Please improve Documentation and Examples

[ferranpons]

Hi Arducam devs,

I'm raising this issue to try to encourage you to write better documentation and examples addressed to not experts and C developers. I recently purchased an OV5642 and I really struggled to capture a simple image using a Raspberry Pi Pico with Circuitpython.
The main problem I found is that your SDK/library does not have a high-level API to make the most straightforward operations with the cam without having to deal with low-level setup code IMHO (even the C code has the same issue).
Also, I found that the examples covered a more complex operation than a simple picture capture like video streaming, which also needs a Windows environment to test it. (I'm a MacOS and Linux user)

Probably you would need to create a centralized documentation website offering guides and better software support than dispersed Github repositories and docs. I say this because I already consulted your different documentation sites like:

• https://www.arducam.com/docs/arducam-mega/arducam-mega-getting-started/index.html#
• https://docs.arducam.com/
• https://github.com/ArduCAM/PICO_SPI_CAM
• https://github.com/ArduCAM/RPI-Pico-Cam

Maybe all this may sound a bit rude but I'm not intended to say it that way. I just want to continue using your products without the pains I found until now and probably other users are experiencing. Please check it out.

Many thanks!

[roborto444]

Did you find out how to capture a simple image? I am also trying to capture a single image with circuit python and OV5642, but can not find documentation on how to do it anywhere.

[ferranpons]

@roborto444 I managed to capture a simple image. It's sad that there is no documentation on how to do it. Fortunately, I created a Gist with the code to capture an image using a Raspberry Pi Pico using CircuitPython. The only problem is that It will require you to use a SD module in order to save the image because there is no way to do it in the same Pico. At least, it will help you to know how to capture an image anyway. The code also includes a button/trigger to start capturing an image.

https://gist.github.com/ferranpons/faf789e7f69b37997567903037bbcad2

Hope it helps!

@ArduCAM @ljp-while check out this issue please. At least, a response would be great. Thanks.

[roborto444]

Thanks for the response and the Gist. I am using an sd card and a trigger button also to run your code. The images written to the card were only 256 bytes for me. Rob 27 Feb 2023, 12:01 by ***@***.***:

…

@roborto444 <https://github.com/roborto444>> I managed to capture a simple image. It's sad that there is no documentation on how to do it. Fortunately, I created a Gist with the code to capture an image using a Raspberry Pi Pico using CircuitPython. The only problem is that It will require you to use a SD module in order to save the image because there is no way to do it in the same Pico. At least, it will help you to know how to capture an image anyway. The code also includes a button/trigger to start capturing an image. https://gist.github.com/ferranpons/faf789e7f69b37997567903037bbcad2 Hope it helps! @ArduCAM <https://github.com/ArduCAM>> > @ljp-while <https://github.com/ljp-while>> check out this issue please. At least, a response would be great. Thanks. — Reply to this email directly, > view it on GitHub <#10 (comment)>> , or > unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AHEYFQ2TZRAHBIK3UUD73ULWZSJSLANCNFSM6AAAAAAUS2FEC4>> . You are receiving this because you were mentioned.> Message ID: > <ArduCAM/PICO_SPI_CAM/issues/10/1446204558> @> github> .> com>

[ferranpons]

@roborto444 let me review the code to be sure is the correct Gist...