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When it comes to online videos, having the right camera can make all the difference in the quality of video content – live and recorded. Of course, cameras come in many shapes and sizes. Zoomable. Eye-level, and how about an overhead camera? When do we need that?
Well, I’ve been doing these product review videos where I demonstrate the products on my desk with my overhead camera setup coming into play. Here’s how those look:
The use cases of using overhead cameras:
- Recorded product videos (vertically or horizontal)
- During livestream. (Restream, my production software, allows the adding of additional cameras so I can have one on me and one facing at the desk.)
Overhead camera setup options
There are several options for your overhead camera setup. Let’s dive in here…
Use existing camera with standalone tripod
I use a camera on a standalone tripod and I could literally just bend that in a way to kind of make it into an overhead camera. I think the footage would be upside down, though, unless I move the camera to the other side of the desk.
Attached mount to desk
Several options exist of camera mounts that attach/hook to your desk and that you then adjust to right over whatever it is you are trying to film.
Downward facing Webcam Flex eye level camera
The Webcam Flex is a versatile center-screen webcam that allows for easy mounting on your monitor. With a simple adjustment, you can tilt the camera down to showcase items on your desk. Video direction can be rotated with the push of a button.
Table View Mode transforms your desktop into a display area. It’s perfect for demonstrating products, sharing documents or objects, and adding variety to live or recorded videos. The camera allows to zoom in and out, enabling you to focus on details and create the perfect frame for your content.
It connects with a standard USB connection to your computer.
Overhead phone camera setup
A lot of video content creation can now happen with iPhones – including when streaming from your computer throught the Apple Continuity Camera. So this iPhone stand and light are an option if that’s your prefered camera.
The elaborate overhead camera setup
If you need more options – more lights, different camera angles, etc. – try the jusmo LS15 Desk Overhead Camera Mount Rig Top-Down Shots setup.
Overhead camera pole mount system
Few of us likely have to get this fancy. But here’s an even bigger system if you need to get footage of something overhead over a bigger area.
When the overhead shot matters
Until I was doing these product review videos, I never really needed overhead shots. Or perhaps I didn’t think of it as an option. But everytime you need to show something that is physically with you and then would benefit from being shown closeup, an overhead camera setup might be the way to go.