# Adafruit PiCowbell Camera Breakout
## Overview
Ding dong! Hear that? It's the PiCowbell ringing, letting you know that the new **Adafruit PiCowbell OV5640 Camera Breakout** is in stock.
This is a quality OV5640 camera with a 5 Megapixel sensor element, a 120-degree wide-angle lens, plus all the support circuitry you need to start taking pictures with your Pico or Pico W. You can grab raw RGB images for image analysis, or use the built-in JPEG encoding to save images to an SD card.
Danger: There is no Arduino core support for DVP type cameras. Also in CircuitPython, the Pico W does not have enough RAM to take images and do any transfer over the network at the same time.
The RP2040 chip has a fast PIO interface peripheral and enough memory to interface with 'DVP' (8-bit parallel digital) cameras. These camera sensors have 8 image data pins, Pixel Clock, H Sync and V Sync signals, plus an I2C configuration interface and a Reset plus power Down pin.
That does mean a lot of GPIO are used! But we still have 6 GPIO pin available even after adding a microSD card and shutter button.
**Camera PiCowbell Features:**
- **Interface for OV5640 Camera module**
VSync: GPIO 0
Power Down: GPIO 1
HSync: GPIO 2
Pixel Clock: GPIO 3
SDA/SCL: GPIO 4 and GPIO 5
8-bit Digital: GPIO6 through GPIO 13
Reset: GPIO 14
VMotor connected to 3.3V for auto-focus modules
- **Micro SD Card:**
SPI on GPIO 16, GPIO 18 and GPIO 19
Chip select on GPIO 17
Optional SD Detect on GPIO 15
- **Shutter button** on GPIO 22
- **Reset button**
- **16 MHz 'XClock'** generated by onboard oscillator
- **Stemma QT port** for I2C on GPIO 4 / 5
There are multiple variants of this board. Each has a different camera module:
- [Autofocus 72 Degree Lens](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5945)
- [Autofocus 120 Degree Lens](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5946)
- [Wide Angle 160 Degree Lens](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5947) - No auto-focus, fixed 'infinite' focus module
- [Wide Angle 120 Degree Lens](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5949) - No auto-focus, fixed 'infinite' focus module
- [120 Degree Low Distortion](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5948) - No auto-focus, fixed 'infinite' focus module
Note that to use the auto-focusing capability with the auto-focus modules, you need to load a new firmware binary over I2C. The autofocus system is controlled with I2C commands to begin an auto-focus procedure and determine that focus is complete. Otherwise, the camera looks just like any other OV5640 sensor.
Each order comes with an assembled PCB, camera sensor, and two pieces of 20-pin pin header. You will need to solder in the header yourself, but it's a quick task.
Since this board has the camera pointing 'up', it's best to use our [PiCowbell 'doubler' to have the Pico on one side with the BOOT button accessible, and then the camera on the other side](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5906). Or you can 'stack' the camera 'bell on top, best when you don't need easy access to the BOOT loading button.
Or, for a compact package, you can...
1. [Use the Pico Stacking Headers](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5582) if you want to be able to plug into a breadboard or other accessory with sockets. Solder these onto the Pico so that the camera is on top.
2. [Use the Pico Socket Headers](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5583) if you want to plug directly in and have a nice solid connection that doesn't have any poking-out-bits. Ditto, solder these into the Pico and plug the camera on top.
- [Next Page](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-picowbell-camera-breakout/pinouts.md)
## Primary Products
### Adafruit PiCowbell Camera Breakout - Autofocus 72 Degree Lens
[Adafruit PiCowbell Camera Breakout - Autofocus 72 Degree Lens](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5945)
Ding dong! Hear that? It's the PiCowbell ringing, letting you know that the new **Adafruit PiCowbell OV5640 Camera Breakout with 72-Degree Lens and Autofocus** is in stock.
This is a quality OV5640 camera with a 5 Megapixel sensor element, a 72-degree...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5945)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/5945/guides)
### Adafruit PiCowbell Camera Breakout - Autofocus 120 Degree Lens
[Adafruit PiCowbell Camera Breakout - Autofocus 120 Degree Lens](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5946)
Ding dong! Hear that? It's the PiCowbell ringing, letting you know that the new **Adafruit PiCowbell OV5640 Camera Breakout with 120-Degree Lens and Autofocus** is in stock.
This is a quality OV5640 camera with a 5 Megapixel sensor element, a 120-degree...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5946)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/5946/guides)
### Adafruit PiCowBell Camera Breakout - Wide Angle 160 Degree Lens
[Adafruit PiCowBell Camera Breakout - Wide Angle 160 Degree Lens](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5947)
Ding dong! Hear that? It's the PiCowbell ringing, letting you know that the new **Adafruit PiCowbell OV5640 Camera Breakout with 160-Degree Wide-Angle Lens** is in stock.
This is a quality OV5640 camera with a 5 Megapixel sensor element, a...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5947)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/5947/guides)
### Adafruit PiCowbell Camera Breakout - 120 Degree Low Distortion
[Adafruit PiCowbell Camera Breakout - 120 Degree Low Distortion](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5948)
Ding dong! Hear that? It's the PiCowbell ringing, letting you know that the new **Adafruit PiCowbell OV5640 Camera Breakout with 120-Degree Low-Distortion Lens** is in stock.
