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Quick Start

Note

The following applies to the Bullseye system.

General Hardware Connection

Warning

Cameras are sensitive to static. Earth yourself prior to handling the PCB.
A sink tap or similar should suffice if you don’t have an earthing strap.

The Raspberry Pi and the camera module are connected using a flexible cable. The connection to the camera is called CSI interface and the connection to the Raspberry Pi is called MIPI interface.

Platform Introduction

Tip

Here we will display the basic hardware info of the mainly used raspberry pi platforms.

Model SoC Memory GPIO

Raspberry Pi 5

 BCM2712 4GB
8GB		 40-pin GPIO header

Raspberry Pi 4B

 BCM2711 1GB
2GB
4GB
8GB		 40-pin GPIO header

Raspberry Pi 3B+

 BCM2837b0 1GB 40-pin GPIO header

Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W

 RP3A0 512MB 40-pin GPIO header(unpopulated)

Raspberry Pi Compute Module 3

 BCM2837 1GB /

Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4

 BCM2711 1GB
2GB
4GB
8GB		 /

For more details, you can refer to the Raspberry Pi official website:

https://www.raspberrypi.com/documentation/computers/raspberry-pi.html

Connection Diagram

Tip

There are two different kinds of Raspberry Pi MIPI port connectors: 15-pin and 22-pin. The 15-pin connector is mostly seen on standard Raspberry Pi model; the 22-pin is on Raspberry Pi Zero-W and Compute Module IO Board.

The silver contacts of the cable have different orientations when connecting to different cameras. For specific connection methods, please refer to the introduction on the product page of each camera.

Plug the flex cable into the connector labeled CAMERA on the Raspberry Pi.

Note

Since the camera board designs of different cameras are different, there are two connection methods on the camera side: the upper cable Pin port and the lower cable Pin port.

The camera-side cable connection methods in all the following pictures are for reference only. For specific camera-side connection methods, please refer to the detailed introduction on each product page.

For Raspberry Pi 5:

The Raspberry Pi 5 has two camera csi connectors, both located between the Ethernet and HDMI ports. When you plug in the cable, the silver contacts face the Ethernet port.

  • 15pin-22pin Connection
  • 22pin-22pin Connection

For Raspberry Pi 3-4:

The camera connector is between the Ethernet and HDMI ports. When plugging in the cable, the silver contacts must face the HDMI port.

  • 15pin-15pin Connection
motherboard-pi-4-1536x1052
pi-4-to-cam-connection-1536x552 pi4-1
  • 15pin-22pin Connection

pi4-2

For Raspberry Pi Zero series and Compute Module:

The camera connector is located on the side of the board at the interface labeled camera. When inserting the cable, the board should be facing up and the silver contacts should be facing down.

To open the connector, gently pull upward on the tab on the top of the connector. The flex cable should be inserted firmly into the connector, being careful not to bend the flex cable at too acute an angle. To close the connector, push the top part of the connector down while holding the flex cable in place.

  • 22pin-22pin & Pi Zero/ Pi Zero 2 W
pi-zero-board-pinout-3
pizero-1
  • 22pin-22pin & CM3/CM4
pi-compute-module-pinout-1536x1050
cm3-1

Software Guide

Raspberry Pi Native Cameras

Tip

Please select the corresponding quick guide page below according to the camera you are using.

  • Raspberry Pi Native Camera list:
Resolution Sensor
5MP OV5647
8MP IMX219
12MP IMX477
12MP 477M
12MP IMX708
12MP IMX378
16MP IMX519
64MP 64MP Hawkeye
64MP 64MP OV64A40
0.3MP OV7251
1.58MP IMX296
1MP OV9281
2MP OV2311
2MP IMX290/IMX462/IMX327