Suitable Skype Camera to video a classroom of 24 pupils

[ictstbenedicts]

We are looking to setup Skype video connection with a school in France for our MFL dept.

 

We would like to get the experience from other schools as to what camera/ mic. configuration they have successfully used for this applicaiton.

 

Previously, we have tried a Logitec QuickCam Pro 9000 HD which suffered with poor audio pick-up (range of mic was too short), field of view was too narrow so everyone had to group in front of the camera and we had problems with flourescent lighting in the room washing out the image, with the lights off the room was too dark (during the day)!

 

thanks

[plexer]

Xbox kinnect?

 

Ben

[Templar]

Do the school use visualisers? why not use one of those?

[SYNACK]

Xbox kinnect?

 

Ben

 

The array mics work really well, you can just hook them up to a PC as long as you have the USB power injector and the SDK Windows 7 and aove will pick it up as a mic really well, it does have a tendancy to auto adjust the volume levels. You can pick up the kinect sensor packs for old xboxes quite cheap now and the new PC ones for a bit more (which have better optics).

[JJanisch]

This Logitech camera is amazing, especially for the price you pay. It comes with a mounting clip as well, so find a couple USB extenders and you'll be having some 1080p Skype on Skype action.

 

http://www.logitech.com/en-gb/webcam-communications/webcams/devices/hd-pro-webcam-c920

[Dos_Box]

We use a Microsoft LifeCam Cinema to webcast the conf: Microsoft Webcam: LifeCam Cinema | Microsoft Hardware

That version is 720p but they now also have a new 1080p version - Microsoft Webcam: LifeCam Studio | Microsoft Hardware - and I must say that the sound/image quality is superb. Also being a simple USB camera makes setup a doddle. Even a teacher could do it!

[JJanisch]

I hadn't seen that microsoft cam, it looks manly. Check out this comparison: