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Help with your ESP32-CAM

Here's a few things that might be able to remedy problems you might be having with your ESP32-CAM.

These tips should solve the majority of problems!

1. Manually adjusting the lens focus

The ESP32‑CAM ships with a tiny adjustable lens. It’s almost always set incorrectly from the factory.

  • Gently twist the lens clockwise or anticlockwise.
  • Do it in very small increments.
  • Use a live stream preview so you can see the focus change in real time.

This alone often transforms the image.

2. Check the lens for dust, fingerprints, or residue

These lenses attract smudges easily.

  • Clean with a microfiber cloth.
  • Avoid liquids unless absolutely necessary.

3. Ensure the subject isn’t too close

The stock lens has a fixed focal range. If you need macro shots, you’ll need a different lens.

  • Anything closer than ~20–30 cm tends to blur.

4. Improve lighting

Low light forces the sensor to increase exposure, which introduces blur and noise.

  • Add more ambient light.
  • Avoid pointing the camera at bright light sources (they cause glare and washout).

5. Check your power supply

The ESP32‑CAM is very sensitive to voltage drops.

  • Use a stable 5V supply capable of at least 1A.
  • Weak power can cause unstable sensor behaviour, including blurry or noisy frames.

6. Adjust camera settings in software

If you’re using the Arduino CameraWebServer example or similar, tweak:

  • framesize (e.g., FRAMESIZE_SVGA or FRAMESIZE_VGA)
  • brightness / contrast
  • sharpness
  • AEC / AGC (auto exposure / auto gain)
  • denoise settings

Sometimes the defaults are overly soft.

7. Make sure the lens module is firmly seated

A loose lens mount or sensor board can cause:

  • vibration blur
  • misalignment
  • inconsistent focus

Press gently to ensure everything is snug.

Still having problems?

If you're still having problems after all the above steps, then do please reach out to Hobby Stuff to see how we can work to best resolve the situation.