diff --git a/src/rm_hardware_driver/ros2_hik_camera/src/hik_camera_node.cpp b/src/rm_hardware_driver/ros2_hik_camera/src/hik_camera_node.cpp
index d7c92ff..15e6435 100644
--- a/src/rm_hardware_driver/ros2_hik_camera/src/hik_camera_node.cpp
+++ b/src/rm_hardware_driver/ros2_hik_camera/src/hik_camera_node.cpp
@@ -275,6 +275,15 @@ private:
       // Apply ROI/offset before querying image info
       applyRoiLocked();
 
+      // Force set pixel format to RGB8 every time camera opens
+      // This ensures camera doesn't fall back to default Mono8
+      int set_fmt_ret = MV_CC_SetEnumValue(camera_handle_, "PixelFormat", PixelType_Gvsp_RGB8_Packed);
+      if (set_fmt_ret != MV_OK) {
+        FYT_WARN("camera_driver", "Failed to set PixelFormat to RGB8: [0x{:x}], will use SDK conversion", set_fmt_ret);
+      } else {
+        FYT_INFO("camera_driver", "PixelFormat forced to RGB8");
+      }
+
       // Set exposure / gain
       (void)MV_CC_SetFloatValue(camera_handle_, "ExposureTime", static_cast<float>(exposure_time_));
       (void)MV_CC_SetFloatValue(camera_handle_, "Gain", static_cast<float>(gain_));
@@ -369,6 +378,16 @@ private:
         continue;
       }
 
+      // Debug: log pixel format periodically (every 60 frames)
+      static int frame_count = 0;
+      frame_count++;
+      if (frame_count % 60 == 0) {
+        FYT_INFO("camera_driver", "Frame pixel_type=0x{:x}, size={}x{}",
+                  out_frame.stFrameInfo.enPixelType,
+                  out_frame.stFrameInfo.nWidth,
+                  out_frame.stFrameInfo.nHeight);
+      }
+
       // Ensure output buffer
       const size_t need_size =
         static_cast<size_t>(out_frame.stFrameInfo.nWidth) * out_frame.stFrameInfo.nHeight * 3;