There are many document cameras on the market, but which one is the right one for you? Here is a summary of the 12 best document cameras we have found, which all vary in price, image resolution, and weight.
We think the best overall product is OKIOLABS. It is affordable, high quality, light, and very easy to use. This product is highly recommended but there are lots of other great options for you to explore too!
Take a look at the other products below to discover which best fits your teaching needs.
13 Best Document Cameras for Teachers
1. OKIOLABS
This product is portable and easy to use. Simply fold it open, adjust the arms and press the button to auto-focus. There is a 360-degree rotating camera so that you can record your work and also turn the camera into a webcam.
The Okiolabs camera is light but very powerful, so it is capable of creating ultra-high resolution images and also high-quality video content.
The device is compatible with popular video conferencing and recording tools, such as Google Meet, Skype, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Facetime. It is easy to use and suitable for students to use if you want them to showcase work to the whole class. It is light, affordable, and perfect for teachers who work from home.
2. INSWAIN INS-1 Tiny
This product is small and it is perfect for teachers who don’t have much desktop space. The multi-joint design allows you to move it freely, depending on what you are trying to show, and it can capture and display both 2D and 3D objects in high definition.
The camera comes with a supplemental LED light and anti-glare sheet, which helps to eliminate exposure problems (even if the lighting in your classroom is not the best!).
The built-in microphone ensures that your students can hear you clearly, whether the lesson is online or in person.
This product is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Chrome OS – the operating systems used by all computers – so you don’t need to worry whether your laptop is compatible or not.
If you are looking for a small, affordable, and effective document camera, then this is a great option for you.
3. Ipevo CDVU Point View Camera
Suppose you want a good camera that is not too expensive. We recommend the Ipevo CDVU-03IP. This powerful document camera is compact and affordable. Its multi-jointed stand positions the camera for documents.
You can move it around for hands-on demonstrations. Its 2 Megapixel camera has a macro mode. That allows taking images from as close as 2" (5 cm) away.
You can use the included software to take photos and save them on your hard drive. Continuous or single-click autofocus ensures sharp, clear text every time.
This camera works with Mac OS, Windows, and Chrome OS.
4. Longjoy Multi-angle Camera
The LV-1010 is designed with teachers in mind. The design is perfect for scanning papers.
This is a USB type of camera that needs you to connect it to a machine. The software is easy and straightforward to use.
You can forgo the software and use the source camera in the zoom or other video apps. The 4-level LED lights make this a modern-day overhead projector. You can use it with your classroom lights on or off.
This camera is only compatible with windows. It will not work on Mac or Chrome OS.
5. Icodis
This document camera uses some of the latest technologies to ensure a quality display, such as smart continuous shooting, splitting images automatically, and correcting defective images. This makes it very useful for teachers needing to scan documents and upload them on learning platforms as it is very easy to use.
An 8mp camera is built-in, allowing for ultra-high definition and so even the smallest details of an image will be clearly visible. This camera has the added function of video recording, so lesson recordings can easily be uploaded for your students to re-watch.
After the camera has scanned content, it is easily turned into PDF documents to send out to your students or to keep as a record for yourself.
You also have added controls with this camera as it comes with 3 light settings, so you can adjust how bright you want the recording to be.
6. CZUR Shing800
This product is designed for teachers who have a large number of documents to scan for their students, although it can also act as a webcam for remote teaching.
The camera allows objects that are smaller than A4 size to be scanned using ultra-fast scanning speed - less than 1 second per page – so you won’t need to waste time waiting for a slow scanner. It also has a number of effective built-in functions for scanning, including auto-cropping, multiple color modes, and combining sides.
Once your documents have been scanned, they can easily be converted to pdf, word, or excel, saving you the time to do it yourself. If you are lacking space in the classroom, then you will be pleased to know that this document camera can be folded 90 degrees.
This is a great option if you want to stop wasting your time and effort on a slow scanner.
