Any teachers around here?  Camera suggestion needed - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 12, 2022, 10:39:49 pm
content: I have a need to record a classroom lecture, presumably of whiteboard work but with a bit of wandering around the room. Facial tracking would be good, auto zoom (framing) would be a plus if we set the camera in the back of the room. Assume there is no competent help, the camera will be set up before class and remain stationary throughout the hour class.Any suggestions? I think I have found a way to use a Bluetooth lapel mic and overwrite the audio track from the camera - Veed Creator will do this.I have spent several hours on Google and Amazon without a concrete resolution.

author: mkiijam
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 12, 2022, 11:00:59 pm
content: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collaboration-endpoints/telepresence-speaker-track-60/index.htmlGoogle search term = "speaker tracking camera"

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 12, 2022, 11:18:34 pm
content: Quote from: mkiijam on October 12, 2022, 11:00:59 pmI think I'll pass on the $15k Cisco camera. I guess if I were building up a conference room and wanted a good solution to tracking, $15k wouldn't be a big deal.The search term is somewhat different than what I had been using. The Yealink UVC86 might just work.https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1719808-REG/yealink_yea_uvc86_4k_dual_eye_intelligent_tracking.htmlNow I need to sort out the lecture plan and order the camera in time. At least the price is reasonable.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 12, 2022, 11:56:57 pm
content: Does it need tracking? The old way of recording a lecture was to put a standard camcorder on a tripod. A modern digital camcorder ought to be a reasonable drop-in replacement for that approach, with the added advantage of a much wider aspect ratio and much higher resolution.

author: EPAIII
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2022, 02:45:38 am
content: I worked in the TV industry for over 45 years. The camera in the $25 cell phone that I used before the change over to 5G (my old CHEAP cell phone) is better in terms of the image quality than any professional camera the stations I worked for used in that entire period. All it lacks is the professional bells and whistles (and weight and size).I would estimate that at least 80% of the videos on the internet today are made with one or more cell phone cameras.I would suggest a good/your best cell phone on a tripod at the back of the classroom. Use a wide shot if you plan to move around the room so it catches wherever you plan to go. Or to catch any student questions or comments.A second camera/cell phone can be located near the front to provide a tight shot (speaker only) when he/you are at the primary location in the lecture.The use of two cameras/cell phones will also allow you to record two audio tracks. One can record the professor's (your) microphone while the other can use the built-in microphone to record the room for questions/comments from the students.The video and audio tracks from the two can be easily combined with modern inexpensive or free editing software (that's apps for the great unwashed).Now, here's the trick to cheap tracking. Since most of the videos on the internet today are in a lower version of high resolution (1080P or lower), if the camera at the rear of the room is set for a higher resolution, like 4K video, then the editing software can zoom in to a tighter shot AFTER the footage has been recorded. It catches it all and you pick the tight shots later. Modern, high end cell phones or video cameras can record the video in these higher resolutions. A 4K video image (iPhone or many others) has about 16 times the number of pixels as a 1080 image and this allows a 4X zoom while keeping 1080P resolution or better. Beyond that, depending on just how tight you zoom in, this many not be a full 1080P resolution, but with good editing software very few viewers will ever see or know the difference. This will require some editing time, but it is probably the least expensive way in terms of equipment. And you will not need a camera man to control the camera during the lecture. You do the editing after the fact, at your leisure.I am presently collecting the means of shooting some internet videos. I plan to use my newest cell phone, a medium priced Android model, as the primary camera and my old, 3G phone as a second camera or as a viewfinder for the primary camera. I also have two relatively inexpensive digital cameras which are primarily intended for still photography but both will take video footage as well. Virtually every digital camera out there is also a video camera. One or both of them can be set up for tight shots of my subject matter while the primary camera is fixed on me or a wide shot.The real question in today's video world is not which camera, but HOW MANY do I use today?

author: EPAIII
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2022, 02:50:53 am
content: B&H is a good, well known source. I have used them in the past. I would encourage you to call them and tell them what you are trying to do. They may have some suggestions. Don't just order from the internet.Quote from: rstofer on October 12, 2022, 11:18:34 pm

author: jonpaul
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2022, 06:38:57 am
content: iphone, video app.cost $5j