OV5648 5MP USB Auto Focus Camera Module 90° FOV Driver-Free UVC for Raspberry Pi PC

Specifications

• Optical Sensor: OmniVision OV5648 (1/4" CMOS Image Sensor)
• Maximum Resolution: 5 Megapixels ($2592 \times 1944$ pixels)
• Focusing Type: Auto Focus (AF)
• Field of View (FOV): 90° Diagonal
• Communication Interface: USB 2.0 High Speed (UVC Compliant, Driver-Free)
• Operating Voltage: 5V DC (powered via USB port)
• Operating Current: 150mA typical (active streaming)
• Supported Video Output Formats: MJPEG / YUY2
• System Compatibility: Windows 10/11, Linux (Ubuntu, Debian, Raspberry Pi OS), Android, macOS

Minimum hardware to get started:

• Host Device (Raspberry Pi, PC, or Android SBC) : to request the video feed, power the module via USB, and run your OpenCV or computer vision Python scripts.
• 5V Power Supply for Host (Minimum 3A) : to ensure the host board does not experience under-voltage resets when the camera module draws its ~150mA active streaming current.

Safety Warnings:

• ESD Sensitivity: The bare PCB, exposed sensor, and voice-coil motor (VCM) for the auto-focus are highly sensitive to electrostatic discharge. Handle the module strictly by its PCB edges.
• Power Draw: Ensure your Raspberry Pi or SBC has a robust power supply. Connecting multiple high-draw USB peripherals alongside this camera can cause voltage sag.

Accessories
Included in the Box:

• 1× OV5648 5MP USB Auto Focus Camera Module (90° FOV)
• 1× 4-Pin to Standard USB-A Cable (plug-and-play ready)

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)

• Is the OV5648 USB camera compatible with Raspberry Pi?
  Yes, it works natively with all Raspberry Pi models running Raspberry Pi OS via standard USB ports.
• Is the OV5648 USB camera compatible with Raspberry Pi?
  Yes, it works natively with all Raspberry Pi models running Raspberry Pi OS via standard USB ports.
• Can I use this camera module with an ESP32 or Arduino?
  No, this module outputs a high-bandwidth USB stream requiring a USB Host controller and an OS stack, which basic microcontrollers like Arduino Uno or standard ESP32s do not possess.
• Is it compatible with Android devices?
  Yes, it functions with Android SBCs and smartphones if you use a USB OTG adapter and a UVC-compatible camera application.
• What voltage does the OV5648 camera require?
  The module operates on standard 5V DC provided directly through the USB connection.
• How much current does this camera module draw?
  It draws approximately 150mA during active high-resolution video streaming and auto-focus operation.
• Can I power this from a 3.3V source?
  No, providing 3.3V will result in a failure to power the onboard DSP and Auto Focus voice-coil motor.
• How do I connect the OV5648 camera module to my PC?
  Simply plug the included 4-pin to USB Type-A cable into the module's header and connect the USB end to your computer.
• Do I need to install any drivers to use this camera?
  No driver installation is required because the onboard controller adheres to universal UVC protocols.
• What is the pinout of the 4-pin connector on the board?
  The standard pinout is VCC (5V), D- (Data Minus), D+ (Data Plus), and GND (Ground).
• Which Python library should I use to capture images?
  OpenCV is the industry standard for Python computer vision, using the cv2.VideoCapture(0) function to access the stream.
• Can I use this with fswebcam on Linux?
  Yes, it is fully supported by fswebcam, motion, and other standard Video4Linux2 (V4L2) packages.
• Where can I find example code for OpenCV video streaming?
  You can easily find boilerplate code by searching for standard OpenCV USB camera examples on GitHub or OpenCV's official documentation.