Yahoo links from their Messenger Webcam page to a promo for Creative webcams ranging from $30 - $150. The features that distinguish them are:
* microphone at $50
* USB 2.0 at $80
* Smart face tracking at $80
* 30 frames/sec at $80
* whether its mounts on a notebook
* auto-pan and tilt
* CCD better than CMOS imaging element
The Super Webcam page at Yahoo says that with basic Webcam, frames refresh only about once a second, and the maximum resolution is 160 x 120. With Super Webcam, frames refresh up to 20 frames a second, and the maximum resolution is 320 x 240.
The Yahoo Messenger "Learn More" page promotes PC-to-PC calling. With a link to a Plantronics .Audio 70 headset - 1 for 26.95, 2 for 41.93.
MySimon has this webcam price/feature listing . Logitech and Creative dominate. They describe the cameras based on megapixels ( 1.3 is common.)
The ConsumerSearch site has this review.
This is a really cool site because it reviews the reviews. They really like the reviews at Consumer Guide, including this listing of webcam reviews..
"Reviews say the [Logitech] QuickCam Pro 4000 is the best mainstream Webcam. The QuickCam has a 640 x 480-pixel CCD sensor, a digital zoom, an integrated microphone and can shoot 1.3-megapixel still photos. Owners on user-review sites rave about the Logitech Webcam's picture and sound quality. Low light is a big problem for most Webcams, but the Logitech has better light-gathering capability than others. The only major feature it's missing is face-tracking software." But to me, that's one less thing to muck with. The Consumer Guide review says that the interface is the older USB 1.1 standard, which means that the camera will be just barely able to transfer full-motion 30fps video to the PC. It seems that 30fps across the internet just doesn't happen yet, although netmeeting may do it.
An ad here tells me that Walmart sells the Creative Webcam Live! Pro. Image Sensor Type: CMOS, Interface: USB 2.0, 30 frames per second, Video Capture Resolution 640 x 480
" Amazon is becoming an increasingly reliable source for owner-written reviews and ratings. Interestingly, no camera gets unequivocal raves; all seem to have image issues, driver problems or incompatibilities. The Creative WebCam NX Ultra gets better ratings than others; the Creative WebCam NX and WebCam Live do fairly well. The Logitech QuickCam Chat and QuickCam Orbit get more complaints than others."
We could also consider what software comes with a webcam that would be fun to use if we all had the same kind?Consumer Guide is a gold mine. Although we wish models were compared to each other, there are at least savvy write-ups here for current Webcams. The Veo Velocity Connect USB 2.0 and ADS USB Turbo 2.0 are the best Webcams if you have a USB 2.0 port and a broadband connection. The latter includes a nice software bundle. The Creative Labs WebCam Pro EX has a better CCD sensor and good color, as well as an included [headset] microphone; however it's USB 1.1. The review also gives good ratings to the Logitech QuickCam Pro 4000, which comes with a microphone, generous software and both Mac and PC compatibility. The Logitech QuickCam Orbit, which tracks your face when you move, is another well rated Webcam, but the review says it's expensive. The Logitech WebCam is the best cheap model, but isn't great in low light.
"Reviews say the [Logitech] QuickCam Pro 4000 is the best mainstream Webcam. The QuickCam has a 640 x 480-pixel CCD sensor, a digital zoom, an integrated microphone and can shoot 1.3-megapixel still photos. Owners on user-review sites rave about the Logitech Webcam's picture and sound quality. Low light is a big problem for most Webcams, but the Logitech has better light-gathering capability than others. The only major feature it's missing is face-tracking software." But to me, that's one less thing to muck with. The Consumer Guide review says that the interface is the older USB 1.1 standard, which means that the camera will be just barely able to transfer full-motion 30fps video to the PC. It seems that 30fps across the internet just doesn't happen yet, although netmeeting may do it.
An ad here tells me that Walmart sells the Creative Webcam Live! Pro. Image Sensor Type: CMOS, Interface: USB 2.0, 30 frames per second, Video Capture Resolution 640 x 480
" Amazon is becoming an increasingly reliable source for owner-written reviews and ratings. Interestingly, no camera gets unequivocal raves; all seem to have image issues, driver problems or incompatibilities. The Creative WebCam NX Ultra gets better ratings than others; the Creative WebCam NX and WebCam Live do fairly well. The Logitech QuickCam Chat and QuickCam Orbit get more complaints than others."
More expensive: Logitech QuickCam Pro 4000
Creative WebCam Live Ultra
ADS Technologies Turbo (USB 2.0)
Veo Velocity (USB 2.0)
Less expensive: creative labs webcam live
Logitech QuickCam Chat Webcam with USB 2.0 Output, Microphone & Headset and Software - Win
Logitech Quickcam Communicate Web Cam
Logitech QuickCam Chat $20 at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00077IGZ2/sr=1-1/qid=1134353523
- one user preferred creative webcam live
Creative WebCam Live - Amazon comments - this camera had a delay of almost a 1/2 second between the audio and the video... In my opinion it would be better just to have audio than to have every single syllable out of synch with the video, which I find to be very distracting.
ADS Technologies Turbo < $50 delivered at http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?A=details&Q=&is=REG&O=productlist&kw=ADWCU&cpncode=10-14271597-2&sku=263758&srccode=cii_5784816
That's a good looking supply site for video - B&H Photo
Amazon review comments:
- Can only capture 160x120, 320x240, or 640x480 sizes. You really need 352x288 for videoconferencing.
- The price is good, but the image quality is poor. The images are very dark under indoor light, and if the low-light option is clicked in the driver, then the images are bright but the camera suffers from extreme motion blur that makes it unusable.
+ As far as brightness goes, the video off this webcam is not very bright. But this sacrifice is acceptable since gamma correction usually reduces image quality so just turn on the lights when you use it. Its that simple.
+ the button on the camera neatly triggers a capture routine that pops-up a window with a still ready to be saved to file
The bottom line
It seems maybe that USB 2.0 cameras suck up more CPU (1GHz minimum) and don't do as well in low light conditions. Hmm. Maybe the older ones are better. But even they are subject to flakiness on upload speeds and configuration.
I'm changing my approach to "family sharing" on the internet, to miminize shared headaches: a good headset like the Plantronics, a copy of Netmeeting or Yahoo IM with Voice to share screens, photos and conversation, and a tripod to hook up the digital cameras we already own. You can drag/drop still pictures into the chat. Also, it might be that our current cameras are useable as webcams. NetMeeting seems to be a free download / builtin to Windows..
Shared video can wait til bandwidth and processor power are one more generation along.
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