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CMOS Camera - 1300x1040

Replacement: None. We are no longer carrying this CMOS camera in our catalog. This page is for reference only.

The TCM8240MD is a high quality, very small 1.3 mega-pixel color camera from Toshiba with the standard data+I2C interface. The nice thing is that we have a good supplier of these cameras, so they should be around for some time. This camera is also unique in that it offers on-board JPEG compression.

  • Small size
  • 2.8V Supply
  • Up to 15fps
  • 1300x1040 pixel resolution
  • Built-in color filter
  • 1/3.3 inch optical format
  • Auto luminance control (ALC)
  • Auto white balance (AWB)

Comments

Looking for answers to technical questions?

We welcome your comments and suggestions below. However, if you are looking for solutions to technical questions please see our Technical Assistance page.

  • EricWertz / about 16 years ago / 9

    This would be infinitely tastier served open-face on a breakout board. Yum...

  • buffercam / about 16 years ago / 3

    James,
    Check the forum:
    http://forum.sparkfun.com/viewtopic.php?t=10314
    The bottom line is that it is poorly documented and no one (that we know of) has been able to get valid images off of it .

  • ThinkerT / about 14 years ago / 2

    anyone have any good code for this or the other one? looks like a really fun part.
    Thanks,
    Thatcher

  • KreAture / about 15 years ago / 2

    For anyone that may wonder:
    As has been stated, the issue here is poor documentation.
    We have contradicting datasheet vs appnote vs state cam is in when booted.
    We also have multiple registers documented or otherwise that have to be adjusted to suit the resolution you select.
    That said, it is possible to get data from it and I have successfully grabbed both 1280x960 and the maximum 1280x1024 from the camera. The quality of the images are as of yet appaling due to the forementioned registers.
    I am sure that with the right settings this cam would be suitable for high powered mcu's like the AVR32. (I am using AVR32 on NGW100.)

  • TheDoc / about 15 years ago / 2

    I'll get one when I can get it on a break out board :D

  • buffercam / about 16 years ago / 2

    Edit: There has been some progress. People are able to get up to CIF resolution images off the camera (352x288). Check the forum for more info.
    Still no one has been able to get JPEG images off the camera. Also note: JPEG compression is only available for the full 1.3MP images, not for the smaller image sizes.
    Keep in mind that this camera is poorly documented - and the datasheet is written in "Engrish."

  • Member #445653 / about 12 years ago / 1

    Is it possible to use CS mount lens with reduction. How to do it.Thank you.

  • made4engineering / about 12 years ago / 1

    Datasheet seems messed up....

  • Doov / about 12 years ago / 1

    BTW in case anyone is curious it's trivial to remove the lens from this camera. A pair of tweezers wedged between the lens and the camera will pop it right off. It's only secured with 4 dots of glue. Handy if you want to use your own lens.

  • DrLuke / about 12 years ago / 1

    I honestly don't know what hell is wrong with you guys, the datasheet seems relatively clear to me. The registers aren't really explained anywhere, but there's a pin out and a timing diagram. I am going to give this a shot.

    • Member #399764 / about 12 years ago / 1

      Did it work for you? If so, can you share the register settings you used?

    • Kamiquasi / about 12 years ago / 1

      http://skepticon.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/knapp01.png

  • DigitalMechanic / about 12 years ago / 1

    OK... If you guys are going to continue to sell this product to us - PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE get us some accurate data-sheets, sample mounting scenarios, maybe even prototype boards. But I must warn anyone looking at this "Cool Toy" to get and play with - It's IMPOSSIBLE to find a PLCC socket with 24 outer pins. Not to mention there are 24 outer and 20 inner pins (the purpose and numbering of the inner pins (on the bottom) are not documented anywhere. This may be a cheap camera - but it's really not worth the dime they lay it on in the photo above. I wasted money on this and I'm very unhappy with SparkFun.com about it. They usually have cool stuff I can get behind. This camera is TRASH, USELESS and after 10 months I still haven't been able to get a reliable image from it. DON'T BUY THIS!

  • Calif / about 13 years ago * / 1

    After banging on it personally & reading the sparkfun forum, it clearly was a surplus camera from the 2005 timeframe. There's not enough public documentation to get data out of it either in JPEG or uncompressed.

