Getting Started with your ZED camera

Last updated: October 23, 2026

Thank you for purchasing a ZED camera!

ZED cameras bring 3D perception and spatial AI to your applications. Our stereo cameras reproduce the way human vision works: using their two "eyes" and through triangulation, they create a three-dimensional model of the scene they observe, providing indoor and outdoor depth perception, positional tracking, and AI-powered spatial understanding. Our monocular cameras deliver high-quality, hardware-synchronized video streams and can be combined to build custom stereo rigs with a baseline tailored to your application.

The ZED family includes several models designed for different applications:

  • USB 3 stereo cameras: ZED 2i (long-range depth and spatial AI, IP66) and ZED Mini (compact, ideal for mixed reality and short-range applications).

  • GMSL2 stereo cameras (for NVIDIA® Jetson™ platforms): ZED X and ZED X Mini (global shutter, IP67, designed for robotics), and ZED X Nano (compact camera designed to be mounted on robotic arms and end effectors).

  • GMSL2 monocular cameras: the ZED X One family, available in ZED X One GS (global shutter), ZED X One S (ultra-compact global shutter) and ZED X One 4K models, for single-camera vision applications, multi-camera rigs, and custom stereo baselines.

  • MIPI monocular camera module: the ZED X One Core, a barebone module connected through a ZED Link MIPI capture card.

  • Embedded computing: ZED Box Orin and ZED Box Mini, plus ZED Link capture cards to connect GMSL2 cameras to NVIDIA® Jetson™ devices.

First, let's review the items you should have received (contents may vary depending on the camera model):

  • Your ZED camera

  • A USB 3.0 Type-C cable (USB models) or GMSL2 connectivity accessories (ZED X family)

  • A Mini Tripod stand (selected models)

  • Documentation and quick start guide

1. Connect your ZED

USB cameras (ZED 2i, ZED Mini): Unpack your ZED and mount it on the Mini Tripod if included in the box. Plug the camera into a USB 3.0 port. These are UVC-compliant cameras, so they are automatically recognized by your computer. See the ZED USB cameras documentation for details.

GMSL2 cameras (ZED X, ZED X Mini, ZED X Nano, ZED X One): These cameras require an NVIDIA® Jetson™ platform equipped with a ZED Link capture card, a ZED Box Orin, or a ZED Box Mini. Please follow the dedicated guides:

2. Download and install the ZED SDK

  • Get the latest version from the download page.

  • Make sure you have the correct version of CUDA installed; on NVIDIA® Jetson™, CUDA is already included in JetPack.

  • Run the ZED SDK installer to install the ZED driver, tools, and samples. See Getting Started with the ZED SDK for detailed instructions on Windows, Linux, and NVIDIA® Jetson™.

  • GMSL2 cameras also require the ZED X Driver, available on the driver download page.

Note: The first time a camera is opened, the ZED SDK downloads its factory calibration file from our online database, so an internet connection is required. Cameras produced after May 2026 (except the ZED Mini) also store the factory calibration on their internal EEPROM, which is read by ZED SDK v5.3 or newer without an internet connection. Some firewalls may block the download and must be configured to allow the ZED tools to access the internet; see Problem with factory reset of the ZED calibration.

3. Run ZED Explorer

ZED Explorer is an application for ZED live preview and recording. It lets you change video resolution, aspect ratio, and camera parameters, and capture high-resolution snapshots and video in SVO format.

If the ZED is recognized by your system, you'll see the live video stream from your camera.

4. Play with the samples

The ZED SDK includes several tutorials and samples to learn how to use video, depth, and point cloud information, along with advanced modules such as Depth Sensing, Positional Tracking, Spatial Mapping, Object Detection, and Body Tracking, plus integrations with third-party libraries and frameworks such as ROS 2, Isaac Sim, Unity, and Unreal Engine.

With a stereo camera, or a stereo rig built with two ZED X One cameras, run the ZED Depth Viewer to check that the depth map is displayed correctly. If you have trouble launching the ZED Depth Viewer, please check the Troubleshooting section of this Help Center.

You can also check our GitHub page for the latest updates. Read the documentation to learn more, and start experimenting with the samples!