Jetson Orin Nano - IMX219 not detected on JetPack 6 (Error -121)

Robotics & Edge Computing Jetson & Embedded Systems Jetson Orin Nano
1

Hello,

I’m trying to connect an IMX219 camera (Raspberry Pi Camera V2) to my Jetson Orin Nano 8GB dev kit using JetPack 6.0 (L4T 36.2). Unfortunately, my board is not able to boot with any JetPack 5.x release – it always fails during the boot process, so I’m limited to JetPack 6.

I’ve followed all recommended steps to enable the IMX219 camera:

  • Used /opt/nvidia/jetson-io/jetson-io.py to enable IMX219 on CAM0
  • Rebooted the board after configuration
  • Used a 15-to-22 pin adapter to connect the camera
  • Verified ribbon orientation multiple times
  • Installed v4l-utils

However, the camera is not working correctly. Here’s the output from dmesg:

[ 10.879753] imx219 9-0010: tegracam sensor driver:imx219_v2.0.6
[ 10.898493] imx219 9-0010: imx219_board_setup: error during i2c read probe (-121)
[ 10.903638] imx219 9-0010: board setup failed
[ 10.903699] imx219: probe of 9-0010 failed with error -121

v4l2-ctl --list-devices shows:

NVIDIA Tegra Video Input Device (platform:tegra-camrtc-ca):
/dev/media0

But trying to open /dev/video0 fails with:

Cannot open device /dev/video0, exiting.

Also, GStreamer fails with nvarguscamerasrc – no camera found.

I understand that error -121 usually indicates a remote I/O issue on the I2C bus, often caused by hardware connection problems or a dead sensor.

To eliminate this possibility, I have tested:

  • A second IMX219 camera module (same result)
  • A different ribbon cable (same result)
  • Confirmed proper orientation and connection multiple times

My questions are:

  • Is there any known issue with JetPack 6 and IMX219 support?
  • Is there a workaround or patch available?
  • Could it be related to the device tree configuration on JetPack 6?
  • Any way to force reinitialization or debug I2C deeper?

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

3

hello karlikha,

this is JetPack 6.0 DP, which is Developer Preview version.
could you please try the latest JetPack 6.2/L4T 36.4.3, we’ve test with IMX219 to confirm it’s working on Jetson Orin Nano normally.

6

Hey,
my version of os nvidia-l4t-core 36.4.3-20250107174145

7

please double check release tag, $ cat /etc/nv_tegra_release for confirmation.

8

Hey,
cat /etc/nv_tegra_release

R36 (release), REVISION: 4.3, GCID: 38968081, BOARD: generic, EABI: aarch64, DATE: Wed Jan 8 01:49:37 UTC 2025

KERNEL_VARIANT: oot

TARGET_USERSPACE_LIB_DIR=nvidia
TARGET_USERSPACE_LIB_DIR_PATH=usr/lib/aarch64-linux-gnu/nvidia

9

hello karlikha,

FYI, we’ve check and confirm IMX219 is working on r36.4.3 + Jetson Orin Nano DevKit.
please double check it’s Raspberry Pi Camera Module v2, IMX219, and it’s Orin Nano Developer Kit.

10

Hey, how I already mentioned I have checked 2 different cameras ribon cables and CIS ports.

11

hello karlikha,

may I know how you install the JP-6.2 public release?
did you also Running Jetson-IO to configure the CSI Connector?
for instance, $ sudo python /opt/nvidia/jetson-io/jetson-io.py
[Configure Jetson 24pin CSI Connector] → [Configure for compatible hardware] → [Camera IMX219 Dual]

please share the kernel logs in details for cross-check. $ dmesg > klogs.txt

12

Hey,
Thanks for your message.

Yes, the installation was done via SD card flashing. I also configured the CSI port correctly using Jetson-IO, following this path:

bash

CopyEdit

$ sudo python /opt/nvidia/jetson-io/jetson-io.py  
→ [Configure Jetson 24pin CSI Connector]  
→ [Configure for compatible hardware]  
→ [Camera IMX219 Dual]  
→ [Save and Reboot]

As for the kernel logs, I tried to run:

bash

CopyEdit

$ dmesg > klogs.txt

But I received the following error:
dmesg: read kernel buffer failed: Operation not permitted

13

please add sudo to obtain the logs.

14

Hey, I so sorry for that. There you go
klogs.txt (63.9 KB)

15

hello karlikha,

I doubt it’s hardware issue,
as you can see.. it’s unable to detect the camera during initialization.
for instance,

[   10.428203] imx219 9-0010: tegracam sensor driver:imx219_v2.0.6
[   10.438862] imx219 9-0010: imx219_board_setup: error during i2c read probe (-121)
[   10.444073] imx219 9-0010: board setup failed
[   10.444133] imx219: probe of 9-0010 failed with error -121
[   10.444394] imx219 10-0010: tegracam sensor driver:imx219_v2.0.6
[   10.455145] imx219 10-0010: imx219_board_setup: error during i2c read probe (-121)
[   10.460245] imx219 10-0010: board setup failed
[   10.460305] imx219: probe of 10-0010 failed with error -121

could you please take a picture of your camera board for cross-check.

16

Hey, I have crossed check and I don’t know what can be the issue, I would say camera but I get tested 2 different ones the sam with ribon cables, for rasbet pi I have 15 to 22 ribon cabel.

IMG_5077
IMG_50771920×3413 432 KB

IMG_5078
IMG_50781920×3413 579 KB

IMG_5079
IMG_50791920×3413 490 KB

17

hello karlikha,

the narrower side (but has 22 contacts, 0.5mm pitch) is to go to Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit side, please make sure the gold contact is on the bottom side.
please have two camera connected since you’ve [Camera IMX219 Dual] CSI configuration.

18

Hey, connectors are on button side with gold pins. I don’t have longer a second camera I sent it back because I was thinking it is damaged. I have changed a configuration for imx219-A but that didn’t do much. I don’t know what else I can try to fix that issue.

19

I assume it’s hardware issue, we’ve check and confirm IMX219 is working on r36.4.3 + Jetson Orin Nano DevKit.

20

So what you suggest? Buy new camera and ribon cabel? If yes do you have any recommendations?

21

Any suggestions?

22

please try re-flash your target via SDK Manager | NVIDIA Developer with JetPack 6.2.

23

I will try, but it will take me a moment because I don’t have any linux computer. So I need to find someone who has it. I will let you know when I will have that done