI-X Kit (0.5 m / 1.5 ft)
5. Intel® RealSense™ Depth Camera D415 (0.5 m / 2 ft)

NOTES: The DPI-10SR / DPI-XSR stands out as the best option for close range scanning.

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CLEANEST DATA (LEAST NOISE / STRAY POINTS):

1. Intel® RealSense™ LiDAR Camera L515
2. DPI-10 / DPI-X Kit (DP-calibrated PrimeSense Carmine 1.082)
3. DPI-10SR / DPI-XSR Kit (DP-calibrated PrimeSense Carmine 1.09)
4. Intel® RealSense™ Depth Camera D455​
5. Intel® RealSense™ Depth Camera D415

NOTES: Not to be confused with level of detail / overall accuracy (separate categories for those).

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SMALLEST / LIGHTEST:

1. Intel® RealSense™ Depth Camera D415
2. Intel® RealSense™ LiDAR Camera L515
3. Intel® RealSense™ Depth Camera D455
4. DPI-X / DPI-XSR Kit (DP-calibrated PrimeSense Carmine 1.08/1.09)
5. DPI-10 / DPI-10SR Kit (DP-calibrated PrimeSense Carmine 1.08/1.09)

NOTES: Smaller/lighter = More practical for use with phones and/or extension poles.

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INDOOR ROOM-SCALE SCANNING:

1. DPI-10 / DPI-X Kit (DP-calibrated PrimeSense Carmine 1.082)
2. Intel® RealSense™ LiDAR Camera L515
3. Intel® RealSense™ Depth Camera D455
4. Intel® RealSense™ Depth Camera D415
5. DPI-10SR / DPI-XSR Kit (DP-calibrated PrimeSense Carmine 1.09)

NOTES: The L515 is competitive to the DPI-10 / DPI-X here IF window light is not a concern.

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OUTDOOR SCANNING IN DAYLIGHT:

1. Intel® RealSense™ Depth Camera D455
2. Intel® RealSense™ Depth Camera D415
3. DPI-10SR / DPI-XSR Kit (DP-calibrated PrimeSense Carmine 1.09)
4. DPI-10 / DPI-X Kit (DP-calibrated PrimeSense Carmine 1.082)
5. Intel® RealSense™ LiDAR Camera L515

NOTES: In direct sunlight, D455 data will sometimes have a pink/purple tint to it. This is not the case with the D415, but the D455 offers many other benefits (range, FOV, accuracy). Options 3-5 will not work in the sun.

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DISCRETE DETAIL SCANNING (OBJECTS/EQUIPMENT):

1. DPI-10SR / DPI-XSR Kit (DP-calibrated PrimeSense Carmine 1.09)
2. DPI-10 / DPI-X Kit (DP-calibrated PrimeSense Carmine 1.082)
3. Intel® RealSense™ LiDAR Camera L515
4. Intel® RealSense™ Depth Camera D455
5. Intel® RealSense™ Depth Camera D415

NOTES: The DPI-10SR / DPI-XSR stands out as the best option for discrete detail scanning.

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VARIED/CHALLENGING SURFACES (BLACK/GRAY/SHINY/WHITE):

1. DPI-10 / DPI-X Kit (DP-calibrated PrimeSense Carmine 1.082)
2. DPI-10SR / DPI-XSR Kit (DP-calibrated PrimeSense Carmine 1.09)
3. Intel® RealSense™ Depth Camera D455
4. Intel® RealSense™ Depth Camera D415
5. ​Intel® RealSense™ LiDAR Camera L515

NOTES: The DPI-10 / DPI-X is the most versatile indoors. The D455/D415 are the most versatile outdoors.

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PRICE:

1. Intel® RealSense™ Depth Camera D415: $149 (or $495 with DP-calibration/mounting kit)
2. Intel® RealSense™ Depth Camera D455: $239 (without DP-calibration/mounting kit)
3. Intel® RealSense™ LiDAR Camera L515: $349 (or $495 with DP mounting kit)
4. Intel® RealSense™ Depth Camera D455: $595 (with DP-calibration/mounting kit)
5. DPI-10 / DPI-X Kit (Carmine 1.082): $2500 (with DP-calibration & DPI case)
6. DPI-10SR / DPI-XSR Kit (Carmine 1.09): $2500/$995 (with DP-calibration & DPI case)

NOTES: DP-calibration adds quality control and sensor-specific accuracy improvement. It is offered for all cameras except the LiDAR L515 (not necessary). Calibration is always included with all DPI Kits.

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You may notice we do not include the D435 / D435i on any of these lists. While these cameras are supported, they are not recommended over any of the above, and would not take the top spot in any of these categories.