Better Zoom meetings: cameras and lighting

 Camera Distance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In a blog post on January 11, 2021 titled Keep your hand gestures visible when speaking at a zoom meeting, I discussed keeping far enough away from the laptop web camera, as is shown above. But there is much more to discuss both about cameras and lighting. I am a member of two Toastmasters clubs, so I have gradually learned how to use Zoom.

 

Privacy Shutter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The webcam on your laptop may have a sliding privacy shutter, as shown above. When you start Zoom you need to remember to open it. Or, you may have a homemade one from tape, which needs to be removed.

 

Camera Angle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another factor is the camera angle. If your laptop is sitting on a  coffee table (just 16” high), then the camera might be looking up your nose, as shown above. If your laptop is sitting on a table or desk (about 28” high), then the camera might almost be level with your eyes. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can elevate the camera by putting it on a cardboard box, as shown above, or a stack of books. You can buy laptop stands that both elevate and tilt the keyboard slightly upward.

 

 

Camera Type

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As shown above, there are several types of video cameras with different resolutions. The HP Pavilion laptop I bought almost a decade ago had a VGA webcam with just 640 x 480 pixels, whose product is a resolution of only 0.31 megapixels. My current Lenovo Thinkpad has an HD (720p) webcam with 1280 x 720 pixels whose product is a resolution of 0.92 megapixels. A Full HD (1080p) camera has 1920 x 1080 pixels whose product is a resolution of 2.07 megapixels. And finally, an Ultra HD (4K) camera has 3840 x 2160 pixels whose product is a resolution of 8.29 megapixels.  

 

Of course, you could buy a web cam with higher resolution. 1080 p webcams are relatively inexpensive. But you also might be able to use the camera in your smartphone. To do that you will need to download an app to your phone, and download software to your laptop, as is discussed in articles at Wired and PC Magazine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You will need a tripod or other stand to position your phone camera, as is shown above. My five-year old Samsung Galaxy Relay just has a 720p camera – the same as my webcam. The current Samsung Galaxy 10 and Apple iPhones have 4K cameras.    

 

Lighting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lighting is another important factor. It should come from in front of your face, not either above or behind. As shown above, some type of small desk lamp might be used. A high-intensity lamp with a bare incandescent bulb will result in too much glare. An inexpensive gooseneck lamp is somewhat better. A lamp with a white diffuser (vintage Ikea ‘Smog’) is even better.   

 

This post was inspired by an article from October 21, 2020 by Allison Shapira at Global Public Speaking titled “You’re on mute!” The 3 biggest mistakes we’re still making in virtual presentations, another article from January 4, 2021 by Fred E. Miller at No Sweat Public Speaking titled Don’t do these things and you could become a terrible Zoom Presenter, and a YouTube video from May 25, 2020 by Markus Seppälä titled Improve Zoom quality for free – 3 easy tips.