Overhead Camera for Demos - What you using?

[Jaan]

Hi everyone, I’m looking for recommendations for a ceiling-mounted overhead camera system for our Food Tech department.

We need a clean HDMI output to feed a large display for live demonstrations. We’ve found that standard 4K document cameras aren't hitting the mark. I suspect we need something with a decent optical zoom to properly frame the workspace without losing quality.

My initial thought was a DSLR/Mirrorless setup with a clean HDMI out, but I'm open to dedicated pro-visualizers if they have the right optics. What are you all using for similar high-end demo spaces?

 

cheers

 

 

[AlphamaleZed]

i have done a custom rig with a webcam which uses the tripod mount. 

Similar to this https://amzn.eu/d/0hHDdQ5P or https://amzn.eu/d/0dk2HIyJ and then an active cable run in the ceiling and then flush the cable inwall.

 

Mounts to the ceiling tile and doesnt cost a bomb.

 

Works well done this around 8 years ago and works a treat!

[dhicks]

3 hours ago, Jaan said:

My initial thought was a DSLR/Mirrorless setup with a clean HDMI out

 

You probably want something with more of a dedicated design for using from a ceiling mount. Sorry, I can't remember the model we bought a while back, but a quick search for "4K PTZ Camera" brings up this (£230):

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vunvooker-Conference-Tracking-Streaming-Education/dp/B0DB4LTWHW

 

We've used something similar in the past (although not that make / model, so I can't vouch for the exact features).

[SamanthaD]

If you want something that points straight down - Wolfvision Eye 14. Has a proper ceiling tile grid mount that sits above the tile to support the camera correctly. Laser dot to show where the centre of the image is that flashes out of sync with the camera frame rate so the dot doesn't appear on the image. 14x optical zoom. HDMI and USB (UVC) outputs.

 

Yes it's pricey, but it works. We use them in our anatomy labs for medical procedures etc and they're great.

[TLARWise]

Add it to the pricey but does the job well pile, we have a few CL511 4K Ceiling Camera | Lumens in our food and science labs.

[AlphamaleZed]

you lot got too much money lol!

[synaesthesia]

Christ on a bike...

And I feel posh having designed what is essentially a £30 visualiser removed from it's based lowered down from the ceiling on a retractable cord? (Haven't started it yet, but we had a similar ask for our food tech room when it was rebuilt last year and last minute budget cut said nooooo. Said I could do better for £50 and an hour of time )

[robintech]

We use a Logitech Brio 4K on a ceiling tile , long USB cable and the Windows Camera app. They then display it on the Smart Board as Extend or Duplicate  seems to work well for  Foodtech only issue we had once was someone unplugging it from the computer.

[Jaan]

16 minutes ago, synaesthesia said:

Christ on a bike...

And I feel posh having designed what is essentially a £30 visualiser removed from it's based lowered down from the ceiling on a retractable cord? (Haven't started it yet, but we had a similar ask for our food tech room when it was rebuilt last year and last minute budget cut said nooooo. Said I could do better for £50 and an hour of time )

 

Yeah i'm sure the current visualiser we have is fine... maybe they have seen these ceiling cameras at other schools 🤣 

[SamanthaD]

Food for thought (see what I did there?)

 

This is suspended over staff and pupils. If a homebrew solution fails and hits someone on the head who is liable? Compare that to something designed to be up there, installed in accordance with the manufacturers instructions. The cost of the legal defence and institutional reputation will soon add up to more than doing it right the first time. This is why we cough up for the expensive cameras, we'd rather that than have increased risk of harm coming to the people underneath it.

 

But you do you!

[BKGarry]

This is semi joking but in all seriousness, what happened to having a big mirror at a tilt facing from the ceiling above the board? No tech to go wrong there, nothing fancy, and probably some of the best image quality you'll ever get 😉

[synaesthesia]

11 hours ago, SamanthaD said:

Food for thought (see what I did there?)

 

This is suspended over staff and pupils. If a homebrew solution fails and hits someone on the head who is liable? Compare that to something designed to be up there, installed in accordance with the manufacturers instructions. The cost of the legal defence and institutional reputation will soon add up to more than doing it right the first time. This is why we cough up for the expensive cameras, we'd rather that than have increased risk of harm coming to the people underneath it.

 

But you do you!

 

The same can be said about any of the ceiling tiles which weigh more, or the various sensors, smoke alarms, light fittings or crumbling bits of RAAC - all of which are far more likely to cause issue than even a hastily gaffer taped webcam let alone something installed by people who also know what they're doing, qualified & experienced to do it and following all risk assessments. Sorry, but that entire comment seemed very badly misplaced and undermines the professionalism of everyone making lives easier.

