Specific link for supported M5Stack cameras

[paluigi]

Hello,

I would like to get a camera unit to test if I can manage to integrate the camera function in a MicroPython project I have.
Since most of my other components come from M5Stack, I´d rather get one of their units, as this would simplify the integration from a HW connection point of view.

I would like to make sure I get one of the products supported by this project, can somebody help to confirm that the specific links for the project are as I am reporting below, or provide a correction?

MICROPY_CAMERA_MODEL_M5STACK_PSRAM - M5Stack PSRAM
MICROPY_CAMERA_MODEL_M5STACK_UNITCAM - M5Stack UnitCam
MICROPY_CAMERA_MODEL_M5STACK_V2_PSRAM - M5Stack V2 PSRAM
MICROPY_CAMERA_MODEL_M5STACK_WIDE - M5Stack Wide
MICROPY_CAMERA_MODEL_M5STACK_ESP32CAM - M5Stack ESP32CAM - cannot understand which model from the listing
MICROPY_CAMERA_MODEL_M5STACK_CAMS3_UNIT - M5Stack CAMS3 Unit

Thanks!!!

[cnadler86]

Hi there.
I surly didn't test ever model in here, but almost all of them should be supported.

My advice would be to take one with an ov3xxx sensor. The S3 unit is probably the best one, but not sure if the camera sensor is supported.

The freenove S3 has a S3 chip and comes also with an omnivision sensor and costs more or less the same.

[paluigi]

Thanks for the quick reply!

I think I messed up some links in the post above, the correct ones should be:

MICROPY_CAMERA_MODEL_M5STACK_PSRAM - M5Stack PSRAM
MICROPY_CAMERA_MODEL_M5STACK_UNITCAM - M5Stack UnitCam
MICROPY_CAMERA_MODEL_M5STACK_V2_PSRAM - M5Stack V2 PSRAM
MICROPY_CAMERA_MODEL_M5STACK_WIDE - M5Stack Wide
MICROPY_CAMERA_MODEL_M5STACK_ESP32CAM - M5Stack ESP32CAM
MICROPY_CAMERA_MODEL_M5STACK_CAMS3_UNIT - M5Stack CAMS3 Unit

My understand is that the current CAMS3 5MP Unit, would not work as the camera sensor (PY260) is not one of the supported ones...right?

I guess I will follow your advice and take a Freenove S3 (or a Xiao S3 Sense I saw you mentioned in other posts).

Note: this is the M5Stack documentation page, which has more units listed compared to the shop.

[cnadler86]

Yes, i didn't saw any PY260 on the lower camera driver, so I assume is not supported yet.

[cnadler86]

The Xiao is very small, but trying to press the boot and/or reset button might be annoying.

[paluigi]

I actually had another look at M5Stack and I'll give this one a try: https://shop.m5stack.com/products/atoms3r-camera-kit-m12-version-ov3660

For my project, having a case is a big plus :-)

I will be traveling for the next couple of weeks, upon my return the board should have already arrived... I'll test with the generic firmware and post the results.

[cnadler86]

looks nice, perhaps I will add pin configurations for this board (need to find time for it)

[cnadler86]

I added the atom pin definitions and also committed the last updates of the low level driver. If you are still here, you can download the firmware from here. The artifact will expire in 3-4 days. If the link doesn't look trustful, you can also look into the actions site of the repository and download it from the last run artifacts.

Otherwise you can compile it by yourself or write me once again to start the pipeline manually.

Have fun on the road.

[paluigi]

Thanks a lot, I downloaded the firmware you compiled and will test upon return!

[paluigi]

Hello, I tried the firmware you compiled on the Atom S3R M12 board, but unfortunately I get the following error when trying to initialize the camera:

MicroPython v1.25.0 on 2025-07-04; Generic ESP32S3 module with Octal-SPIRAM with ESP32S3
Type "help()" for more information.
>>> import network
    import socket
    import time
>>> from camera import Camera, FrameSize, PixelFormat
>>> cam = Camera(frame_size = FrameSize.QVGA,pixel_format=PixelFormat.JPEG,init=False)
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
OSError: (-261, 'ESP_ERR_NOT_FOUND')
>>> cam = Camera()
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
OSError: (-261, 'ESP_ERR_NOT_FOUND')

Also with the generic firmware and defining all pins, the error is the same:

>>> cam = Camera(
    frame_size=FrameSize.VGA,
    pixel_format=PixelFormat.JPEG,
    init=False,
    data_pins=[3,42,46,48,4,17,11,13],
    vsync_pin=10,
    href_pin=14,
    sda_pin=12,
    scl_pin=9,
    pclk_pin=40,
    xclk_pin=21,
    xclk_freq=20000000,
    powerdown_pin=18,
    reset_pin=0)
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 5, in <module>
OSError: (-261, 'ESP_ERR_NOT_FOUND')

I tried to search for references on this error, but unfortunately didn't get anything...any help would be appreciated!

[cnadler86]

the problem is that the sensor is not been found. Either the pins are wrong or the sensor is not supported. Which sensor are you using?

Also possible is, that the sensor is broken.

[cnadler86]

Try using these schematic: https://m5stack.oss-cn-shenzhen.aliyuncs.com/resource/docs/products/core/AtomS3R%20Cam/Sch_M5_AtomS3R_CAM%E5%B0%8F%E6%9D%BF.pdf

I think if you set the power pin to -1 could work.

[cnadler86]

Seams like you need to put the power pin to -1 in the camera pin configuration and activate the pin 18 at the very beginning by yourself in order to power up the camera.

[paluigi]

Thanks for your help!
I managed to get the camera work with the following code:

from camera import Camera, FrameSize, PixelFormat
from machine import Pin

# Setup pin 18
p18 = Pin(18, Pin.OUT)
p18.value(0)
time.sleep(0.5)
print(p18.value())

# Cam Config
cam = Camera(
    frame_size=FrameSize.VGA,
    pixel_format=PixelFormat.JPEG,
    init=False,
    powerdown_pin=-1)

Note that a delay is needed between setting pin 18 to 0 and configuring the cam. I didn't experiment much, but 0.2 seconds were too little...0.5 works consistently.

Edit: this is the board page. Sensor is OV3660.

[cnadler86]

great. Will edit the pins and documentation in the next days. Have fun with it.