igrr/esp32-cam-demo
FreeDemo for working with a camera on ESP32
FreeFree tier
About igrr/esp32-cam-demo
This is an archived demo project for the ESP32 microcontroller that captures images from a camera module (tested with OV7725) and outputs the image as ASCII art to a serial port. The repository provides pin mapping tables, build instructions, and sample code for interfacing an ESP32 with a camera using the Espressif IoT Development Framework (esp-idf). The project is no longer maintained; users are directed to the officially supported ESP32 camera driver at espressif/esp32-camera.
Key Features
Captures image from camera and prints as ASCII art to serial port
Compatible with OV7725 camera module (other OV7xxx series may work)
Supports ESP32 and ESP-WROVER (DevKitJ) modules
Adjustable GPIO pin mapping for ESP32-camera connection
Uses Espressif IoT Development Framework (esp-idf)
Open source under MIT license
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Simple and well-documented example for beginners
- Open source with permissive MIT license
- Provides clear pin mapping tables for hardware connection
- Works with commonly available ESP32 modules and OV7725 camera
- Helps understand SCCB (I2C-like) protocol and camera configuration
Cons
- Archived and no longer maintained (as of June 2020)
- Only outputs ASCII art, not full image or video
- Requires external camera module and specific wiring
- Limited to specific camera modules (tested with OV7725)
- May not work with newer esp-idf versions without modifications
Best For
Learning how to interface a camera with ESP32Prototyping camera-based projects on ESP32Generating ASCII art from live camera feedEducational demonstration of embedded camera capture
FAQ
What is this project?
It is a demo for the ESP32 that captures images from a camera and prints them as ASCII art to the serial port.
Which camera modules are supported?
The demo has been tested with OV7725. Other OV7xxx series should work with configuration changes. OV5xxx may also work if they support RGB or YUV 8-bit output and can output scaled down images (QVGA or VGA).
Is this project still maintained?
No, the repository was archived on June 15, 2020 and is read-only. Users are directed to the official ESP32 camera driver at https://github.com/espressif/esp32-camera.
What hardware do I need?
You need an ESP32 module (e.g., ESP-WROVER), a compatible camera module (e.g., OV7725), and a PC with esp-idf installed. Specific pin connections are provided in the README.
How do I get started?
Clone the repository with submodules, connect the camera to the ESP32 according to the pin mapping table, configure esp-idf, flash the firmware, and open a serial terminal to see the ASCII art output.