Anybody have a camera mounted above your table at home/pool room?

mattman

mattman

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Silver Member
I recently purchased a new (new to me) home. It has an unfinished basement that I want to setup my table after having the basement finished out. I was thinking of mounting a camera above the table, shooting straight down. The camera be wired to a tv/computer to have the capabilities to record or just a live shot.

Anywho, I was wondering if anybody had this kind of setup to give me advice on what kind of camera for a wide angle. The ceiling is somewhere around 7'4" and the table is a 9footer. Also, I would not be able to use a traditional billiards light. I was thinking of recessed lighting. Any advice there?

Or should I just put the camera to shoot at an angle and just use a traditional, hanging billiard light?

If you have pics....that would be nice.

Thanks,
Matt
 
it all depends on what you're trying to achieve with the video. if you're just recording patterns, then the straight-down shot would be alright.

however, if you want to record your stroke, stance, etc, then you would need more of a side angle.

when i had a table in my house, i just used a shop light from wally world for 20 bucks, and it worked fine. have fun.
 
I was thinking the use of the camera would be used to evaluating pattern plays more than anything. If I want to evaluate my stroke and stance, I can always build a shelf to hold a cam-corder simply enough.

Anyone?
 
I've shot video of my table at home and it sounds like we have a similar environment: 9' table and only about 7 1/2' of ceiling height. I ended up putting my camera on a tripod, set up on some barstools, so the camera was at "ceiling" level. The camera was positioned about 8' away from the short rail at one end of the table. I have a hanging light that I was able to "aim" the camera below to capture the entire top of the table. I think unless you invest in a special fisheye-style lens, you won't be able to get a shot of the full table from directly overhead.
 
I record almost all of my practice sessions using an easilly movable tripod mount. I have been thinking of trying a ceiling or wall mount. I also like to see things in slow motion. I know Dr.Dave does it a lot better, but it's fun to do it yourself. I use software from SportsMotion which is not entirely satisfactory but better than nothing. I would like a camera with built in capabilities but they are very expensive. Any input on this subject will be greatly appreciated.

Dave Nelson
 
overhead camera views of tv matches are the worst thing about tv pool coverage in my opinion! mount it properly at the front of the table so you get a proper view!

assuming of course this is feasible for you!
 
worriedbeef said:
overhead camera views of tv matches are the worst thing about tv pool coverage in my opinion! mount it properly at the front of the table so you get a proper view!

assuming of course this is feasible for you!
Click to expand...

Really the only reason I don't like the idea of the camera mounted at the end of one of the short rails is because, from time to time, you will have an obstruction by a player shooting. It's not a huge deal, but I really like the view from straight above.

As far as TV matches go, I would like to see more angles that include the body of the player shooting (espicially if it's Jasmin) so that the stroke and stance can be evaluated.
 
Here are some considerations for a side mount.

1. More of a 3D view for analysis.
2. When I miss, I want the camera to record my stance, stroke, etc.
3. When watching commercial videos I find myself frustraed often because I want to see the player's technique as much as the shot.

Over head may give a better pattern view but there is more, much more, that I would want to see.

I guess it depends on why you wan the record. Each of us have different needs.

For me two cameras on the table diagonal would be best.
 
Well, that's where the tripod excels. You can position it for whatever you want to see at the moment.

Dave Nelson
 
mattman said:
I was thinking the use of the camera would be used to evaluating pattern plays more than anything. If I want to evaluate my stroke and stance, I can always build a shelf to hold a cam-corder simply enough.

Anyone?
Click to expand...
I understand in what you are trying to do to evaluate pattern play. I have been searching for such a camera that you described for a couple of years with no luck. Now that there is a thread here maybe someone will have some advice.

There are so many bright people here maybe someone will know something. Wide angle lens maybe?
 
ive been looking for some time to atach the camera to the ceiling...

is there a tripod that can be mounted on a ceiling? I used to put my camera on ladder, but the camera fell off several times. I want to be 100% sure my camera wont fall off.

Is there anything close to this for sale somewhere?
 
Solartje said:
ive been looking for some time to atach the camera to the ceiling...

is there a tripod that can be mounted on a ceiling? I used to put my camera on ladder, but the camera fell off several times. I want to be 100% sure my camera wont fall off.

Is there anything close to this for sale somewhere?
Click to expand...
I wonder if you could simply build a small shelf and then cut the legs off a tripod. You could even fasten the short legs of the tripod to the shelf.

Good luck
 
If there was no overhead light, you could probably mount a mirror to the ceiling (angled) and point the camera at that. Then you could zoom in or out on the mirror image to get the whole table in the frame.

If it still won't fit in frame even with the mirror, a convex mirror would definitely fit it all in, if you don't mind the distortion. Not sure how much it would distort, but it might still be good enough for evaluating pattern play.
 
I'm pretty sure this is correct. When we filmed the video for our instuctional cvd series, the producers had a four-camera setup, including an overhead. They used a fish eye lens, but still were about 5 feet above the table.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

ragbug74 said:
I think unless you invest in a special fisheye-style lens, you won't be able to get a shot of the full table from directly overhead.
Click to expand...
 
Dababr

I think a wide angle lens would not be an answer. I have 2 cameras. One a hard drive that cost about $1600.00 but I got it marked down to about half of that. It's an odd ball Sony, discontinued model. It has a 3.5 in. screen while all the others I have seen have 2.7. It's a great camera. Why that model was dis-continued I do not know. The other is a tape drive. It's a Cannon Z800 that cost about $250.00. I needed the tape drive because the slow motion software wont work with the hard drive. My tripod will extend to a height of 72 in. If I set it back 6 feet or so the field of vision takes in the entire table with either camera. I hope this is of some use to you.

Dave Nelson
 
The slo-mo software shouldn't be a problem at all... Apple Quicktime can do 1/2 speed and media player has plug-ins like 2xAV available that can go down to 0.3 of the playspeed of a media file (avi/mov/mpg etc).

.
 
Dave Nelson said:
Ste

Thanks. This is new information to me. I'll see if I can make it work.

Dave Nelson
Click to expand...


Not a problem Dave.
Just DM me (exchange email addresses) if you need more detailed info.

.
 
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