diff --git a/src/args.cpp b/src/args.cpp
index 46789e4..ba6f2b3 100644
--- a/src/args.cpp
+++ b/src/args.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #include <args.hpp>
 #include <config.hpp>
+#include <iostream>
 
 const char* argp_program_version =
 	PROJECT_NAME " " VERSION_CODE "\n\n"
@@ -14,6 +15,11 @@ const struct argp_option options[] = {
 	{"haar-cascade",	0x00,	0,		0,	"Use Haar Cascades for faster (but less accurate) face detection.",	0},
 	{"show-camera",		0x01,	0,		0,	"Show the camera feed in another window",				0},
 	{"model",		'm',	"model",	0,	"Name of the model file to use. (not including '.fma')",		0},
+	// this option actually selects the minimum camera id to use,
+	// i.e. instead of trying video0, video1, ... it will try
+	// starting from 'c'.
+	// e.g. -c6 is passed, so the program will try video6, video7, etc.
+	{"camera",		'c',	"id",		0,	"ID number of camera to use (e.g. /dev/videoXX where XX is the ID)",	0},
 	{0}
 };
 
@@ -29,10 +35,12 @@ struct optData optData = {
 	false,
 	false,
 	"test",
+	0,
 };
 
 #ifndef _WIN32
 error_t parseOptions(int key, char* arg, struct argp_state* state) {
+	std::cout << key << ": " << arg << std::endl;
 	switch (key) {
 		case 0x00:	//--haar-cascade
 			optData.useHaar = true;
@@ -46,6 +54,10 @@ error_t parseOptions(int key, char* arg, struct argp_state* state) {
 			optData.model = std::string(arg);
 			break;
 
+		case 'c':
+			optData.minCameraID = std::stoi(arg);
+			break;
+
 		default:
 			return ARGP_ERR_UNKNOWN;
 	}
diff --git a/src/args.hpp b/src/args.hpp
index e006bef..a007e4d 100644
--- a/src/args.hpp
+++ b/src/args.hpp
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ struct optData {
 	bool useHaar;		// use haar cascades (0x00)
 	bool showCamera;	// show camera feed (0x01)
 	std::string model;	// model to open (0x6d 'm')
+	int minCameraID;	// camera id to start search on (0x63 'c')
 };
 
 extern const char* argp_program_version;
diff --git a/src/configfile.cpp b/src/configfile.cpp
index 80275a9..eaff972 100644
--- a/src/configfile.cpp
+++ b/src/configfile.cpp
@@ -24,6 +24,10 @@ bool configFileOpen(struct optData* data) {
 	if (modelNameResult.first) {
 		data->model = modelNameResult.second;
 	}
+	auto cameraResult = configFile.table->getInt("min_camera_id");
+	if (cameraResult.first) {
+		data->minCameraID = cameraResult.second;
+	}
 
 	return true;
 }
diff --git a/src/cv.cpp b/src/cv.cpp
index 23b5c52..6a908c1 100644
--- a/src/cv.cpp
+++ b/src/cv.cpp
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ void initCV() {
 
 	// cycle through all available cameras until we find one we can open
 	std::cout << "Looking for an open camera..." << std::endl;
-	for (int i = 0; i < 127; i++) {
+	for (int i = optData.minCameraID; i < 127; i++) {
 		vid = cv::VideoCapture (i);
 		if (vid.isOpened()) {
 			std::cout << "Camera " << i << " opened" << std::endl;
diff --git a/src/fc2dconfig.cpp b/src/fc2dconfig.cpp
index 72e209a..93b59a5 100644
--- a/src/fc2dconfig.cpp
+++ b/src/fc2dconfig.cpp
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #ifndef WX_PRECOMP
 #include <wx/wx.h>
 #endif
+#include <wx/spinctrl.h>
 
 class ConfigurationApp : public wxApp {
 	public:
@@ -24,6 +25,7 @@ class ConfigurationFrame : public wxFrame {
 		wxCheckBox* useHaarCheckBox;
 		wxCheckBox* showCameraCheckBox;
 		wxChoice* modelNameChoice;
+		wxSpinCtrl* cameraSpinCtrl;
 		void loadExistingConfig();	// loads existing config file and populates controls
 		void OnApply(wxCommandEvent& event);
 		void OnExit(wxCommandEvent& event);
@@ -56,13 +58,20 @@ ConfigurationFrame::ConfigurationFrame() : wxFrame(NULL, wxID_ANY, "Configure "
 	showCameraCheckBox = new wxCheckBox(panel, wxID_ANY, "Show camera feed");
 	wxStaticText* modelNameText = new wxStaticText(panel, wxID_ANY, "Model name:");
 	modelNameChoice = new wxChoice(panel, wxID_ANY, wxDefaultPosition, wxDefaultSize, modelVec.size(), modelArray);
+	wxStaticText* cameraText = new wxStaticText(panel, wxID_ANY, "Camera ID:");
+	cameraSpinCtrl = new wxSpinCtrl(panel);
 
 	wxBoxSizer* modelSizer = new wxBoxSizer(wxHORIZONTAL); // need to put label next to dropdown
 	modelSizer->Add(modelNameText, 0, wxALIGN_CENTER | wxALL, 5);
 	modelSizer->Add(modelNameChoice, 0, wxLEFT, 20);
 
+	wxBoxSizer* cameraSizer = new wxBoxSizer(wxHORIZONTAL);
+	cameraSizer->Add(cameraText, 0, wxALIGN_CENTER | wxALL, 5);
+	cameraSizer->Add(cameraSpinCtrl, 0, wxLEFT, 20);
+
 	wxStaticBoxSizer* generalBoxSizer = new wxStaticBoxSizer(new wxStaticBox(panel, wxID_ANY, "General"), wxVERTICAL);
 	generalBoxSizer->Add(modelSizer, 0, wxALL, 5);
+	generalBoxSizer->Add(cameraSizer, 0, wxALL, 5);
 	generalBoxSizer->Add(showCameraCheckBox, 0, wxALL, 5);
 
 	wxStaticBoxSizer* performanceBoxSizer = new wxStaticBoxSizer(new wxStaticBox(panel, wxID_ANY, "Performance"), wxVERTICAL);
@@ -102,6 +111,7 @@ void ConfigurationFrame::loadExistingConfig() {
 			break;
 		}
 	}
+	cameraSpinCtrl->SetValue(configData.minCameraID);
 }
 
 void ConfigurationFrame::OnApply(wxCommandEvent& event) {
@@ -115,6 +125,7 @@ void ConfigurationFrame::OnApply(wxCommandEvent& event) {
 	if (modelNameChoice->GetSelection() != wxNOT_FOUND) {
 		configFile << "model = \"" << modelVec[modelNameChoice->GetSelection()] << "\""<< std::endl;
 	}
+	configFile << "min_camera_id = " << cameraSpinCtrl->GetValue() << std::endl;
 	configFile.close();
 
 	Close(true);