# USB Video Camera access through pynq z2 PL side **URL:** \ **Category:** Support\ **Created:** [March 12, 2022, 10:56am UTC](https://discuss.pynq.io/t/usb-video-camera-access-through-pynq-z2-pl-side/3827 "2022-03-12T10:56:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dpk1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discuss.pynq.io/dpk1/32/3355_2.png) [@dpk1](https://discuss.pynq.io/u/dpk1)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2022, 10:56am UTC](https://discuss.pynq.io/t/usb-video-camera-access-through-pynq-z2-pl-side/3827/1 "2022-03-12T10:56:56Z")
I have used a USB camera through the PYNQ z2 PS side. But using python script in jupytor, speed gets slowed down. I want to access it on the PL side. My Idea is 1. Is there any direct way to use a USB camera on the PL side. 2. How can I make an overlay and create an IP. Then using that IP on PS for getting speed improvement. How can I use that IP for Video processing? Are these ideas fine? If yes kindly, provide some resources on this. ---
**Author:** ![cathalmccabe](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discuss.pynq.io/cathalmccabe/32/3348_2.png) [@cathalmccabe](https://discuss.pynq.io/u/cathalmccabe)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 10:35am UTC](https://discuss.pynq.io/t/usb-video-camera-access-through-pynq-z2-pl-side/3827/2 "2022-03-14T10:35:28Z")
On the PYNQ-Z2, the USB port on the board is connected to a USB controller on the PS side of the Zynq chip. The HDMI interfaces are connected to the PL. Can you use HDMI as a source? Cathal ---
**Author:** ![dpk1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discuss.pynq.io/dpk1/32/3355_2.png) [@dpk1](https://discuss.pynq.io/u/dpk1)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 4:26pm UTC](https://discuss.pynq.io/t/usb-video-camera-access-through-pynq-z2-pl-side/3827/3 "2022-03-14T16:26:36Z")
NO. I am using a USB-type camera. So I wanted to make a pipeline in PL so that I can take a USB camera as input and do some image processing on it and send it to a VGA monitor for display or send it to another port for further processing. So is there any idea how to achieve this? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![marioruiz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discuss.pynq.io/marioruiz/32/2177_2.png) [@marioruiz](https://discuss.pynq.io/u/marioruiz)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 4:30pm UTC](https://discuss.pynq.io/t/usb-video-camera-access-through-pynq-z2-pl-side/3827/4 "2022-03-14T16:30:29Z")
Hi, Did you look at the composable video overlay? [The Composable Video Pipeline — PYNQ Composable Overlays 1.0.2 documentation](https://pynq-composable.readthedocs.io/en/latest/video_pipeline.html) Mario ---
**Author:** ![dpk1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discuss.pynq.io/dpk1/32/3355_2.png) [@dpk1](https://discuss.pynq.io/u/dpk1)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2022, 4:20am UTC](https://discuss.pynq.io/t/usb-video-camera-access-through-pynq-z2-pl-side/3827/5 "2022-03-17T04:20:40Z")
I feel composable Video overlay is more about a different type of image processing on-camera image. My target is to detect different types of cameras (like USB camera, HDMI type camera, or any CMOS sensor camera) through FPGA. Is there any way in pynq-z2 to interface these cameras? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![marioruiz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discuss.pynq.io/marioruiz/32/2177_2.png) [@marioruiz](https://discuss.pynq.io/u/marioruiz)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 8:02am UTC](https://discuss.pynq.io/t/usb-video-camera-access-through-pynq-z2-pl-side/3827/6 "2022-03-21T08:02:27Z")
Hi, The HDMI is connected to the PL, you can also try to interfaces cameras that can be connected via PMODs. Mario ---
**Author:** ![Raunak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@Raunak](https://discuss.pynq.io/u/Raunak)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2026, 6:43am UTC](https://discuss.pynq.io/t/usb-video-camera-access-through-pynq-z2-pl-side/3827/7 "2026-06-12T06:43:31Z")
Hi, Have you got your answer? As I am also working on a similar type of thing, where I want to take the real-time USB Camera stream to the PL side (USB-\> VDMA-\> HDMI\_OUT), without using the HDMI\_IN. I tried eliminating HDMI\_IN and make the VDMA read, but not get success yet. So, want to know how you did that.