8. HUE HD Pro
The Hue HD camera is capable of recording video and sound and it saves the videos you have produced locally, making it much easier for emailing or uploading onto social or learning platforms. The camera also allows you to take snapshot images and multiple images over time.
There is a built-in LED that will help to improve the quality of images in low-light environments.
Additionally, you can also use the camera as your webcam for online lessons or for the students to record their own presentations.
It is easy to use, for both students and teachers, and there are four different colors to choose from (black, red, blue, and green), so it will also help to add some color to your classroom!
9. CZUR ET18 PRO
This document camera is suitable for teachers who need to frequently scan a large number of documents or books up to A3 size.
This is a smart document scanner, so you simply need to lay the book under the camera, hold down the edges of the page with your fingers and the camera will use its smart process to scan the page. It does this by recognizing the curves of the page and flattening it, so it can also crop your fingers out of the final scan. The result is scanned files that are straight and finger-free every time!
Not only can it support your scanning needs, but it can also be used as a visual presenter.
If you purchase this product, it comes with lifetime access to free software that can be used to make edits to the scanned materials. These will be automatically stored and can be changed into a range of different formats, such as pdf or word documents.
Although this product is on the more expensive side, it would be a good investment for any school so that teachers across the school can easily scan pages of or whole textbooks or magazines.
Students will also benefit as they no longer need to carry heavy books home when they can be just a few pages.
10. IPEVO VZ-X
This document camera is one of the few products on the market that offers a wireless connection. This makes it super convenient for teachers to use anywhere as no wires are required.
The camera can be connected to any device via Wi-Fi and there is a direct port for HDMI projection, which is convenient when connecting to a television or projector.
If you choose to use the camera wirelessly, it can be engaged from anywhere in the room and it has a battery life of 9 to 12 hours.
There is a built-in 8MP camera that produces ultra–high definition images.
Although this product is quite an expensive option, it would be a very good investment for anyone wanting wireless projection or even a tidier, wire-free classroom!
11. ANSAUCT
This product is great for capturing live images. It offers full HD and the auto-focus lens allows it to quickly shift focus between different materials.
This document camera is designed for teachers, students, or anyone else working in the education field. It is very easy to use; simply plug it into your laptop and the image will appear on your screen.
The best feature of this product is that it is compatible with most video-sharing platforms, including Zoom, Skype, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet.
If you need to frequently share content with your students online, then this is a great option for you.
12. Thustand
This product is equipped with an 8-megapixel camera, allowing it to capture ultra-high definition images. The camera is attached to a base plate which keeps the camera more stable and minimizes shaking during presentations and lessons.
The camera has a full 360-degree rotation, so you could easily show your PowerPoint and then rotate the camera to show your class a 3D model. The camera also has a built-in auto-focus, which minimizes the interruptions when switching between materials and means less lagging!
This document camera is affordable and a great option for teachers who often give online classes and presentations.
It is compatible with most video conferencing platforms, including Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Skype, Facebook, YouTube, and Google Hangouts.
13. Inebiz 8MP Camera
This camera is ideal for online lessons. You can do video conferencing without installing software. You need to plug the document copier into your PC or laptop via a USB cable.
The LED lights will help show your face in low light. The microphone allows students to hear you throughout your classroom or auditorium.
You can take photos at 1080P pictures and videos. Play them back on your computer without extra installs. This camera works with Windows, Linux, and Mac OSX.
It is a bit heavier than others on the list but it also has more features.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are many document cameras on the market and the right one for you really depends on what you are looking for in terms of features, functionality, size, and price.
When looking at different document cameras, many may have the same quality of the camera or offer a similar price, but each of them will have a unique feature to differentiate that model from its competitors.
Its uniqueness could be that it is very light and portable, or that it offers other functions, such as video recording or the ability to rotate.
Make sure you do your research about products in your price range before making a decision. We recommend that you read the reviews of other people who have bought the product and carefully read through the features before you make a purchase.
We hope this has been a helpful article and that you are now able to find the document camera that fits your needs!
