These two OV5695 USB camera options answer different framing questions. The current product page lists a 79° AF Lens variant and a 160° Wide Angle variant. The first is the more focused choice when a changing subject distance makes autofocus useful. The second is the broader-view choice when more of a nearby scene needs to fit in one frame.
Start with the subject, not the largest angle
For a desk-facing prototype, document camera, or inspection area with a known subject position, a narrower view can put more of the sensor's image area on the object you care about. For a robot that needs to see around itself, or a camera mounted very close to a broad scene, the 160° option may be the better starting point. A wider lens is not automatically “better”: objects become smaller in the frame at the same distance, and edge distortion may matter if you need to measure shapes or keep straight lines straight. Field of view also depends on the sensor-and-lens combination, not the angle label alone. See Edmund Optics' explanation.
The current listing describes the 79° version as autofocus and the 160° version as wide-angle/manual-focus. Those are listing claims, not a report of our own focus-speed or image-quality testing. If focus behavior at a particular distance is critical, request confirmation for the exact SKU before purchasing.
“USB” does not settle every host question
The product listing describes UVC and driver-free operation. UVC is a common USB-camera standard; for example, the Linux kernel documentation describes how conforming UVC devices can be supported. That general fact does not establish that every feature of this specific module works on every Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, Raspberry Pi, or Jetson setup. Verify the selected cable/connector, the host's USB capability, the video formats your application needs, and any autofocus controls you plan to use.
Which option belongs in your cart?
- Choose 79° AF Lens if your subject occupies a smaller area or its distance changes and autofocus is important.
- Choose 160° Wide Angle if the priority is fitting a larger nearby scene into one frame and you can accept a smaller subject in the image.
- For either choice, confirm the exact connector, package contents, and software behavior for your host. Do not infer that a pictured accessory is included.
The right choice is the one that frames your real subject at your real working distance. Compare the two OV5695 variants with that scene in mind.