Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Webcams: what to buy

Creative Live! Cam Optia AF
Bad points:
No in-built functionality for video uploading.
Still images have noticeable pixelation.
Still images have a pinkish tinge (poor automatic white balance).
Relatively low score for still images.
clipped from www.choice.com.au
Logitech QuickCam Sphere AF
Image: Logitech QuickCam Sphere AF

Price $199

Good points:
  • Software supports video uploading to YouTube, Crackle and Logitech Mobile Video services.
  • Supplied column attachment raises camera closer to head height (but see Bad points).
  • Bad points:
  • No in-built functionality for snapshot uploading.
  • Motorised pan/tilt is jerky.
  • Camera is much less stable when the column attachment is used.
  • Microsoft LifeCam VX-6000
    Image: Microsoft LifeCam VX-6000

    Price $99

    Good points:
  • Designed to work with Microsoft’s Windows Live Spaces online service.
  • Can clip on top of an LCD screen or laptop computer.
  • Bad points:
  • The USB cable interferes with the pan/tilt of the camera on its base and makes it unstable.
  • Produces jerky video even with moderate light levels.
  • No zoom.
  • Creative Live! Cam Optia AF
    Image: Creative Live! Cam Optia AF

    Price $129

    Good points

  • Supplied with combined earphones/microphone.
  • Supplied with a soft cover.
  • Supports video output in AVI and WMV formats.
  • Supports snapshot output in both BMP and JPEG formats.
  •  Easiest to use for still image uploading to the internet.
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