 

And I agree @BKGarry - not always achievable though depending on room layouts but tech isn't always the answer

[pete]

11 hours ago, BKGarry said:

This is semi joking but in all seriousness, what happened to having a big mirror at a tilt facing from the ceiling above the board? No tech to go wrong there, nothing fancy, and probably some of the best image quality you'll ever get 😉

 

You have suspended a fairly heavy sheet of glass or steel above the teacher though.  An exotic guillotine that won't trigger in most circumstances.

[BKGarry]

58 minutes ago, pete said:

 

You have suspended a fairly heavy sheet of glass or steel above the teacher though.  An exotic guillotine that won't trigger in most circumstances.

In true BOFH style. 

[AlphamaleZed]

On 01/04/2026 at 08:13, SamanthaD said:

Food for thought (see what I did there?)

 

This is suspended over staff and pupils. If a homebrew solution fails and hits someone on the head who is liable? Compare that to something designed to be up there, installed in accordance with the manufacturers instructions. The cost of the legal defence and institutional reputation will soon add up to more than doing it right the first time. This is why we cough up for the expensive cameras, we'd rather that than have increased risk of harm coming to the people underneath it.

 

But you do you!

I mean anything is a hazard nowadays and you'll get fined regardless. A light weight piece of plastic on the ceiling above a fixed table aint going to do much harm realistically unless they swing on it like a pull up bar.

 

Keep yourself protected do a risk assessment like you should do legally for all your work. I am guessing you have risk assessments for those expensive cameras? RA's for every computer in the school generic or by groups or singles? RA's for Displays? etc.... its endless.

 

Worst case wood block above to spread the force across the ceiling tile width and maybe have a kensington lock or catenary rope attached.

[SamanthaD]

On 02/04/2026 at 10:10, AlphamaleZed said:

I mean anything is a hazard nowadays and you'll get fined regardless. A light weight piece of plastic on the ceiling above a fixed table aint going to do much harm realistically unless they swing on it like a pull up bar.

 

Keep yourself protected do a risk assessment like you should do legally for all your work. I am guessing you have risk assessments for those expensive cameras? RA's for every computer in the school generic or by groups or singles? RA's for Displays? etc.... its endless.

 

Worst case wood block above to spread the force across the ceiling tile width and maybe have a kensington lock or catenary rope attached.

We have our cameras installed by an external company to remove any liability. All fitted with load tested safety lines secured to the concrete plinth above the suspended ceiling, as per the manufacturers instructions. Every hole drilled into the wall is risk assessed and asbestos checked before a single tool is held. Full RAMS and PTW's raised for every install. It is endless, but unfortunately these days very necessary.

[synaesthesia]

2 minutes ago, SamanthaD said:

We have our cameras installed by an external company to remove any liability. All fitted with load tested safety lines secured to the concrete plinth above the suspended ceiling, as per the manufacturers instructions. Every hole drilled into the wall is risk assessed and asbestos checked before a single tool is held. Full RAMS and PTW's raised for every install. It is endless, but unfortunately these days very necessary.

Most of that goes without saying - but still undermines what school staff are capable of, qualified to do, experienced with and insured for.

We've just had a good example. Projector fitted in our hall by a very good reputable company that we'd use again. Larger projector fitted in a universal cage. However the mounting mechanism relied upon two adjustable bars which "clamp" around the projector. That would never have worked unless whatever projector was used was completely flat at the bottom and that never happens. So the company mounted it on top, using the rubber strips to stabilise the projector. The slightest movement however meant it just dropped off leaving a wonky image.

That however would have been warrantied and liability left on them. We were not happy.

We therefore took it upon ourselves to remove the mounting bars, fit a ventilated sheet to the bottom of the cage and have the projector sat flat on it with it's own rubber feet. Far more stable, far safer - but we'd be liable. 

Potentially dangerous but not our fault if something happened....

Or far safer and our fault if something does. We choose this and would do every single time.

Liability is a dirty word these days and people are too scared to do anything themselves and this is frankly awful practice which is pushing schools towards managed service providers, full outsourcing and having actually no internal knowledge or expertise.

People who condone that should be in insurance, not working in schools.

[msi_school]

19 minutes ago, SamanthaD said:

We have our cameras installed by an external company to remove any liability. All fitted with load tested safety lines secured to the concrete plinth above the suspended ceiling, as per the manufacturers instructions. Every hole drilled into the wall is risk assessed and asbestos checked before a single tool is held. Full RAMS and PTW's raised for every install. It is endless, but unfortunately these days very necessary.

Having a third party do an install does not remove your liability, only changes it.

Instead of your methods and decision in doing the install being questioned the methods and decisions of selecting a contractor, specifying the work and inspecting the final install are what you may have to defend.

 

 

[RobFuller]

Just had the same request come up here. Was considering one of these OBSBOT Tiny 3 Series - AI-Powered Spatial Audio 4K PTZ Webcam on a tripod or wall mount, looks a swish solution without to much complexity and cost. Just wondered if OP made any progress? (we dont need HDMI out)