Document camera

Document cameras have been installed in most classrooms. They can be found on top of the instructor station or in the ceiling above the instructor station. Locate this equipment in a classroom by using Room Search and filtering for the feature, "Document Camera."

Using a document camera

  1. Choose the presentation source “Document Camera” on the touch panel.  It will be ready when the source button stops blinking.
  2. Confirm the document camera is on, and if-needed,  turn it on using the power button on the document camera. The power button will glow blue when the document camera is powered on.
  3. Place the object you wish to display directly below the document camera lens.
  4. Adjust the camera by changing zoom, focus, or brightness settings by using the buttons on the document camera. There may also be a touchscreen sub-menu for “Document Camera Controls.”

Troubleshooting tips

A majority of classrooms feature one of two main models of document cameras in use in general purpose classrooms. Choose the relevant model below to review tips on how to adjust the model in your classroom.

photo of ELMO-TTid12 model document camera
photo of ELMO-TTid12 model document camera, zoomed in on buttons
photo of ELMO-TTid12 model document camera, close-up of zoom and auto-focus buttons on arm

ELMO TT-12id

Samsung SDP-860 model document camera
Samsung SDP-860 model document camera, zoomed in on control buttons
Samsung SDP-860 model document camera, zoomed in on camera arm

Samsung SDP-860

If the image is... 

  • Too small or too large, zoom the camera image by twisting the dial on the end of the camera arm.

  • Blurry, tap the orange "Auto-Focus" button on the end of the camera arm to automatically focus the image.

  • Unclear, turn on the lamp by using the gray switch in the middle of the camera arm.

  • Color- or brightness-imbalanced, automatically adjust the color by placing a white piece of paper under the lens and pressing the Auto White Correction (AWC) or Auto White Balance (AWB) button.

  • Rotated, you can either physically adjust the arm or rotate the resulting image with the camera settings.

How to adjust camera arm position:

  1. Rotate the entire upper arm down and around to the opposite orientation.
  2. Twist the camera head to rotate it around the opposite orientation.

How to adjust camera settings:

  1. Press the Menu button to bring up the onscreen options.
  2. Press the left side of the button wheel (laptop icon) to move the highlighted menu item left to the Rotate option. Look for two rotating arrows.
  3. Press the middle button (hourglass icon) to toggle between orientations.

If the image

  • is too small or too large, zoom the camera in or out using the right (+) or left (-) side of the circle buttons.
  • blurry, use the "AF" or "Auto-Focus" button to automatically focus the image.
  • is too dark or too light, turn the lamp on by pressing the Lamp button on the lower-right. 
  • color or brightness is imbalanced, automatically adjust the color by placing a white piece of paper under the lens and press the Auto White Balance (AWB) button.
  • is rotated, you can correct the rotation by trying the following:
     
    1. Rotate or flip the camera arm and/or head to turn in the opposite direction of the current position. It may reverse the image.
    2. Use the settings by pressing the buttons on the document camera base to adjust the image by 180°:
      1. Press the center button inside the large circular button. After pressing, a set of options will appear on the projection screen (make sure document camera source is selected).
      2. In the first set of options, select Image Adjustment. Move to this option, by pressing the button by the down arrow, then the middle button to select.
      3. In the second set of options, select Rotation. Change 0 to 180 (or 180 to 0) by selecting one of the buttons by the side arrows.
      4. When finished, select Return. Then, Save and Exit.

Using a document camera for conferencing as a USB camera

  1. Connect your device - Many classrooms provide a way to connect the document camera to your device via a USB cable. Here are the ways the signal is made available for your use: (Email us at classrm@umn.edu if you want information about a specific room.)
     
    1. Recently upgraded classrooms provide the signal as part of the USB Camera & Audio cable provided. No extra cable is needed.
    2. Rooms with older technology provide a USB-B port located on the equipment rack on the front of the instructor pedestal - and this will require a USB-A to B cable (also called a ‘printer cable’) and an available USB port on your laptop.
      Document Camera USB output on the front of the equipment rack of the instructor pedestal.
    3. A very small number of rooms do not provide a USB signal from the document camera at this time.
       
  2. Choose the correct camera source on your laptop in the web conferencing software. Instead of your built-in camera, look for a new connection, often called “AV Bridge.” 
  3. Choose “Document Camera” for USB output on the touch panel. You may need to use the “USB controls” sub-menu to confirm the document camera is the source and adjust the image as needed (See details above). 

Find this feature

Use Room Search to find out the specific equipment that can be found in your classroom.