ESP32-CAM WiFi & Bluetooth Development Board - Upgraded OV5640 5MP Camera

Specifications

• Microcontroller: ESP32-D0WDQ6 (Dual-core 32-bit, up to 240MHz)

• Wireless: 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 4.2 / BLE

• SRAM / PSRAM: 520 KB internal SRAM / 4MB external PSRAM

• Camera Module: OmniVision OV5640 (5 Megapixel)

• Maximum Resolution: QSXGA (2592 x 1944 pixels)

• Image Sensor Tech: 1/4" CMOS with OmniBSI™

• Storage Interface: Built-in TF / MicroSD Card Slot (Supports SPI)

• Antenna Options: Onboard PCB Antenna (Default) / IPEX Connector

• Board Dimensions: 27mm x 40mm x 4.5mm

• Operating Voltage: 5V (via 5V pin) or 3.3V (via 3.3V pin)

Downloads:

• OV5640_Datasheet

Key Applications and Projects

• DIY Home Security: Building a hidden, Wi-Fi enabled security camera that integrates seamlessly into Home Assistant or Node-RED.

• 3D Printer Monitoring: Mounting the camera inside a 3D printer enclosure to stream the printing process and capture incredibly crisp end-of-print time-lapses.

• Smart Meter Reading: Aiming the 5MP camera at an analog water or gas meter and using OCR (Optical Character Recognition) to digitize your utility usage.

Unlock New Capabilities (Project Evolution) The AI Smart Doorbell: Why pay for a subscription doorbell when you can build a smarter one? Evolve your ESP32-CAM! Flash the board with the ESP-WHO facial recognition framework. Mount the module at your front door. The camera can stream video to your phone, but more importantly, it can process the faces of visitors locally. You can train the AI to recognize family members, automatically unlocking a smart deadbolt when they arrive, or sending a push notification to your phone with a snapshot of unrecognized strangers!

PACKAGE INCLUDED

• 1 x ESP32-CAM Development Board

• 1 x OV5640 5MP Camera Module (Pre-attached via FPC ribbon)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

1. What is the difference between this and a standard ESP32-CAM? The primary difference is the camera module. Standard boards include a 2MP OV2640 camera. This kit includes the significantly upgraded 5MP OV5640 camera, providing more than double the resolution and better low-light sensitivity.

2. Does this board have a micro-USB or USB-C port? No. To keep the footprint as small as possible, there is no USB port. You must use a separate USB-to-TTL Serial adapter (like an FTDI board) to program it.

3. How do I put the board into programming mode? Connect your FTDI adapter to the 5V, GND, U0R, and U0T pins. Critically, you must connect the GPIO 0 pin to GND while powering on the board to force it into flashing mode.

4. Why is my board constantly resetting or failing to initialize the camera? This is almost always a power issue. The ESP32 and the 5MP camera draw significant current spikes. You must use a robust 5V power supply capable of delivering at least 2 Amps. Cheap USB ports or thin jumper wires will cause brownouts.

5. Can I use the Arduino IDE to program this? Yes! In the Arduino IDE Board Manager, select the "AI Thinker ESP32-CAM" board profile.

6. Does the board have PSRAM? Yes. To process massive 5-Megapixel images, the board includes a 4MB PSRAM chip. You must ensure "PSRAM" is set to "Enabled" in your Arduino IDE settings, or the camera will fail to initialize.

7. Can I use a MicroSD card and the Wi-Fi at the same time? Yes, but they share some data buses, which can cause slight bottlenecks. The SD card operates over the high-speed SDIO interface.

8. What is the maximum size MicroSD card supported? Officially, the library supports up to 4GB cards. However, many users successfully use 16GB or 32GB cards by ensuring they are formatted to FAT32.

9. Can I attach an external Wi-Fi antenna to get better range? Yes. The board features an IPEX/U.FL connector. However, to use it, you must physically desolder a tiny zero-ohm resistor on the board to disconnect the onboard PCB antenna and route the signal to the IPEX connector.

10. What voltage does this board require? You should supply exactly 5V to the "5V" pin. The board has an onboard voltage regulator that drops this to the 3.3V required by the ESP32 and camera logic.

11. Can I power it with a 3.7V LiPo battery? You cannot connect a LiPo directly to the 5V pin. You can connect it to the 3.3V pin, but a fully charged LiPo (4.2V) might fry the board, and a dying one won't provide enough voltage. You should use a 5V boost converter.

12. Does the OV5640 have autofocus? While the OV5640 sensor chip supports autofocus logic, the physical lens barrel included in these standard hobby kits is usually fixed-focus. You can manually adjust the focus by gently breaking the glue seal and twisting the lens barrel.

13. What is the blindingly bright white LED for? It is a flash LED tied to GPIO 4. You can program it to turn on briefly like a camera flash, or stay on as a flashlight. Be warned: GPIO 4 is also used by the SD card data bus, so the LED will flicker when writing to the SD card.

14. Are all the GPIO pins available to use? No. Most of the ESP32's pins are internally consumed by the camera interface and the SD card reader. Only a few pins (like GPIO 1, 3, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) are exposed, and several of those are restricted if you are using the SD card.

15. Can I stream video and save to the SD card simultaneously? Yes, but be aware that handling a Wi-Fi stream and SD card writing simultaneously at 5MP resolution will severely reduce your frame rate due to processing limits.

16. Why does the board get so hot during use? It is completely normal. Processing dual-core Wi-Fi tasks while handling a high-speed parallel camera interface generates significant heat. The metal shielding helps dissipate it.

17. Is the camera module permanently attached? No. The OV5640 connects via a small 24-pin FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) ribbon cable. You flip up the black locking bar on the connector to remove or replace the camera.

18. What is the field of view (FOV)? The standard lens equipped on these OV5640 modules typically provides an FOV of approximately 66 to 70 degrees.

19. How long can the camera ribbon cable be? The camera uses a high-speed parallel interface, which is very susceptible to interference. You should not extend the cable beyond a few inches, or you will experience corrupted images or green pixelation.

20. Can I capture audio with this board? No. There is no built-in microphone on the standard ESP32-CAM board. If you need audio, you would need to wire an external I2S microphone to the few remaining free GPIO pins.