THIS 100 DOLLARS CAMERA PRINTS A POEM INSTEAD OF A PHOTO
Point the camera at anything, press the button, and a receipt printer pushes out a poem about what it saw — no screen, no save, just paper.
by Kelin Zhang and Ryan Mather (Bokito Studio)
AIDisplays
- difficulty
- ●●●○○
- time
- a weekend
- license
- MIT
- repo
- repo ACTIVE352 stars
●●●○○ · a weekend · MIT · 352 stars · repo ACTIVE
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
- Electronic parts — full list with part numbers in the repo BOM
- Dev board / microcontroller — runs the project firmware
Partner
COMPAREE VERDICT
This is a working build with honest documentation. The code is clean, the wiring is explicit, and the repo has been stable since it shipped. The single hardest part is not the electronics — it is managing the API cost and knowing that every shutter press costs you a few cents in OpenAI credits, and if the camera sits at a party where people keep pressing the button, you will get a bill. The thermal printer is the same one used in receipt machines, so replacement rolls are cheap and widely available. No screen means you never know if it worked until the paper comes out, which is the entire point but also the main source of user confusion. The camera sensor is a basic Pi Camera Module v2, not a fancy lens, so low-light performance is what you would expect from a webcam. If you want the exact enclosure from the launch photos, you will have to design your own or find a community remix — the repo does not include it. This is for someone who likes the idea of a physical AI artifact more than they like taking good photos, and who is comfortable with the fact that the magic costs money every time it runs.
IN THE REPO
NOT IN THE REPO
- —Full Python code for the Raspberry Pi Zero setup, thermal printer driver, and GPT API integration.
- —Hardware list with specific part numbers (CSI camera, Adafruit thermal printer, shutter button).
- —Assembly guide with wiring diagrams and systemd service setup.
- —No enclosure CAD files — the original team used a custom 3D-printed case but the files are not in the repo.
- —You will need your own OpenAI API key; the code calls GPT-4 for every photo and that costs real money per image.
- —MIT licence — free for commercial use, but OpenAI's terms apply to the API calls.
Can I build this?
Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.
Partner · KickstarterBluHub reads and burns Blu-ray/DVD/CD, adds USB-C, USB-A, SD/TF and 10 Gbps data — plug and play, grand-piano finish.
Videos
A camera that makes poems
No official build video in the repo or from the creators. Community walkthroughs exist but were not verified for this page.
Gallery
Start here
Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.
- 1.Read the repo README and hardware list (Check the specific part numbers for the thermal printer — some cheaper models do not work with the Adafruit driver.)
- 2.Set up an OpenAI API account and add billing(You need an active API key before the camera will work. Test it with a curl command first so you know it is live.)
- 3.Flash the Pi, install dependencies, wire the printer and camera(Follow the repo's systemd service setup so the script runs on boot. Test each component separately before putting it all together.)
Resources
Documentation, files and community threads for this build — we link straight to the original sources and never rehost the creator’s files.
Partner · KickstarterCORE POWER BANK S: 0.2" thin, 2.8 oz, 5000 mAh with 22.5W fast charging. Semi-solid battery, carbon fiber, IPX7 waterproof.
KNOWN ISSUES
- The repo does not include the enclosure STL files. If you want a case, you will have to design one yourself or run it as an exposed build.
- Every photo costs API credits. If you leave this at a party or event, a hundred button presses is $3–6 in OpenAI charges. Set a rate limit or budget alert.
- The thermal printer is specific — cheaper no-name receipt printers often do not work with the Adafruit Python library. Stick to the part number in the BOM or verify driver compatibility first.
- No screen means you will not know if the camera focused, if the API call failed, or if you are out of paper until the print finishes (or does not). The lack of feedback is intentional but trips up first-time users.
- The Pi Camera Module v2 is not great in low light. Indoor evening shots will be grainy, and the AI will still write a poem about them, but the photo it is describing will be dim.
- If your internet drops or the OpenAI API is down, the camera silently does nothing. Add a fallback LED or buzzer if you want error feedback.
Can I use a different AI model or run it locally?
Yes — the code is modular and you can swap the OpenAI call for any API that takes an image and returns text. Local models (like LLaVA or BLIP) will be slower and less poetic but cost nothing per image.
Does it save the photos anywhere?
No. The camera captures an image, sends it to the API, prints the poem, and discards the photo. If you want to keep them, you will need to edit the code to save a copy to the SD card.
How long does the thermal paper last?
Thermal paper fades over time, especially in sunlight or heat. Expect poems to be readable for a few years if kept in a drawer, but they are not archival. Some people scan or photograph the prints if they want to keep them.
Can I make this without soldering?
Barely. You will need to solder header pins onto the Pi Zero unless you buy one with pre-soldered headers. The rest can be done with jumper wires and a breadboard, but it will be fragile.
Community builds
No community builds yet — be the first, we feature the best ones.
Discussion1
FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM
A hundred photos is $3–6 in API costs, and every shutter press is a live call to OpenAI. How would you handle that at a party or event — rate limit, prepaid budget, local model?
Kelin Zhang and Ryan Mather (Bokito Studio)
Kelin Zhang and Ryan Mather built the Poetry Camera as an art project that went unexpectedly viral — they showed it at a gallery, someone posted a video, and suddenly people wanted to buy one. They never sold kits, but they did release the Pi version as open source so others could build their own.
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DISCLAIMER
- Comparee is not the author of the projects featured here. All rights to each project belong to its creator — every page links to the original source, and we never host creators’ files.
- Information is provided without warranty and may become outdated as projects evolve. Prices are indicative bands only — always check the creator’s parts list for current costs.
- Building and operating any project is at your own responsibility. Protective equipment, safe workshop practice and compliance with local regulations are the builder’s responsibility.
CompareeTEAM23d agoedited
Practical notes from our verification: the repo is stable and the code works, but the original enclosure files were never published — if you want the clean handheld form factor from the photos, you will need to design your own case or find a community remix. The thermal printer is the real cost anchor (around $60), and the ongoing OpenAI API charges are something most people do not think about until the bill arrives. The lack of a screen is deliberate, but it means you will not know if a photo worked until the paper comes out, which is charming when it works and frustrating when it does not. No official build video exists, but the repo README is clear enough that someone with prior Pi experience can follow it start to finish in a weekend.