Choosing the right Camera for you can depend on a number of factors including budget, what you intend to film and how what connectivity you have or need. There are lots of cheap webcams available on the market but you need to ensure they have the right features for the job that you want to do! For instance see the photos below taken from the same height– one taken with a wide capture camera, the other with a shorter width. The wider shot is much better at showing general images of say a whole band, but more detail such as hand positions on a fret board would be possible with the other camera.
USB is a popular connection for webcams and can be used for streaming video, and taking photographs. Cameras with HD (High Definition) capabilities of at least 720p and much more are available. See Link 1 below for a review of some affordable cameras.
If you have a smartphone with a good camera this could be used as a standalone camera for streaming video directly from the phone, and it is also possible to purchase additional software for the phone to enable it to work as a webcam connected to your PC or Mac (see Link 2).
Camera placement and resultant image can be critical for both your audience and your fellow musicians so choice of position has to be based on the most important of these factors. If you are fortunate to have more than one camera software such as Zoom allows quick changes between camera via ‘Hot Keys’ (see Link 3).
Lighting your room to make capture the best possible images is very achievable by either using available natural light or purchasing affordable diffused lighting systems such as an LED Light Ring. Links 3 and 4 will, take you to two videos on how beginners can achieve decent results.
Recent Comments