Handy low-cost USB camera for live demos and close up photos of boards

09 Oct 2013

If you ever need to do demos in a large class or meeting using a projector, and would like to show live video of a small board, here is a great low-cost option (<$70). The easy-to-use stand is what makes it so handy and it will focus down to 2 inches away. It comes with "IPEVO Presenter" software (MAC or PC) to display live video and capture images. The IPEVO Presenter software does not record video, but Google's free Picasa can.

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IPEVO Point 2 View (P2V) USB Document Camera

It also takes still images up to 1600 x 1200 (2 Megapixel camera). Here is a photo of the mbed application board taken using the P2V.

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There is even a $19 close-up snap on magnifying lens option with a built in LED light that lets you have a closer look at those tiny surface mount parts and pins. For even more magnification, there is also a $19 microscope eyepiece adapter kit available.

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mbed photo using optional close-up lens on P2V camera

I found it very handy for demos and the image quality is near that of some very expensive document cameras that are also larger and more difficult to carry around.