Raspberry Pi For Dummies
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There are lots of accessories and add-ons available for the Raspberry Pi, but the Raspberry Pi Camera Module has the rare status of being an official product from the Raspberry Pi Foundation, so here you see how to connect it. The camera module is a small circuit board, with a strip of ribbon cable that plugs directly into the Raspberry Pi board. It’s easiest to connect the camera before you plug your Raspberry Pi into any cables.

On the board of your Raspberry Pi is a connector for the camera. (Remember that the Pi Zero does not have a camera connector).

As you can see here, the lens has a plastic film over it, to protect it. Pull the green plastic tab to remove the film.

Raspberry Pi Camera Module The Raspberry Pi Camera Module.

Connecting the camera on a Pi Zero W

The Pi Zero W camera socket uses a different width of cable to the main Raspberry Pi boards. You can buy the cable separately, or get it with the official Pi Zero case.

The camera and the Pi board have similar sockets for the cable. You press the connector between your thumb and finger and gently pull to open the connector. The parts don't separate, but there's enough of a gap to remove and insert the cable. On the Raspberry Pi, the camera connector is on the right of the board.

Raspberry Pi Zero W The Raspberry Pi Zero W. The same layout applies to the Raspberry Pi Zero, except that there is no camera connector.

On the camera, insert the cable with the shiny contacts facing the camera front, and then press the socket closed again. On the Raspberry Pi Zero W, insert the cable with the shiny contacts facing the bottom of the board (the flat side). When the cable is flat, the camera will be facing down, but you can bend the cable so that the camera sits on top of the board and faces up. One of the covers for the official Pi Zero case has a hole in it for the camera lens.

Connecting the camera on other Raspberry Pi models

To open the camera connector on your Raspberry Pi board, hold the ends between your finger and thumb and gently lift. The plastic parts don’t separate, but they move apart to make a gap. This is where you insert the camera’s cable.

At the end of the camera’s cable are silver connectors on one side. Hold the cable so that this side faces to the left, away from the side with the USB socket(s). Insert the cable into the connector on the board and press it gently home, and then press the socket back together again.

About This Article

This article is from the book:

About the book authors:

Sean McManus is an expert technology and business author. His previous books include Mission Python, Coder Academy, and Cool Scratch Projects in Easy Steps.

Mike Cook is a former professor in physics at Manchester Metropolitan University. His other books include Raspberry Pi Projects and Raspberry Pi Projects For Dummies.

Sean McManus is an expert technology and business author. His previous books include Mission Python, Coder Academy, and Cool Scratch Projects in Easy Steps.

Mike Cook is a former professor in physics at Manchester Metropolitan University. His other books include Raspberry Pi Projects and Raspberry Pi Projects For Dummies.

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