A document camera (or visualiser) is a special video camera designed to display documents and 3-D objects onto a plasma screen, television, projector or monitor. You can connect the document camera to a projector and display onto an interactive whiteboard.

It is called a 'document camera' as you can place documents such as A4 printed handouts, papers, magazines or maps underneath them, so that they are displayed on screen. Overhead projectors do a similar job, but you have to print or photocopy onto acetate (clear plastic) sheets first. Document cameras can also display small objects such as insects, flowers, leaves, coins and watches, which overhead projectors cannot do. You can even position a document camera arm to pick up images of a music teacher playing piano notes, so that students can view on a larger projection screen. More information about document cameras below.

High-end visualisers offer solutions for medical X-Rays and telepathology, whilst live imaging visualisers are used in hospitals or for video conferencing.

Document cameras and visualisers - current product range:

	Model	Price	Availability
	AverVison CP130 document camera Includes features for classroom presentations, 8 times zoom, captures up to 40 images	£256 + VAT	2-5 work days
	AverVison CP150 document camera Portable, 16x total zoom, 80 images built-in memory, auto image to optimize video quality quickly	£340 + VAT	2-5 work days
	AVerVision 300AF portable visualiser Fast auto focus, Averzoom, clear image quality 3.2 megal pixel sensor, 24 frame rate, ideal for schools and colleges	£452 + VAT	1-2 work days
	Toshiba C001 detachable document camera Use up to 10m away from your Toshiba projector, compatible with current models that use 15 pin D-sub VGA connector	£480 + VAT	3-10 work days
	Aclass EzVision 2000 document camera CCD 1/3-inch PS, 12x optical zoom, camera movement 360 degree, lighting arm adjustment, VGAx2	£520 + VAT	2-5 work days
	Lumens DC160 education digital presenter in red Portable XGA gooseneck, 3X optical zoom, auto focus, 48 images captured internally or output via USB to PC, for schools	£565 + VAT	2-5 work days
	Elmo L-1n visualiser Rugged design, sturdy casing, easy use, 4 buttons, no PC required, 5.2X optical zoom, autofocus, 20 frames per sec, A3	£575 + VAT	2-5 work days
	AVerVision SPC300 portable visual presenter User friendly design, high image quality 3.2 mega pixel sensor, auto focus, 48X total zoom, split screen for education	£749 + VAT	1-3 work days
	Lumens PS400 XGA desktop visualiser XGA desktop visualiser, 12x optical zoom, 20fps, stores 80 images internally, two hot keys, head rotatges 90/180/270 deg	£825 + VAT	2-5 work days
	AverVision 530 flatbed document camera Easy to use design, optical 12 times, digital 8 times zoom in, 1024x768, for hand written documents, x-ray film, 3Ds	£866 + VAT	2-5 work days
	Samsung SVP-5300P presenter USB2, SVGA, 16x optical zoom, 25fps capture, fully flexible arm and swivel camera head, flexible capture area	£877 + VAT	2-5 work days
	GeneVision6100 document camera Professional ¼-inch CCD lens, 22x optical zoom & 10x digital zoom, 15fps for classrooms	£975 + VAT	2-5 work days
	Samsung SDP-850 presenter VGA out, XGA, 14x optical zoom, fully flexible arm and swivel camera head, flexible capture area	£1,018 + VAT	2-5 work days
	Lumens PS600 desktop visualiser with PC slot XGA desktop visualiser with PC slot and ethernet, USB remote control, A4 capture area, DVI output, split screen function	£1,060 + VAT	2-5 work days
	Elmo P30 education visual presenter Progressive scan technology,15x optical zoom, 4x digital zoom, true XGA, use with whiteboard/tablet via USB 2.0	£1,150 + VAT	2-5 work days
	Samsung UF-80STP presenter XGA table presenter, optional table lamp, USB2, 14x optical zoom, 20fps capture, A4 capture area.	£1,219 + VAT	2-5 work days
	Canon RE-455X visualiser document camera Ture XGA input/output, 12x optical zoom, white paper mode to enhance whites ideal jewellers, simple one touch focus	£1,310 + VAT	2-7 work days
	WolfVision VZ-5F portable visualiser Portable video visualizer with carry case, foldable, setup in seconds, optimized for video conferencing 18x optical zoom	£1,375 + VAT	2-10 work days
	Samsung SDP-850DX presenter USB2, 14x optical zoom, 20fps, fully flexible arm and swivel camera head, flexible capture area	£1,410 + VAT	2-5 work days
	WolfVision VZ-7D portable visualiser with case Wolfvision document camera for use with documents, video conferencing, transparencies and 3D objects	£1,625 + VAT	2-10 work days
	Samsung SDP-900DXA presenter USB2, 12x optical zoom, 20fps, table visualiser with built-in lamp, local memory for image store, A4, metal casing	£1,687 + VAT	2-5 work days
	Samsung SDP-950 ST presenter XGA ,12x optical power zoom, auto or manual focus, image freeze, mouse annotation	£1,725 + VAT	2-5 work days
	WolfVision EYE-10 high resolution live camera High resolution live image camera, progressive scan, XGA 30 frames per second, housing lens	£1,745 + VAT	2-10 work days
	Elmo HV-5600XG XGA visual presenter High resolution XGA visual presenter (analog RGB) has enhanced colour and image performance for boardrooms etc.	£1,866 + VAT	2-5 work days
	Samsung UF-80DXP presenter XGA table presenter, optional table lamp, USB2, 14x optical zoom, 20fps capture, A4 capture area, local memory	£1,979 + VAT	2-5 work days
	WolfVision VZ-8light2 visualizer Progressive scan, 30 frames per second, auto focus, mid range flatbed visualizer for secondary schools and universities	£1,995 + VAT	2-10 work days
	Samsung SDP-950 DX presenter XGA, digital image rotation, 8 frame storage, 3x3 image preview, recall 8 images, divided screen function	£2,145 + VAT	2-5 work days
	WolfVision EYE-12 high resolution live camera High resolution live image camera, progressive scan, 1280x960, 16:9, 30 frames per second, housing lens	£2,245 + VAT	2-10 work days
	Elmo P100 visual presenter Integrated 3.5-inch LCD screen, for displaying 3-D objects or documents, ideal education, prototype presentations	£2,559 + VAT	2-5 work days
	WolfVision VZ-8plus2 visualizer Progressive scan, 30 frames per second, auto focus, mid range flatbed visualizer for secondary schools and universities	£2,575 + VAT	2-10 work days
	Samsung SDP-6500DXP presenter SXGA large table presenter, built-in lamp, 12x optical zoom 15fps capture, B4 capture area, local memory for image store	£3,034 + VAT	2-5 work days
	WolfVision VZ-9plus visualizer Progressive scan, 30 frames per second, auto focus, high end flatbed visualizer for secondary schools and universities	£3,625 + VAT	2-10 work days
	WolfVision VZ-C12 ceiling visualizer Progressive scan, 30 frames per second, built-in camera 1-CCD, extended zoom, for universities and training colleges	£7,145 + VAT	2-10 work days
	WolfVision VZ-27plus visualizer Progressive scan, 30 frames per second, 1024x768 XGA resolution, for high end applications in hospitals or corporate	£7,225 + VAT	2-10 work days
	WolfVision VZ-57plus visualizer Progressive scan, 30 frames per second, built-in camera 3-CCD for sharpness and colour for professional applications	£10,995 + VAT	2-10 work days
	WolfVision VZ-C32 ceiling visualizer Progressive scan, 30 frames per second, built-in camera 3-CCD, extended zoom	£11,525 + VAT	2-10 work days

