Answers.Body: <p>For online delivery and viewing on laptops/tablets, 720P should be sufficient for capturing the entire sheet in a legible way, but resolution isn't the only factor to consider...</p>
  
  <p>A 1080P camera would capture higher-resolution images, but a 1-hr lecture at that size would probably result in a file size around 1GB. Assuming the intended delivery is online, the resolution/quality should probably be reduced anyway for ease of viewing/upload/download - the benefits of a better camera would likely be lost.</p>
  
  <p>I'd also suggest that proper lighting &amp; contrast are greater concerns than camera resolution. </p>
  
  <p>A webcam may have issues if the room is too dark, or if the paper is too brightly illuminated (or not illuminated enough). Similarly, a black marker would be much more legible than, say, a ballpoint pen, but you can't fit as much writing on the page.</p>
  
  <p>Exposure/contrast would also vary depending on if you only intend to include the white paper/writing in the frame, or yourself lecturing as well. This would be the 1 area where  resolution might matter - how much of the screen is actual writing? </p>
  
  <p>I'd recommend buying the (presumably cheaper) 720p one at a store with a 30-day return policy &amp; do some test lessons in the actual environment. Play with lighting, camera position, etc. If students are happy viewing them, you're all set. If not, try 1080p :)  </p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-09-11T23:35:07.557Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-09-11T23:35:07.557Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: mc01
Body: <p>I've used a document camera for capturing handwritten lectures. To be more specific I solve exercises for my students by writing on a blank sheet of paper while explaining. So far I've been using an auditorium for this, but I'd like to do the same in my office. Thus, I need a webcam which I can mount above my desk. The biggest problem is budget, and that I work only on Macs (few webcams support OS 10.9. I've been searching for webcams and there are only a few 1080p HD cams available in nearby stores. But would a 720p HD camera be ok?</p>
  
  <p>What would the experts recommend?</p>
  
Tags: <mac><webvideos>
Title: Resolution for webcam for recording lectures when writing on paper?
UserDisplayName: DrJay
ThreadText: # Resolution for webcam for recording lectures when writing on paper?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2014-09-11)
  
  I've used a document camera for capturing handwritten lectures. To be more specific I solve exercises for my students by writing on a blank sheet of paper while explaining. So far I've been using an auditorium for this, but I'd like to do the same in my office. Thus, I need a webcam which I can mount above my desk. The biggest problem is budget, and that I work only on Macs (few webcams support OS 10.9. I've been searching for webcams and there are only a few 1080p HD cams available in nearby stores. But would a 720p HD camera be ok?
  
  What would the experts recommend?
  
  **Tags:** mac, webvideos
  
  
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  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2014-09-11. Score: 3 | Accepted answer
  
  For online delivery and viewing on laptops/tablets, 720P should be sufficient for capturing the entire sheet in a legible way, but resolution isn't the only factor to consider...
  
  A 1080P camera would capture higher-resolution images, but a 1-hr lecture at that size would probably result in a file size around 1GB. Assuming the intended delivery is online, the resolution/quality should probably be reduced anyway for ease of viewing/upload/download - the benefits of a better camera would likely be lost.
  
  I'd also suggest that proper lighting & contrast are greater concerns than camera resolution.
  
  A webcam may have issues if the room is too dark, or if the paper is too brightly illuminated (or not illuminated enough). Similarly, a black marker would be much more legible than, say, a ballpoint pen, but you can't fit as much writing on the page.
  
  Exposure/contrast would also vary depending on if you only intend to include the white paper/writing in the frame, or yourself lecturing as well. This would be the 1 area where resolution might matter - how much of the screen is actual writing?
  
  I'd recommend buying the (presumably cheaper) 720p one at a store with a 30-day return policy & do some test lessons in the actual environment. Play with lighting, camera position, etc. If students are happy viewing them, you're all set. If not, try 1080p :)
  
  
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