Capture the World with Your Micro Computer

In this article, we will learn how to connect and use a camera module with your Raspberry Pi Zero. Follow our step-by-step guide to get started with image capture, video streaming, and more! …


Updated October 30, 2023

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In this article, we will learn how to connect and use a camera module with your Raspberry Pi Zero. Follow our step-by-step guide to get started with image capture, video streaming, and more!

Introduction

The Raspberry Pi Zero is a compact and affordable computer that can be used for various projects, from home automation to AI applications. One of its most interesting features is the ability to connect external peripherals like cameras, which allows users to capture images and video in real-time. In this article, we will walk through the process of connecting a camera module to your Raspberry Pi Zero and using it to take photos and record videos.

Choosing a Camera Module

There are different types of camera modules available for the Raspberry Pi, such as:

  1. MMAL Camera Module: This is an official camera module from the Raspberry Pi Foundation that provides high-quality video recording and image capture capabilities. It supports both v1.3 and v2.1 versions of the Raspberry Pi Zero.

  2. NoIR Camera Module: This module has infrared filters to allow for night vision applications. It is compatible with all Raspberry Pi models, including the Zero.

For this tutorial, we will use the MMAL Camera Module, as it provides the best image quality and versatility. You can purchase it from various online stores such as Amazon or eBay.

Connecting the Camera Module

Before connecting the camera module to your Raspberry Pi Zero, make sure you have installed the latest version of the Raspbian operating system and updated all packages. To connect the MMAL Camera Module, follow these steps:

  1. Remove the case from your Raspberry Pi Zero if it has one.
  2. Gently push down on the camera module’s ribbon cable to release the clip holding it in place.
  3. Insert the module into the CSI port on the board, making sure all the pins are aligned properly.
  4. Reattach the case if you had one.
  5. Connect your Raspberry Pi Zero to a display using an HDMI cable and a keyboard via USB.
  6. Power up your device by connecting it to a power supply or battery.

Enabling the Camera Module

Once the camera module is connected, we need to enable it in the Raspbian operating system. Open a terminal window and enter the following command:

sudo raspi-config

Navigate to “Interfacing Options” and select “Camera”. Choose “Enable” and then “Finish”. Your camera module is now ready for use!

Using the Camera Module

Now that your Raspberry Pi Zero is connected to a camera module, you can start capturing images and videos. Here are some ways you can use it:

Capture an Image

To take a single image with the camera module, run the following command in the terminal:

raspistill -o image.jpg

This will save the image as “image.jpg” in your home directory. You can adjust various parameters like brightness, contrast, and saturation using options available in the raspistill command. For example, to set the brightness level to 50%, use:

raspistill -o image.jpg -br 50

Record a Video

To record a video using your camera module, run the following command in the terminal:

raspivid -o video.h264

This will start recording a video and save it as “video.h264” in your home directory. You can stop the recording by pressing Ctrl+C in the terminal. To change the video length, resolution, or framerate, use the -t, -w, and -f options, respectively:

raspivid -o video.h264 -t 100000 -w 640 -h 480 -f 30

This will record a 10-second video at 640x480 resolution and 30 frames per second.

Stream Video over the Network

If you want to stream video from your Raspberry Pi Zero to another device on your network, such as a computer or smartphone, you can use the raspivid command with the -o - option and pipe it into a streaming server like mjpg_streamer. Follow these steps:

  1. Install mjpg-streamer by running the following commands in the terminal:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y mjpg-streamer
  1. Run the camera module in preview mode using the following command:
raspistill -o - -t 0 -w 320 -h 240 | mjpg_streamer -i input_file.so -o output_http.so -b 8080

This will start streaming the video at 320x240 resolution on port 8080. 3. Open a web browser on your other device and enter the Raspberry Pi’s IP address followed by the port number (e.g., http://192.168.1.10:8080/?action=stream). You should now see the live video feed from your Raspberry Pi Zero!

Conclusion

In this article, we learned how to connect a camera module to a Raspberry Pi Zero and use it for image capture, video recording, and streaming. The Raspberry Pi Zero is a versatile device that can be used in many applications, including robotics, security systems, and surveillance. With the addition of a camera module, you can now transform your micro computer into a powerful imaging tool!