For this review I thought I’d pick something different. Don’t worry, I’ll get back to tablets, eBook readers and other fun toys for my next post, I promise.

I used the IPEVO Point 2 View USB Document Camera for a portion of my presentation at Digipalooza this past July. After the session, I had many attendees approach me with questions about the camera, such as where it was purchased and how much it cost.

In preparing for the presentation, I knew that I wanted to demonstrate, live for the audience, the OverDrive Media Console app for iPhone (which, let me tell you, is a terrifying concept as anything can happen during a live demo). I needed to find a product that would allow me to project my iPhone to a screen in real time. Luckily I came across the Point 2 View USB Document Camera, which seemed a perfect fit for the task.

The IPEVO Point 2 View is equipped with a 2 megapixel web camera and includes macro mode for gathering close-up images. It also has easy plug-and-play for either Windows or Mac computers, which makes it a breeze to get started. Software is included for organizing and refining any snapshots you take.

This USB document camera is small. Measuring only 3.8 in X 1.1 in X 0.9 in, it can fit almost anywhere. Other impressive features include an adjustable multi-jointed stand for easy maneuvering to capture an object easily. Also a weighted base helps so you won’t feel that it will tip over – bonus that you don’t have to keep your hand on it.

The only thing I will be nit-picky about is the auto-focus feature. On several occasions during the presentation, the auto-focus took too long to adjust. I found this to be quite annoying as I had about 500 people or so watching and expecting the demo portion to be smooth. There was even one time where it wouldn’t focus on my iPod touch due to the background color being too dark.

Another small negative is that the Point 2 View does not record video. If you do not have an immediate use for that type of feature, this probably won’t even register as a concern for you. However, I can see how some may find the ability to record video a bonus.

Bottom line, the IPEVO Point 2 View Document Camera is a great value for the price. At $69.00, it’s an inexpensive addition to any training department for demonstration purposes. Overall, I enjoyed using it during the demo and thought it brought another element to the presentation at Digipalooza.

Megan Greer is an account specialist for OverDrive.