The ultimate setup for video calls
Add a teleprompter to your camera for better eye contact.
16 August 2024
A few months ago I wrote about using a DSLR camera to upgrade your video calls.
Since then I’ve added a small teleprompter to my setup. It’s great for delivering talks and presentations, but my main reason for getting one was the amount of time I spend on video calls.
Whereas a standard webcam setup puts the camera above the screen, a teleprompter positions the camera lens directly behind the screen.1 This means that when you’re looking at someone on a video call you’re also looking straight into the camera, which provides a better sense of eye contact.
The teleprompter I’m using can also function as an additional computer screen, which can be handy from time-to-time (albeit relatively small and low-res compared to my other monitors).
Here’s what the full setup looks like:
My primary monitor has a built-in USB 3.2 hub with Power Delivery and ethernet, which means I can connect everything to my laptop with a single cable.
To give you a sense of the results, here’s a capture from the live camera feed at 720p. This is significantly better than any webcam I’ve used previously!
For anyone considering doing something similar with their setup, this is the kit I’m using:
- Canon EOS 7D Mark II with a 17-55mm lens and AC adapter
- Elgato Prompter
- Manfrotto tripod with a 3-way head2
- VIJIM K20 key light with remote
- Jabra Speak 410 speakerphone
And here’s the software you’ll need:
If you’ve got any questions you can find me @clry2 on Threads 😊