HoverCam Neo3 Document Camera (HC-NEO3)

High price for only a lousy 5 megapixel camera. Don't buy it!!! There has to be something better.......mmm, like my $35.00 flip phone.

I purchased this product for use primarily as a document camera for scanning, but hoping to take advantage of its other advertized features and uses (such as webcam, classroom use, etc.). I was very disappointed that the product didn't work and has to be returned. Based on the number of potential fixes listed online for problems with the camera being "busy" and not loading, this appears not to be an isolated problem for this new model.About the product:General: The device feels sturdy and has good weight to it when folded-up or in the vertical open position. It snaps into place when folded down or when open at 90 degrees. Desptie the weighted base, however, the camera will fall over if the arm is positioned at any angle other than 90 degrees unless you hold the base in place with one hand while positioning the camera with the other. Unlike previous versions of the hovercam, the Neo3 packs more powerful cameras and lighting, requiring a power cord (rather than just usb power).Camera Arm: As previously mentioned, the camera arm locks in the folded-down (flat horizontal) position, when in the vertical (upright) closed position (webcam mode), or when open and at the 90 degree angle position. The lower part of the camera arm will only position from 0 degrees (folded flat) to 90 degrees (folded straight up). You cannot bend it backward to balance the camera for closer camera shots. The upper part of the camera arm extends from the closed position (folded straight down) approx 125degrees (just slightly past the 90 degree horizontal position (limiting the height you can get out of the camera for larger documents and the flexibility of the arm as you try to move it to the best positioning). As previously mentioned, trying to position the arms in anything other than the open 90 degree angle (horizontal) or closed (vertical) positions, will result in the camera toppeling over if you're not careful.Cameras: the primary camera pivots vertically 180 degrees (from directly down to directly up); but does not pivot horizontally (meaning you would have to pivot the entire unit to turn the camera left or right). The secondary camera pivots at two points. First, it folds down out of the upper arm (up to approx 120 degrees). for recording things in the vertical plane. A second joint allows the camera to pivot 180 degrees from side to side, allowing capture of any video (from side to front to side) in front of the lower camera arm. I cannot comment on the quality/functionality of the cameras given that mine were defective.Controls: The Neo3 has on on/off switch on the back of the device along with ports for a power cord, vga cord, and usb cord (all included). The upper part of the camera arm (on the side) included a separate on/off switch to control the bright led lighting. Finally there is a mechanical focus on the primary camera, and digital controls on the base of the camera (presumably for positioning and/or zooming). However, as my primary camera did not function properly out of the box I cannot comment on any of these controls.Unlike previous hovercam models, this model does not come with any of the accessories (placement mat for alligning documents/items beneath the camera, bumper bars for auto-straightening, or carrying pouch for storing or transporting the camera). The bumper-bars can be purchased from the hovercam website for an additional $15, but the placement mat is not available for separate purchase (and as of this review 07/2012 - the hovercam site was the only online store I could find to sell the bumperbars).Customer Support: Despite my disappointment that the product failed and several hours of attempting to get it to work also failed, hovercam's customer support provided a prompt and courteous reply and has offered to replace the device (paying for shipping both ways).I believe this will be a good product and probably worth the cost once I receive one in working order. However, despite its features and the courteous customer support, I have rated it only 2 stars given that the product was defective out of the box (resulting in unreasonable and unnecesary delays); the range/movement limitations of the support arms; that it is not sturdy enough to support itself when the arm is not locked in its two fixed positions (particularly given that its camera range of motion is advertised as one of it special features); and that previously included accessories are now only available as additional purchases or are not available at all.

I teach on-line classes and have been looking at document cameras for a while now to share over-the-shoulder drawings, written notes, etc with my students. I almost bought the earlier model HoverCam last year, but limped along with my autofocusing webcam mounted on a desk lamp :)While on the expensive side, the Neo3 looked like just what I was after: sturdy, excellent optics, adjustable stand, second camera and the ability to do PIP recording.So here's the bad news. When I got it, it was a snap to set up, and has a built-in flash drive that mounts when you plug in the camera. All the install software is on that mounted drive. Clever way of avoiding shipping a CD. But, that drive mounts every time you plug in the camera. Apparently forever. You have to manually unmount it every time. A nuisance, but not a deal-breaker.The included software is not OS X native software. It's runs in Adobe Air. Again, not a deal-breaker, but disappointing. After installing, it asked to update to the latest version and then Air asked to be updated too. The software got into a feedback loop and kept asking to be updated. After launching it and updating it for the fourth time, I rebooted my MacBook and then it worked (how 1990s).The software has some great features, but was a bit sluggish on my non-Pro MacBook. When I had it all set up, I was able to manually focus on a paper on my desk and...it stayed in focus! Yes! The focus ring is a bit stiff and hard to turn without moving the whole camera and base. But...manual focus!The real trouble started when I went to record a video of me making notes on the paper. When I hit record it behaved as expected, but QuickTime Player launched in the background when I started the recording. I figured out why when I went to play the video. On the Mac, when you record video, the HoverCam software does a screen capture of the entire main screen...using the built-in screen capture function in QuickTime Player. My main external screen is 1680x1050! That's one slow, choppy video, most of which I don't want!I looked everywhere for a place to set the capture to just the feed from the camera. Nothing. I watched a tutorial video on the manufacturer's site and it clearly showed that when you hit record, the software will ask you to select the region of the screen you want to record...but it doesn't. I tried again. No selection prompt.I finally contacted customer support and got a swift reply: "Unfortunately you can only record the selected area on PC's. The Mac captures the full screen."Not useful software for me.The silver lining is that QuickTime Player will see and let you choose between both HoverCam cameras and capture from them, but you can't rotate or flip or annotate or do PIP with QT Player. So for me, the Neo3 would end up as a $300 manual-focus web camera with a nice base.So if you are using a Mac, be aware that you are on your own with capture tools. For real-time lectures, the software should perform fine, just not for capture.I returned it to Amazon the same day and ordered an IPEVO Point 2 View USB Camera for $69. I'll have to jury-rig a stand, but it has a button to lock focus once it's where you want it to be. Also...$69!

I needed a document camera that I could easily afford and that would perform well in my classroom. It lacks the fine tuning of much more expensive units, but for the price, it works well for projecting a close-up image of my demonstrating a technique for my students to see or to project student images or writing samples for critique.

I recently received my Neo 3, followed the directions in the quickstart guide and had no problems firing it right up.I used this 1 day after getting familiar with it to do a presentation in class and wow'ed everyone.Not only was I showing my document, but used my 2nd camera to put a face along with my presentation.For the price of this camera, it cannot be beat.I do wish it had an HDMI connection and wi-fi.However, the VGA connection with projector and monitor works great.I have been able to use it with the computer and monitor simultaneously.I found the buttons on the camera are designed to only work with the monitor/projector.I highly recommend this device. I can not wait for the wireless version to come out.