Introduction
Hi there!
If you're looking to subscribe to AdaBox, click here!
If you're here, it's because you were given the gift of electronics with an AdaBox! Perhaps you are a beginner who is getting started with your AdaBox. Or maybe you just want to relive what it's like being a beginner at electronics again. But most of all, you want to learn to hack your own camera to take photos, make animated GIFs, shoot stop motion films, create timelapses, and more!
And, you're in luck: there's never been a better time. Seriously. We're not just saying that. It's wild how great a time this is for you to build your own CircuitPython-powered, WiFi enabled snapshot camera!
Gone are the days where you need thousands of dollars of equipment and a physics/math background. Nowadays, if you want to learn to work with electronics and code microcontrollers, you can jump right in for $100 or less and any sort of computer.
Who is this for?
Anyone who is interested in learning how to build their very own digital camera that can be programmed, customized, and even send images directly to the internet! All you need is a computer you can install some software onto, and with access to a modern web browser. That's pretty much the minimum. Remember, this guide is specifically for people who have purchased or received an AdaBox subscription!
You don't need to know a lot of physics or math, and just like an Art Degree isn't required for making art and being creative, you don't need to have a computer science or mechanical engineering degree. It helps if you're comfortable using computers but that's a skill most people pick up through life.
If you know how to program already - great! If not, don't worry, we'll teach you enough to be dangerous.
Who isn't this for?
While you can follow along without an AdaBox, it will not make as much sense unless you have all of the components and more which either came as a gift or purchased yourself - remember, the goal is helping beginners!
If you're an expert, please visit our thousands of other tutorials and jump right in at learn.adafruit.com
I'm Ladyada, and I love to teach people how to build stuff and how they can be creative with technology.
So, are you ready?
Let's do this thing!
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Unboxing Adabox 021
Wake up, Sleepy-head...stretch and yawn and rub your eyes, for ADABOX has awoken from hibernation and lumbered into your hands. After many years of part shortages, we finally got enough parts to ship out the thousands of ADABOXes that have been patiently waiting.
This special ADABOX is all about making memories, which is why it is called MEMENTO: it's a digital camera you can build and program yourself. This camera is built around a OV5640 sensor with 72° lens: 5 megapixels, auto-focus, and a charming low-fidelity aesthetic. We use a WiFi and Bluetooth-capable ESP32-S3 module with plenty of PSRAM to power it. Preview images on the 1.54" color TFT, and snap photos to be saved onto a Micro SD card. You can punch up your pics with the built-in RGBW LED ring for adding colorful effects or natural white lighting to illuminate your subjects.
Thanks to DigiKey for being our muse and technical assistant as we worked so hard to revive ADABOX over the last year - they provided parts, advice, and feedback that made this box picture-perfect!
And, of course, thank you for your patience - ADABOX is a labor of love, and we're excited to get back to shipping these out to all our subscribers. We have many more boxes planned and in progress, and we know you will enjoy opening them as much as we enjoy designing them.
-- ladyada, pt and kiddo
Adafruit MEMENTO
A DIY digital camera with ESP32-S3 processor, OV5640 camera sensor, 1.54" TFT preview screen, micro SD storage, interface buttons, mini speaker, and external hardware interfacing support.
MEMENTO LED Front Plate & JST Cable
This protective plate is an 8x RGBW LED ring light to add color or bright white lighting to your photography subjects. Use the 3-pin JST cable to connect the main board to the LED ring.
MEMENTO Protective Back Plate & Hardware Kit
Attach the back plate with the included M3 screws and hex nuts.
Lithium Polymer Battery & Foam Adhesive
To make your camera portable, use the thin foam sheet to attach the included rechargeable battery to the mainboard. The LED plate will sandwich it from the other side during use.
The MEMENTO has built-in LiPo battery charging via USB-C.
256 MB MicroSD Card
Store hundreds, if not thousands, of photos and GIFs on this tiny card that can be read by your computer for long term storage.
NOTE: You can use cards with up to 32GB capacity.
Protective Neoprene Case
Keep your camera safe by storing it in this zippered soft case, it works best tucked into the mesh pocket!
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MEMENTO Assembly
Film Prep
OK, not that kind of film. But still, the first step in assembling your MEMENTO camera is to remove the protective film from the four threaded standoffs.
Battery Adhesive
Peel off one side of backing from the double-sided adhesive foam, then press it onto the main board where the battery will go, as shown.
Battery Mount
Insert the battery JST cable into the connector, then remove the other protective backing from the adhesive foam.
Press the battery into place as shown, being careful to dress the wires neatly.
LED Faceplate
You'll mount the LED faceplate using four of the provided M3 screws.
Place the faceplate over the MEMENTO board with the white triangle pointing at the shutter button. This assures the JST connectors of both boards are on the same edge.
Screw in the four screws.
Prep for Back Plate
Flip the MEMENTO over, then press gently on the TFT to make sure it is square and the adhesive strips are snug against the PCB.
Remove the protective film.
Fastener Prep
Place the four remaining screws through the back panel holes from the side of the board that will face you when assembled as shown.
Thread the four nuts onto the screws -- these will act as spacers.
Place the back panel onto the back of the MEMENTO so the buttons and screen line up.
Screw the four screws into the threaded standoffs.
JST Cable
We had a special short JST 3-pin cable made for the MEMENTO so the LED board can get power and data for the NeoPixels from the A1 port on the MEMENTO.
Plug the cable into the LED plate and MEMENTO A1 JST ports. The connectors can only go in one way.
Insert SD Card
Orient the micro SD card as shown and press it into the SD card reader slot -- you'll press it all the way in until it clicks and stops and then as you let off the pressure it'll click a second time. *snik snik!*
NOTE: You can use cards with up to 32GB capacity.
That's it, you've assembled your MEMENTO! Now, you're ready to get started taking pictures and hacking your MEMENTO camera! Flip the ON switch and the camera will boot up with the factory demo.
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