The ProtoCam+ is a 'breadboard style' prototyping board that holds your Raspberry Pi (A+, B+ or Pi2) Camera Module inside the PCB itself, which lets you solder components around the camera lens. [Note: DOES NOT include the Camera Module]

What Does It Do?

With the Camera Module looking out from the middle of the ProtoCam+, you can add components to the prototyping area around the lens - LEDs for a flash, buttons as a trigger, IR for night photography, PIR or light sensors, ICs, segment displays and even small LCDs!

...and if you aren't making a project just yet, it makes for a very tidy Raspberry Pi Camera Module mount with the option to make a project later on.

Features

The ProtoCam+ follows the original ProtoCam design closely, with a few changes. Let's take you through the features:

• Fits A+ and B+ Raspberry Pis - We've designed the ProtoCam+ to fit both of the latest Raspberry Pi boards - the A+ and the B+.

• Camera Module Mount - Your official Raspberry Pi Camera Module screws to the rear of the PCB, and the lens shows through the front ready for your project.

• Includes a Shorter, Firmer, Camera Belt - Your original 150mm Camera Module belt doesn't hold a fold very well, and is too long to tuck under the ProtoCam+. For this reason, we include an 85mm belt that has a much thicker quality which folds, and stays folded, really well.

• Large 'Breadboard Style' Prototyping Area - We've added no less than 288 pads of breadboard style prototyping area around the Camera Module. The breadboard lane style makes it really easy to add components without the need for bridging or cutting (see more on this further down the page).

• Full GPIO Breakout Area - The GPIO has been broken out to an identical section just below the original GPIO position. Pins are labelled to help you build your project.

• Power breakout sections - Really handy extra power connections for your project. There are 4x 5v and 4x GND pads top left, and 4x 3.3v and 4x GND pads top right.

• Stacking GPIO Header - The ProtoCam+ comes with a tall stacking header which gives clearance for the camera belt, and lets you add jumper wires for prototyping. If you don't need or want the taller pins, just snip them off once soldered.

[NOTE: Some sections of the videos show a shorter standard header. The end product will provide an extra-tall stacking header]

• ENIG Gold Plating - The ProtoCam+ comes with ENIG Gold quality contacts and a nice black PCB to match the Camera Module.

• Fixings Included - The ProtoCam+ comes with nylon fixings to mount your camera module, and also an additional nylon support screw to keep your ProtoCam+ steady.

ProtoCam+ Background

I created the original ProtoCam as I couldn't find anything on the market that would both hold the camera module AND let you build projects around it.

There are a lot of Camera Module cases available for the Raspberry Pi, but these don't allow you to build the components of your project into them.

After successfully launching the original ProtoCam on Kickstarter for the Model A and B Raspberry Pi, the B+ and A+ Pi were released, which spurred me to create a new version for the latest generation of this great little computer - the ProtoCam+.

Self Assembly

The ProtoCam+ like many add-on boards for the Raspberry Pi, comes as a self-assembly kit. This mainly involves soldering the GPIO header and fitting the Camera Module to the PCB.

Need a ProtoCam for your original Model A/B Pi? Check out our other Tindie listings!