Summary
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The Optocam Zero is a pocket-sized Raspberry Pi Zero camera with off-the-shelf parts and a 3D printed case.
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It features autofocus, eight filters, Wi-Fi hotspot, USB-C charging, and an interchangeable 14500 battery.
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Tech specs include 2592×2592 JPEG photos, 240×240 1.4″ LCD, 15-20fps preview, and ~70-80 minutes per charge.
It’s been a good last few weeks for people who like to build their own cameras. At the end of March, we reviewed a open source Raspberry Pi camera that looked like something out of an 80s sci-fi movie, complete with different filters you can choose from. And while it was an amazing project, you can never have enough DIY cameras.
Enter Optocam Zero, a camera that works with a Raspberry Pi Zero and can fit in your pocket with ease. However, don’t underestimate it just because it’s small; Inside that shell is a pretty powerful little camera that should be a pleasure to build and use.
You can also build an Optocam Zero at home
It uses commercially available components and a 3D printer.
Redditor dkumkum has been busy showing off his Optocam Zero project at the Raspberry Pi and toy camera subreddits. The main appeal of the Optocam Zero is that you can buy all the bits you need in stores and the case is 3D printed. As such, if you’re in the mood to build something cool, you could do a lot worse than making this cute little piece.
The camera features autofocus, eight built-in filters, a Wi-Fi hotspot for transferring photos, and USB-C charging with a swappable battery. And if you want all the technical specifications of this incredible little project, here they are:
– Capture 2592x2592px Jpeg images. The image is saved in the background while the preview remains active.
– 1.4-inch 240x240px LCD screen.
– Constant 15 to 20 fps camera preview on screen.
– Boot time of 22 seconds.
– Uses 14500 type lithium ion battery.
– 70–80 minutes of use per charge.
– Dimensions: 51 × 71 × 18 mm (excluding camera and screen)
If you want to make your own (and I certainly don’t blame you), head to the Optocam Zero GitHub project page for complete setup instructions, 3D printing files, and a complete materials list that you can use as a shopping list the next time you visit a component store.
