Hobby-level microcontrollers are finally getting big and powerful enough to start handling camera modules that historically would have required a full computer or FPGA to handle. The RP2040 and ESP32-Sx series of chips, for example, have enough pins to communicate with the 8-bit data output, DMA to quickly grab a frame, and the necessary RAM to buffer a raw snapshot. Now all we need is a nice camera module to make interfacing easy! Adafruit's OV5640 provides an ideal combination of power and simplicity so anyone can take advantage of these powerful chips. Its 160 degree wide angle lens offers a crisp, clear picture for all applications - whether you're a hobbyist or a professional.

The Adafruit OV5640 Camera Breakout features a top-tier OV5640 camera with a 5 Megapixel sensor element, incredibly wide 160-degree lens, and all the core components necessary. This model offers a massive 160-degree focal angle, ideal for security monitoring or capturing a large area of focus, such as a living room or roadway. We looked at existing camera modules and while this breakout board is backwards compatible, we made some improvements:

• Standard 2x9 header if you want it, but also a duplicated header strip 0.3" apart so you can plug it into a breadboard or perfboard 
• Selectable external or internal 24MHz "XCLK" clock generation - save one gpio pin, or just have a nice stable 24 MHz signal even if your microcontroller can't generate it for you.
• Heat-sinking camera area with exposed ground pad, with lots of vias for good thermal transfer. Helpful for when doing continuous encoding and reducing thermal image drift.
• Optional VMotor 3.3V power jumper on DATA1, for auto-focusing camera modules
• 3.3V power-good LED on back that can be disabled