It seems like we're never short of Raspberry Pi projects, and while we’ve seen tons of interesting builds for gaming enthusiasts, including this Raspberry Pi mini PC, it's not common to see a Raspberry Pi used for taking photos. Well, this user seems to have done just that, building a Pi Zero-based instant camera that not only captures images but also prints them on the spot.

For those unfamiliar, the Raspberry Pi Zero is a super-small, ultra-low-cost, and highly hackable computer that serves as a compact version of the Raspberry Pi family, making it ideal for projects requiring a small form factor and affordability. While it’s rarer to see the Pi Zero in action, this isn't the first time we've come across it, as we recently saw a DIY Raspberry Pi Zero retro gaming handheld that fits right inside an old Altoids tin.

A closer look at the Pi Zero Camera

The way the Pi Zero camera works is that a short press on the green button captures a picture, while rotating the button allows you to adjust the brightness of the image before taking the shot. Holding the button down for a longer press sends the image to the built-in thermal printer, which prints it onto sticker paper, making it a fully functional instant camera.

According to the creator, the camera is built using a Raspberry Pi Zero as the core component, along with a thermal printer capable of printing stickers, a Pi Camera module for capturing images, a 1200mAh 2S lithium-ion battery for power, and additional circuits to manage power distribution.

You can use this tutorial

There are a few more parts that the creator lists, but aside from that, they mention that since they have “been working on this project for some time now” and it is quite a difficult build, they don't plan to make a full tutorial. Nevertheless, the Pi-Zero-based Instant Camera has been uploaded to the 3D-printing site Printables, if you want to try your hand at it.

Additionally, over on Reddit, one user shared a similar project they built seven years ago. While there are some differences, both creators acknowledge the similarities between the two projects, and the older one even includes a full build guide that can be used as a reference.

Additionally, we also recommend checking out the Reddit post for this Pi Zero-based instant camera, as the creator has answered some interesting user queries there, including details about the software they are using for photo capture and processing, as well as the printing material. Plus, if you have any questions, you can post them in the thread, and the creator might get back to you with an answer.

About the Author

Hassam Nasir

Hassam boasts over seven years of professional experience as a dedicated PC hardware reviewer and writer.