Abstract: In this paper, we present a new method to estimate the mechanical parameters of soft bodies directly from videos of solids getting deformed under external user action. Our method requires one standard camera, a deformable solid made of homogeneous material, and a regular light source. We make estimations using an inverse method based on a quasi-static FEM simulation and a visual error metric. The result is a set of two parameters, the Young modulus and the Poisson ratio, that can be used for more complex simulations, or force feedback applications like virtual surgery, for example. We also present a new device for capturing the external forces applied on the deformable solids.