  • Xykon / about 13 years ago / 1

    I just found this project... I haven't tried it myself but it looks promising. I'm planning to do some minor modifications and then try this approach myself... TCM8240MD breakout

  • Calif / about 13 years ago * / 1

    It's 8 years old. Can't believe the human race has not improved on it.

    • Istantinople / about 13 years ago / 1

      There are higher resolution cams available for wholesale (see url posted somewhere above). It'd be awesome if someone would make them more available to the home user, although I don't know if there's enough demand to justify it.

  • Member #280991 / about 13 years ago / 1

    does it take video

  • DigitalMechanic / about 13 years ago / 1

    Is there a socket available for this camera? If not, how about some help for a novice on getting this thing mounted? I have soldering skills, just thought it would be easier to find a socket to drop it into (easier to solder too)...

  • ELAGON / about 13 years ago / 1

    Is it SPI compatible? Is there any cam with SPI bus?

    • MikeGrusin / about 13 years ago / 1

      This part has a complex interface (see the datasheet), it's not as straightforward as SPI. I don't know of any cameras with a straight SPI interface, but you might take a look at our JPEG camera which has a serial interface.

  • Breaker / about 13 years ago / 1

    Don't suppose anyone can confirm if the IR filter can be removed (or disabled if it's software configured...)

  • Member #240011 / about 13 years ago / 1

    Heck with a breakout board, I would pay good money for a shield!

  • ADMHRV / about 13 years ago / 1

    Anyone able to pull images of this with an Arduino yet?

  • doddy / about 14 years ago / 1

    Any tips on soldering the bottom of this camera? There are only 20 pins on bottom but the sides show 24 pin... Nothing in the specs about it either (but I guess that goes without saying).

  • jsutanto / about 14 years ago / 1

    CMOS Camera - 1300x1040; The TCM8240MD
    Guys, is there a software that is need to tlanslate the data into image in the computer ?
    It will be a great help if some sone can guide in using this camera. thanks in advance
    Jemmy

  • TheAntibyte / about 14 years ago / 1

    Does this work as a simple plug and view camera, I realise I have to soldier it to a breakout board first.
    I wish to use it in the security system I am experimenting with...

  • TxtOS / about 14 years ago / 1

    Breakout board does sound yummy...

  • RackhamLeNoir / about 14 years ago / 1

    Is it possible to get raw images (without compression) and control the exposure time? I think about applications for astronomy.

  • Mike88 / about 14 years ago / 1

    Hello,<br />
    <br />
    I am considering this camera for use in my project. However datasheet is a bit vague, so I am not sure if it is what I need.<br />
    <br />
    I need to use this camera not in 15fps full resolution mode, but rather only a relatively small area (10 lines) with smth like 100fps. Is it possible to do such a thing with this camera? <br />

  • Xurex / about 14 years ago / 1

    Where can I get similar camera with more resolution ? 3mp, 5mp ?<br />

    • Jobaar / about 14 years ago / 1

      A similar 5M camera: https://www.leopardimaging.com/5M_Camera_Module.html
      It's 80$.

    • RobertC. / about 14 years ago / 1

      Sorry, we don't sell anything like that. I'm not sure if they are readily available.

  • nachox / about 14 years ago / 1

    We are developing a DVR system with this cameras
    http://www.ifrdesign.com/blog/2010/09/21/beta-version-of-dvr-tcm8240/

  • Gabriel Hope2 / about 15 years ago / 1

    Does anyone know if it's possible to adjust the focus of this camera?

  • bhaskar / about 16 years ago / 1

    Hi,
    I am a newer one to start the project with TCM8240. Plz anybody tell me the hardware configuration of this device. also the commands to I2C bus in order to read the output from the data lines
    thanx

  • James / about 16 years ago / 1

    How's that breakout board coming along?

  • joshxki / about 16 years ago / 1

    Anyone got this camera up and running yet?
    Is a breakout board (not a beta release ) available, if so, where can I get it ?

  • nachox / about 16 years ago / 1

    Beta release of camera breakout board. (nachox2002@gmail.com)
    http://picasaweb.google.com/nachox2002/Fotos_placas#5222075215944573762

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