diff --git a/openscan_firmware/controllers/hardware/cameras/camera.py b/openscan_firmware/controllers/hardware/cameras/camera.py
index 74d1941..9f45aab 100644
--- a/openscan_firmware/controllers/hardware/cameras/camera.py
+++ b/openscan_firmware/controllers/hardware/cameras/camera.py
@@ -121,6 +121,7 @@ def photo(self, image_format: str = "jpeg") -> PhotoData:
         """
         handler = {
             "jpeg": self.capture_jpeg,
+            "grayscale_jpeg": self.capture_grayscale_jpeg,
             "dng": self.capture_dng,
             "rgb_array": self.capture_rgb_array,
             "yuv_array": self.capture_yuv_array,
@@ -182,6 +183,15 @@ def capture_jpeg(self) -> PhotoData:
         """Capture an image and encode it to jpeg."""
         raise NotImplementedError
 
+    def capture_grayscale_jpeg(self) -> PhotoData:
+        """Capture a grayscale JPEG.
+
+        Converts to grayscale on the device before returning, reducing transfer
+        size significantly compared to a full-colour JPEG. Default implementation
+        raises NotImplementedError; override in subclasses that support it.
+        """
+        raise NotImplementedError("This camera controller does not support grayscale_jpeg capture.")
+
 
 def _create_camera_controller_instance(camera: Camera) -> 'CameraController':
     """Create a camera controller instance based on the camera type.
diff --git a/openscan_firmware/controllers/hardware/cameras/picamera2.py b/openscan_firmware/controllers/hardware/cameras/picamera2.py
index 9224191..f29462d 100644
--- a/openscan_firmware/controllers/hardware/cameras/picamera2.py
+++ b/openscan_firmware/controllers/hardware/cameras/picamera2.py
@@ -533,6 +533,27 @@ def capture_jpeg(self, optional_exif_data: dict = None) -> PhotoData:
         return self._create_artifact(jpeg_data, "jpeg", cam_metadata)
 
 
+    def capture_grayscale_jpeg(self) -> PhotoData:
+        """Capture a grayscale JPEG using the YUV config.
+
+        Captures in YUV420 format and extracts the luma (Y) plane, producing a
+        grayscale JPEG without ever allocating colour data. Significantly reduces
+        transfer size for pipelines that only need luminance (e.g. photogrammetry).
+
+        Returns:
+            PhotoData: Grayscale JPEG data.
+        """
+        array, cam_metadata = self._capture_array(self.yuv_config)
+        # YUV420 planar layout: first (H) rows are the Y plane, next H//2 rows are U+V
+        h = array.shape[0] * 2 // 3
+        y_plane = array[:h, :]
+        _, jpeg_buf = cv2.imencode(
+            '.jpg', y_plane,
+            [cv2.IMWRITE_JPEG_QUALITY, self.settings.jpeg_quality]
+        )
+        return self._create_artifact(io.BytesIO(jpeg_buf.tobytes()), "jpeg", cam_metadata)
+
+
     def capture_dng(self) -> PhotoData:
         """Capture a dng.
 
diff --git a/openscan_firmware/routers/next/cameras.py b/openscan_firmware/routers/next/cameras.py
index f5db70a..4afae6a 100644
--- a/openscan_firmware/routers/next/cameras.py
+++ b/openscan_firmware/routers/next/cameras.py
@@ -131,18 +131,27 @@ async def generate():
 
 
 @router.get("/{camera_name}/photo")
-async def get_photo(camera_name: str):
+async def get_photo(
+    camera_name: str,
+    grayscale: bool = Query(
+        default=False,
+        description="Return a grayscale JPEG. Conversion happens on the device, "
+                    "reducing transfer size significantly. Recommended for photogrammetry pipelines.",
+    ),
+):
     """Get a camera photo
 
     Args:
         camera_name: The name of the camera to get the photo from
+        grayscale: If true, return a grayscale JPEG (converted on-device)
 
     Returns:
         Response: A response containing the photo
     """
     controller = get_camera_controller(camera_name)
     try:
-        photo = await controller.photo_async()
+        image_format = "grayscale_jpeg" if grayscale else "jpeg"
+        photo = await controller.photo_async(image_format)
         return Response(content=photo.data.getvalue(), media_type="image/jpeg")
     except Exception as e:
         return Response(status_code=500, content=str(e))
diff --git a/openscan_firmware/routers/v0_8/cameras.py b/openscan_firmware/routers/v0_8/cameras.py
index f5db70a..4afae6a 100644
--- a/openscan_firmware/routers/v0_8/cameras.py
+++ b/openscan_firmware/routers/v0_8/cameras.py
@@ -131,18 +131,27 @@ async def generate():
 
