Waveshare OV5693 5MP USB camera: specs and pinout
Waveshare's OV5693 5-megapixel USB 2.0 camera module with an M12 lens, auto focus and two on-board microphones. It is model (A) on Waveshare's wiki; model (B) is a different camera.
Specs
| Spec | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Sensor | OV5693, 5 megapixel; auto gain, exposure and white balance; 1/4 inch sensor size | source Overview > Specifications |
| Lens | Aperture F2.1; focal length 2.5 mm; field of view 135 degrees diagonal (95 degrees horizontal, 70 degrees vertical); auto focus, range about 5 cm to 5 m | source Specifications; FAQ (focus range); product page Specifications |
| Interface | USB 2.0; Windows, Linux and macOS | source Specifications |
| Image formats | MJPG and YUY2; still 2592 x 1944 | source Specifications |
| Video, MJPG | 15 FPS at 2592 x 1944, 1920 x 1080 and 1280 x 720 | source Specifications |
| Video, YUY2 | 3 FPS at 2592 x 1944, 5 FPS at 1920 x 1080, 10 FPS at 1280 x 720, 15 FPS at 640 x 480 | source Specifications |
| Audio | Two on-board microphones | source Specifications |
| Operating voltage and current | 5 V +/-5 %; 500 mA | source Specifications (voltage); product page Specifications (current) |
| Operating temperature | 0 C to 50 C | source Specifications |
| Dimensions | Lens 18.00 x 18.00 x 19.39 mm and outline 18.00 x 36.00 mm on the wiki; the product page gives 19.69 mm and 40.00 mm | source Specifications |
Power
| Value | Source | |
|---|---|---|
| Supply | 5 V +/-5 % from the USB connector | source Specifications > Operating current |
| Current | 500 mA (operating current) | source Specifications > Operating current |
Pinout
Rows are the connector table on Waveshare's outline drawing for the OV5693 USB Camera (A). The drawing does not name the connector type.
| Pin | Function | Voltage | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | USB 5V | 5 V | Pin 1 of the 5-pin connector | source Outline drawing, PIN NO / SIGNAL table |
| 2 | D- | USB data minus | source Outline drawing, PIN NO / SIGNAL table | |
| 3 | D+ | USB data plus | source Outline drawing, PIN NO / SIGNAL table | |
| 4 | GND | Ground | source Outline drawing, PIN NO / SIGNAL table | |
| 5 | GND | Ground | source Outline drawing, PIN NO / SIGNAL table |
Build with it
Project ideas for the Waveshare OV5693 5MP USB camera. Each link opens Soldr with the prompt filled in; Soldr assigns the pins, checks power and shows how to wire every part.
- USB webcam preview and capture: Waveshare's wiki gives a Raspberry Pi preview command and an OpenCV capture script for this camera. It draws 500 mA at 5 V. Use MJPG for higher frame rates. If people can be in view, tell them the camera is there and get consent.
- Document camera: Auto focus works from about 5 cm, so a page close to the lens can stay sharp. The 135 degree diagonal lens will show the desk edges, so crop in software.
- Jetson camera preview: The wiki lists a Jetson Nano Developer Kit preview command for this camera. Power: a regulated 5 V supply with a 2.1 x 5.5 mm centre-positive plug rated 4 A or more (NVIDIA guide, J25) on the barrel jack, with the J48 jumper fitted as the guide says for loads above 2 A; check the plug and polarity before connecting. Tell anyone who can be in view and get consent. Learning project.
Common mistakes
- Using YUY2 at full resolution: it gives only 3 FPS at 2592 x 1944 and 5 FPS at 1080p, while MJPG gives 15 FPS (source), Specifications).
- Expecting brightness and contrast controls on every system: the wiki says some parameters cannot be set on a Mac with OpenCV and recommends Linux with V4L2 (source), FAQ).
- Touching the back of the board: Waveshare says to avoid touching the components on the back, and that the module gets noticeably hot in use, which is normal (source), FAQ).
Not covered by the official source
- Waveshare's titles for this camera read 'Fixed-focus, Auto Focusing'; the wiki and product page specifications say auto focus, which this page follows.
- The wiki and product page disagree on the lens length (19.39 mm and 19.69 mm), the module outline length (36 mm and 40 mm) and the YUY2 spelling; both lengths are shown.
- The Waveshare USB camera user manual and specification PDF were not read; the connector type is not stated on the outline drawing.