Pi Camera
pi-camera

This page collects different ways to use Raspberry Pi computer boards (and related boards) to make small, cheap, lightweight cameras for different purposes, including #aerial-mapping, #balloon-mapping, #kite-mapping, #timelapse and #spectrometry. ## Raspberry Pi Simple Camera Kit We've [been working on some software](https://github.com/publiclab/image-builder-rpi/) for this widely used mini camera-and-computer in a tiny box (especially the lightweight "Zero W" model) to make it available with a **pre-flashed SD card** that turns this into a **ready-to-use WiFi enabled camera**. This gets over many of the barriers of using the regular Raspberry Pi kit and having to do a lot of programming/installing to get it running. We've managed to get a **plug and play** version running! Just plug it in using a Micro USB cable (or battery pack) and it'll create a WiFi network called "00PiCamera" -- password "publiclab" -- which you can log into from your phone or laptop. You'll quickly see streaming video, be able to take photos, timelapses, or videos, do motion triggered capture, and more: * [Pi Camera Kit](https://store.publiclab.org/products/raspberry-pi-camera) * [Infragram Pi Camera Kit](https://store.publiclab.org/products/infragram-pi-camera) * our [Microscope Pi kits](https://store.publiclab.org/collections/microscopes) use this as well * [Pre-flashed SD cards for Raspberry Pi cameras](https://store.publiclab.org/products/pi-builder-cards) * combine with (maybe?) [CR123a lithium battery](https://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=cr123a) (and tell us how that goes!) For more on the open source Pi Builder software that made this possible, [see this blog post](/notes/icarito/10-21-2018/introducing-pi-builder) and [troubleshoot on this wiki page](/pi-builder) [notes:grid:activity:pi-camera-setup] **** ## Questions Questions can be either frequently asked questions, or "next step" challenges we're looking to solve. [questions:pi-camera] ## Activities Activities show how to use this project, step by step. [activities:pi-camera] **** ### Resources * Camera module http://m.e-cantonfair.com/#/product/552106 * Focus tricks https://raspi.tv/2013/adapt-your-raspberry-pi-camera-for-close-up-use * Very detailed documentation https://elinux.org/Rpi_Camera_Module * Datasheets and very detailed documentation on v1 camera: https://github.com/techyian/MMALSharp/wiki/OmniVision-OV5647-Camera-Module * Datasheets and very detailed documentation on v2 camera: https://github.com/techyian/MMALSharp/wiki/Sony-IMX219-Camera-Module...


Author Comment Last activity Moderation
warren "Broke out the idea of a USB-only connection in this question! https://publiclab.org/questions/warren/12-15-2017/how-can-we-set-up-a-raspberry-pi-ca..." | Read more » almost 7 years ago
warren "I did find some links here, but haven't tried it! https://learn.adafruit.com/turning-your-raspberry-pi-zero-into-a-usb-gadget/ethernet-gadget htt..." | Read more » almost 7 years ago
warren "Awesome -- i used the image and it worked perfectly! " | Read more » almost 7 years ago
warren "Hi, @partsandcrafts @wmacfarl @kgradow1 @bmela - i'd be happy to do some formatting work on this post if you want to add my username as a coauthor ..." | Read more » almost 7 years ago
warren "We're also now collecting more info on this page: https://publiclab.org/w/raspberry-pi-spectrometer " | Read more » almost 7 years ago
warren "Oh! The docs say "Clicking on the image will toggle between normal and full screen mode." Awesome! " | Read more » almost 7 years ago
stevie "@stevie awards a barnstar to partsandcrafts for their awesome contribution! " | Read more » almost 7 years ago
warren "I'm collecting up info about this here: https://publiclab.org/wiki/raspberry-pi-infragram [activities:raspberry-pi-infragram] and questions about..." | Read more » about 7 years ago
warren "Talking with @wmacfarl, @kgradow1, @bmela and @partsandcrafts, you can get a card pre-installed with "NOOBS" -- the simplest starting operating sys..." | Read more » about 7 years ago
warren "Yes, I think that's be great. I'm adding this as a "challenge" on the Spectrometry page, hope someone picks it up. Also see related: https://public..." | Read more » about 7 years ago
warren "Also see this question on getting data off a Raspberry Pi via keyboard emulation: https://publiclab.org/questions/warren/04-29-2017/getting-a-raspb..." | Read more » about 7 years ago
warren "Wasn't there an installable package or image that sets up a web-based photo interface? I think @xose mentioned it -- anyone remember? Thanks! " | Read more » about 7 years ago
plundh "Hi kgradow1- Yes, that's a good idea. -Peter " | Read more » about 7 years ago
kgradow1 "Picking up this thread -- we're hoping to do some replications of both the lego and the acrylic microscope. Would you be open to reposting these..." | Read more » about 7 years ago
zengirl2 "This tutorial will help you--skip to software section after you check parts https://learn.adafruit.com/raspberry-pi-wearable-time-lapse-camera/over..." | Read more » about 7 years ago
warren "What are you hoping to measure with it? " | Read more » over 7 years ago
warren "Here are a couple leads! https://publiclab.org/notes/cristoforetti/06-22-2016/webvalley-2016-improved-compact-spectrometer https://publiclab.org/..." | Read more » over 7 years ago
warren "Just wanted also to link to @stoft's input on this question in this comment: As to the RPi camera, it seems to have two "difficulties" which need ..." | Read more » about 8 years ago
warren "Oh great; @khufkens also shared that on this site! https://publiclab.org/notes/khufkens/11-02-2015/ov5647-raspberry-pi-camera-spectral-response-qua..." | Read more » about 8 years ago
warren "I found that V4L2 driver apparently makes it possible to use the raspberry pi camera in Firefox with webrtc, the API Spectral Workbench uses: https..." | Read more » about 8 years ago
Siphirobe "I was wondering the same thing, just with the PiNoIR camera since I am more interested in remote sensing of vegetation. " | Read more » about 8 years ago
stef "@warren After sleeping it over, realized that due to the no IR filter of the raspberry the bandwidth response will be different from the published..." | Read more » about 8 years ago
stef "@warren Here is a link http://www.khufkens.com/projects/ov5647-spectral-response/ and here is a zip file khufkens-pi-camera-response-curves-3342e..." | Read more » about 8 years ago
warren "That's a great thing to point out -- do you per chance have a link to the spectral bandwidth of the sensors? Thanks! " | Read more » about 8 years ago