This is a quality OV5640 camera with a 5 Megapixel sensor element and 120-degree...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5948)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/5948/guides)
### Adafruit PiCowBell Camera Breakout - Wide Angle 120 Degree Lens
[Adafruit PiCowBell Camera Breakout - Wide Angle 120 Degree Lens](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5949)
Ding dong! Hear that? It's the PiCowbell ringing, letting you know that the new **Adafruit PiCowbell OV5640 Camera Breakout with 120-Degree Wide-Angle Lens** is in stock.
This is a quality OV5640 camera with a 5 Megapixel sensor element, a 120-degree...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5949)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/5949/guides)
## Featured Products
### SD/MicroSD Memory Card (8 GB SDHC)
[SD/MicroSD Memory Card (8 GB SDHC)](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1294)
Add mega-storage in a jiffy using this 8 GB class 4 micro-SD card. It comes with a SD adapter so you can use it with any of our shields or adapters. Preformatted to FAT so it works out of the box with our projects. Tested and works great with our
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1294)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1294/guides)
### Raspberry Pi Pico RP2040
[Raspberry Pi Pico RP2040](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4864)
The Raspberry Pi foundation changed single-board computing [when they released the Raspberry Pi computer](https://www.raspberrypi.org/archives/723), now they're ready to do the same for microcontrollers with the release of the brand new **Raspberry Pi Pico**. This...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4864)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4864/guides)
### Raspberry Pi Pico W
[Raspberry Pi Pico W](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5526)
The Raspberry Pi foundation changed single-board computing [when they released the Raspberry Pi computer](https://www.raspberrypi.org/archives/723), now they're ready to do the same for microcontrollers with the release of the brand new **Raspberry Pi Pico W**. This...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5526)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/5526/guides)
### EYESPI Cable - 18-pin 50mm long Flex PCB (FPC) A-B Type
[EYESPI Cable - 18-pin 50mm long Flex PCB (FPC) A-B Type](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5462)
Connect this to that when an 18-pin FPC connector is needed. This 50mm long cable is made of a flexible PCB. It's A-B style which means that pin one on one side will match with pin one on the other side. How handy!
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5462)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/5462/guides)
### Adafruit EYESPI Breakout Board - 18 Pin FPC Connector
[Adafruit EYESPI Breakout Board - 18 Pin FPC Connector](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5613)
Our most recent [display breakouts have come with a new feature: an 18-pin "EYE SPI" standard FPC connector with flip-top connector](https://www.adafruit.com/?q=eyespi&sort=BestMatch). This is intended to be a sort-of "
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5613)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/5613/guides)
### Adafruit 1.54" 240x240 Wide Angle TFT LCD Display with MicroSD
[Adafruit 1.54" 240x240 Wide Angle TFT LCD Display with MicroSD](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3787)
We've been looking for a display like this for a long time - it's only 1.5" diagonal but has a high density 220 ppi, 240x240 pixel display with full-angle viewing. It _looks_ a lot like our 1.44" 128x128 display, but has 4x as many pixels and looks great at any angle....
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3787)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3787/guides)
### Adafruit Proto Doubler PiCowbell for Pico and PicoW
[Adafruit Proto Doubler PiCowbell for Pico and PicoW](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5906)
The **Adafruit Proto Doubler PiCowBell** is intended to be treated like a mini solder-less proto plate to simplify programming and sensor connectivity for your Raspberry Pi Pico board. Reset button? Yes! STEMMA QT / Qwiic connector for fast I2C? Indeed. Battery with...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5906)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/5906/guides)
## Related Guides
- [Adafruit EYESPI Breakout Board](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-eyespi-breakout-board.md)
- [Adafruit Proto Doubler PiCowbell](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-proto-doubler-picowbell.md)
- [Adafruit 3.5" 320x480 Color TFT Touchscreen Breakout](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-3-5-color-320x480-tft-touchscreen-breakout.md)
- [Kitty Toe Bean Keypad with Color TFT](https://learn.adafruit.com/kitty-toe-bean-paw-keypad-color-tct.md)
- [CircuitPython Display Support Using displayio](https://learn.adafruit.com/circuitpython-display-support-using-displayio.md)
- [Adafruit 1.3" and 1.54" 240x240 Wide Angle TFT LCD Displays](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-1-3-and-1-54-240-x-240-wide-angle-tft-lcd-displays.md)
- [Capturing Camera Images with CircuitPython](https://learn.adafruit.com/capturing-camera-images-with-circuitpython.md)
- [CircuitPython Animated Sprite Pendants](https://learn.adafruit.com/circuitpython-sprite-animation-pendant-mario-clouds-flying-toasters.md)
- [Adafruit EYESPI Pi Beret](https://learn.adafruit.com/eyespi-pi-beret.md)
- [Adafruit 1.28" 240x240 Round TFT LCD](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-1-28-240x240-round-tft-lcd.md)
- [Animated Snake Eyes Bonnet for Raspberry Pi](https://learn.adafruit.com/animated-snake-eyes-bonnet-for-raspberry-pi.md)
- [Adafruit 2.13" 250x122 Quad-Color eInk](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-2-13-250x122-quad-color-eink.md)
- [Adafruit LTC4311 I2C Extender / Active Terminator](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-ltc4311-i2c-extender-active-terminator.md)
- [Adafruit Mini I2C STEMMA QT Gamepad with seesaw](https://learn.adafruit.com/gamepad-qt.md)
- [Adafruit Data Logger Shield](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-data-logger-shield.md)
- [Adafruit STHS34PF80 IR Presence / Motion Sensor](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-sths34pf80-ir-presence-motion-sensor.md)