15
votes
Webcam recommendations?
Hey there,
Title is pretty self-explanatory, looking for some web camera recommendations, USB obviously1, good price to value, higher quality the better, microphone not required, but appreciated.
1 Don't need any MDR-26/SDR-26/CameraLink connectors, or Game Boy Camera recommendations here /s
Depends on exact use case, but my wife and I both have a Logitech C920 webcam.
It’s 1080p (I think only 30fps), has a nice indicator light when recording, and comes with a physical privacy shutter. Includes an OK microphone. Also has decent monitor “hook”, works on both of our monitors with no issues.
Good enough for video calls / meetings for work on our windows desktops.
Looks like they’re around $70 full price, but I think I picked mine up on sale a while back for closer to $60.
The c920 is very much the "just get the Brother printer" of webcams. It's either all you need, or you'll be going to a "real" camera with actual lenses and all that.
I have similar and can agree- unless you're vlogging or streaming (and even if you are!), this line of Logitech devices is the standard and will work fine for a reasonable price. I remember that the price of these increased by a shocking amount at the start of the pandemic due to increased demand, but it looks like they're back to normal at this point!
If at any time I need something with more clarity / higher frame rate I usually hook my digital mirrorless camera up, but that's very rare.
What's your mirrorless setup look like? I've thought about doing that in the past, but the choices are just so daunting.
Not the person you replied to, but back when I still bothered I used my backup camera (a7c) with the sony 55mm zeiss f1.8. The 55mm at f1.8 gave a good balance of having enough compression to have that natural bokeh (which is really like half of the reason you use a mirrorless camera for a webcam - zoom's blurred background has nothing on real bokeh), while not requiring me to put the camera further back than is possible in my office setup. If you really want to ball out you can use a straight up portrait lens like a 85mm but you're going to need a LOT of space behind your desk.
So on moderately recent Sony cameras you can actually just directly hook up the camera to the computer with USB-C and skip a capture card, although it limits you to 720p - which is fine for zoom, imo. It'll compress it further more than likely anyway. You can of course go micro HDMI out -> capture card, but it's more faff.
The only thing I'd really suggest is that you avoid wider angle lenses. Although it's tempting because of space restrictions, people look horrible when close up against a wide angle focal length. Portrait lenses are tele for a reason. What is a webcam feed but a continuous portrait? But that super stretched out head look is the "webcam look".
Yup! Quite a similar setup in a number of ways. I grabbed a second-hand Sony A7iv off of WillHaben for my hobby photography, and as you say- you can connect it through the USB C port and pipe video directly over, even on Linux. Faster rated USB C cables can actually manage above 720p, though I've found higher data throughput results in higher latency. As for a lens, a generic Sigma 24-70mm works fine. Max aperture at 2.8 which gives a shallow enough DoF for me.
I have a c920 too, it is ok, but I do find it a bit disappointing that it is the "best" reasonably priced camera available. The picture quality is pretty bad and it is particularly terrible at dealing with uneven lighting, if the sun is shining somewhere in my background it causes my face to be very underexposed.
Do you have the right software for it? I have some old-ass Logitech Gaming Software, because it's the only thing that lets me program my keyboard like I want too, but it was absolutely terrible with my webcam. I recently downloaded Logi Tune and it's working with the webcam much better!
The C922 pro can capture at 720p/60Hz, and otherwise exactly matches the C920's threshold of "adequate for all purposes". You can (and IMO should) buy a shutter separately.
Tend to agree. I wanted slightly better quality (and something that looked nicer, IMO) so I went with https://www.logitech.com/en-us/products/webcams/4kprowebcam.960-001390.html (I got it on sale, I believe) and it has been pretty amazing! Really can't go wrong with a Logitech.
Do you use this with headphones or speakers? I’ve been looking for something to upgrade my living room video call experience between my parents and their grandkids without going full business-class, but my biggest worry is feedback/echo. Headphones are totally out - too many people and also toddlers. The marketing copy and images seem like it would be ok?
I typically use my MacBook Pro speakers. I use it mostly for work, so it's generally just one person speaking clearly at a time and everyone else has a decent setup, so my needs are pretty simple.
Webcams have been "good enough" for years now. So as long as you avoid the cheapest junk ones, you should generally be fine. I bought this webcam from Amazon a few years ago at the recommendation of the Voron community to use on my printer, and I'm actually pretty impressed at how well it works even in very low light (though do keep in mind quality and framerate drops when there isn't enough light)
I'm going to give you the opposite end of the spectrum here: I bought this one a year ago for $25 and it works fine. I do not use it often, the stand isn't great, the privacy cover literally gets taped onto the front, but it works fine and cost so little. I just plug it in when I need it and video conference.
I have a logitech c615 that I have been using since the start of the pandemic for video conferencing and I have no complaints. I usually use its microphone and my headphones speakers and I get good feedback on my audio in calls.
Looks like it goes for around $40 online.It looks like they are available on eBay but otherwise discontinued.If you end up with a c615 or c920, I have a 3D printable flip cover for either that works pretty well. I never believe the camera is off unless it's covered up, and you can flip it down faster than you stop your camera feed if a naked family member walks in. Just message me if you're interested.
I ran across Opal the other day. Has anyone tried either webcam?
The most interesting webcam on the market currently (imho) is the Insta360 Link, because it comes with a built-in gimbal and can track you around the room. It's too bad they've taken to scummy non-disclosed influencer marketing tactics recently, though.
I bought a Logitech Brio 300 for ~$50 recently and I've been happy with it. It's USB-C unlike the cheaper Brio 100 (which is only $10 less), and the little privacy shade is nice. The privacy shade is also a switch which enables/disables the camera. There's a light next to the lens letting you know if the camera is active or not. The light is independent of the privacy shade, so it'll let you know if something is trying to access the camera regardless of the position of the shade.