Document cameras accessories

A document camera is a powerful tool for education in schools, colleges and universities, in science laboratories, classrooms, for business presentations and video conferencing applications, for dental surgeries, clinics and medical and teaching hospitals. Also useful in the courtroom as the jury can observe pieces of evidence in detail without handling the actual evidence.

Microscope attachments are also available on some document cameras so that you can display microscope slides on screen. Ceiling mounted document cameras are available for the medical industry to display x-rays and other medical information.

Wolfvision, who make high end visualisers and specialist hospital and medical visualisers, are a good brand choice for medical x-ray solutions but you will need a light box to show negatives. Elmo make an SXGA presenter that lets you share the document with others over the Internet and operate the presenter from a remote location. Most manufacturers produce specification sheets so it is important to check these prior to making your purpose to ensure the document camera or visualiser is suitable for your requirements.

Libraries and museums can use document cameras to copy pages of old books without breaking the spines on books (which is what happens when photocopying) by taking and saving/printing pages with the book open in an L shape. Also several large companies buy or hire visualizers to take product pictures on a white background. For example, pictures of jewellery to put on website pages showing the images on a white background.

Document cameras or visualizers range from portable, that can be used for mobile presentations, to portable progressive scan visualizers, stand alone camera to ceiling mounted progressive scan and professional series.

Ideal for use in schools, universities, science labs, medical research, at trade shows, on assembly line inspections and for court room evidence where you can show items to juries without handling same. Also useful for video and broadcast studios, video printing and documentation and multimedia production.

A few uses are shown in the pictures above, from left to right: product presentation, court room evidence, medical research, video conferencing using the visualiser as a document camera, and image processing in video and broadcast studios.

Comapnies often use document cameras to take product pictures on a white background, for use in catalogue and brochure advertising, for example, a jeweller could take pictures of rings and watches so they can be displayed in a PowerPoint presentation for viewing in-store, perhaps with a multimedia projector.

Page last updated:  Sunday 18 May 2008

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