 
 @router.get("/{camera_name}/photo")
-async def get_photo(camera_name: str):
+async def get_photo(
+    camera_name: str,
+    grayscale: bool = Query(
+        default=False,
+        description="Return a grayscale JPEG. Conversion happens on the device, "
+                    "reducing transfer size significantly. Recommended for photogrammetry pipelines.",
+    ),
+):
     """Get a camera photo
 
     Args:
         camera_name: The name of the camera to get the photo from
+        grayscale: If true, return a grayscale JPEG (converted on-device)
 
     Returns:
         Response: A response containing the photo
     """
     controller = get_camera_controller(camera_name)
     try:
-        photo = await controller.photo_async()
+        image_format = "grayscale_jpeg" if grayscale else "jpeg"
+        photo = await controller.photo_async(image_format)
         return Response(content=photo.data.getvalue(), media_type="image/jpeg")
     except Exception as e:
         return Response(status_code=500, content=str(e))
diff --git a/tests/controllers/hardware/picamera2/test_picamera2.py b/tests/controllers/hardware/picamera2/test_picamera2.py
index 8b8bd00..1bb1c6f 100644
--- a/tests/controllers/hardware/picamera2/test_picamera2.py
+++ b/tests/controllers/hardware/picamera2/test_picamera2.py
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ def test_capture_jpg():
 
     assert artifact.data is not None
     assert artifact.camera_metadata is not None
+    assert artifact.data.getvalue().startswith(b"\xff\xd8")
 
 def test_capture_dng():
     start = time.time()
@@ -86,6 +87,17 @@ def test_capture_yuv_array():
     assert artifact.camera_metadata is not None
 
 
+def test_capture_grayscale_jpeg():
+    start = time.time()
+    artifact = camera_controller.capture_grayscale_jpeg()
+    print(f"Captured grayscale jpeg in {time.time() - start} seconds.")
+
+    print(artifact.camera_metadata)
+
+    assert artifact.data is not None
+    assert artifact.camera_metadata is not None
+
+
 def test_settings_change(mocker):
     spy_focus = mocker.spy(camera_controller, "_configure_focus")
 
diff --git a/tests/routers/test_cameras_router.py b/tests/routers/test_cameras_router.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3c6b573
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/routers/test_cameras_router.py
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import io
+from unittest.mock import AsyncMock
+
+import pytest
+
+from openscan_firmware.config.camera import CameraSettings
+from openscan_firmware.models.camera import CameraMetadata, PhotoData
+import openscan_firmware.routers.next.cameras as cameras_next_module
+import openscan_firmware.routers.v0_8.cameras as cameras_v0_8_module
+
+
+def _make_photo_data(payload: bytes = b"jpeg-bytes") -> PhotoData:
+    return PhotoData(
+        data=io.BytesIO(payload),
+        format="jpeg",
+        camera_metadata=CameraMetadata(
+            camera_name="mock_camera",
+            camera_settings=CameraSettings(shutter=400),
+            raw_metadata={},
+        ),
+    )
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    ("module", "grayscale", "expected_format"),
+    [
+        (cameras_next_module, False, "jpeg"),
+        (cameras_next_module, True, "grayscale_jpeg"),
+        (cameras_v0_8_module, False, "jpeg"),
+        (cameras_v0_8_module, True, "grayscale_jpeg"),
+    ],
+)
+async def test_get_photo_selects_requested_format(
+    monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,
+    module,
+    grayscale: bool,
+    expected_format: str,
+):
+    controller = AsyncMock()
+    controller.photo_async.return_value = _make_photo_data()
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        module,
+        "get_camera_controller",
+        lambda camera_name: controller,
+        raising=False,
+    )
+
+    response = await module.get_photo("mock_camera", grayscale=grayscale)
+
+    controller.photo_async.assert_awaited_once_with(expected_format)
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    assert response.body == b"jpeg-bytes"
+    assert response.media_type == "image/jpeg"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("module", [cameras_next_module, cameras_v0_8_module])
+async def test_get_photo_returns_500_on_capture_error(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, module):
+    controller = AsyncMock()
+    controller.photo_async.side_effect = RuntimeError("camera exploded")
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        module,
+        "get_camera_controller",
+        lambda camera_name: controller,
+        raising=False,
+    )
+
+    response = await module.get_photo("mock_camera", grayscale=True)
+
+    controller.photo_async.assert_awaited_once_with("grayscale_jpeg")
+    assert response.status_code == 500
+    assert response.body == b"camera exploded"