WebCams

0.48-1.3 Mega Pixel Webcam (Kitty)

Jen — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 00:06:00 +0000

Description:
30 images per second max
Pictures telecommunication software with the unique software, we can use the camera as 1.videophone,2.telecamera
Focus Range: 5CM to infinity

0.48-1.3 Mega Pixel Webcam(Kitty)-Free Shipping

Jen — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 00:06:00 +0000

Description:
30 images per second max
Pictures telecommunication software with the unique software, we can use the camera as 1.videophone,2.telecamera
Focus Range: 5CM to infinity

Video Phone

Jen — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 23:15:00 +0000

http://www.pcmech.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/wcmsvx6000.jpg

The idea of video phone used to be one of those futuristic concepts in the “someday” department. Today, using the internet, video phone is commonplace. Most instant messaging clients today support video in one way or the other. Personally, my favorite is Skype. With Skype, you just download and install a free program, search for your friends on the Skype network, add them as contacts, and then you can talk to them whenever you want. At it’s core, Skype is more like a phone. You talk to people using the microphone on your PC and you hear the other person over your speakers. Once you begin a call, though, you can start up your webcam and allow the other person to see you (and vice versa if they have a webcam).

Setting up the webcam with Skype is easy and works most of the time. I say “most of the time” because I used to have a weird problem with everything looking green and scrambled - kinda like watching pay-per-view without the unscrambling. I still do not know why that was happening, but since I upgraded to Windows Vista, everything works fine.
Home/Office Monitoring

Sometimes you may want to be able to monitor your office or home when you are not there. Webcams are your ticket to paradise. When it comes to monitoring, you will find that there are many more expensive webcam options available. The difference, usually, between those more expensive webcams and the smaller ones for your desktop computer is that the larger webcams probably have a web server built into them. That means the webcam is internet-enabled with it’s own IP address. Once connected to your network, you can directly access the webcam and view what it sees over the internet. Essentially, then, the webcam is a mini-computer with a lens.

You don’t need a expensive, server-enabled webcam to do home monitoring. You can use one of the cheaper, USB cameras and use your own computer as the server.
Live Streaming

These days it is VERY easy to live stream from your webcam to the internet. The popularity of it is also increasing due to several web-based services which turn it into child’s play. Chris Pirillo, of Lockergnome and TechTV fame, has almost totally changed the way he brings content to the web now. He uses live streaming video almost 24/7 and he then posts recordings of relevant portions to Youtube and several other video sites. Justin.TV is another pretty popular live webcam streaming site.

Now, Chris Pirillo is not using a small USB webcam for his primary footage. But, you can. And he does use a service that anybody can use: Ustream. Ustream makes bringing live video to the web really easy. Browsing around Ustream shows that most of the “shows” are really stupid and boring. A few, though, offer real shows that are entertaining and useful. To use Ustream, all you need is the Flash plug-in installed to your web browser. It doesn’t get easier. Stickam is another similar service to Ustream.

By the way, a poor man’s way to do room monitoring could be to use your cheap webcam in conjunction with Ustream. It will work.
Recording Videos

Perhaps you simply want to get some footage of yourself and record it for something else. For example, using Camtasia Studio, you can record your screen and create presentations. Camtasia, though, also has the ability to bringing in footage from your webcam so that you can create a picture-in-picture effect in your final video. Using Windows Movie Maker, you can also record direct from your webcam and make a video out of it suitable for posting to sites like Youtube. Unfortunately, you have to use Windows Movie Maker under Windows XP. WMM under Vista has gotten rid of this feature…something Microsoft really dropped the ball on.
Video Email

Video email is not something that is quite there. Sure, you can probably email video file attachments around, but that is tedious. Fortunately, if you take the whole traditional email thing out of the equation and make it all web-based, it gets easier. Enter Eyejot. Eyejot is a free video mail service. You set up an account and you can send video messages back and forth with people. It interfaces with your webcam using the Flash plug-in, just like Ustream. The only hitch to this whole thing is that one has to log into their Eyejot profile in order to view messages. You will, however, get an email notification of a new Eyejot message so you’re not left guessing.
Show Your Mug

So, yes, if you don’t mind having your mug shot in full motion going out across the internet, there are many cool ways to use your webcam.

Retro webcam

Jen — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 11:27:00 +0000

This little retro webcam is really cool, it looks like one of those cameras that they used to use in the 1950’s and 1960’s or one of those trick ones that when you press the button it squirts water all over the person in front.
The specs:

Imaging sensor: 1.3M CMOS
Max. webcam resolution: 640×480 VGA
Frames per second: max 30
Still pictures format: JPEG- 1.3M Pixel
Connection: USB 2.0
Power supply: USB Powered
Dimension: 25×40×16mm (LxWxD)
System: Windows 98/SE/ME/2000/XP/Vista Mac OSX
One button still picture shots
Connected expanding USB cord- 77cm length

Santa webcam!

Jen — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 20:10:00 +0000

Manufacturer Specification

# Imaging sensor: 640x480 CMOS
# Max. Webcam Resolution: 640x480 VGA
Frames Per Second: max 30fps
# Still Pictures
Format: JPEG
# Connection: USB 2.0
# Power supply: USB Powered
# Dimension: 150x110x70mm (LxWxD)
# System: Windows 98/SE/ME/2000/XP
# Manufacturer Ref.: PDU94D65DA7F

Other Features:

# Manual Focus

Accessories:

# Mini CD with Driver
# User Manual

Even lower prices available for you if you're ordering in larger wholesale quantities.

Creative Webcam Live! Motion / Ultra for Notebooks

Jen — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 23:11:00 +0000

The Creative WebCam line includes some 12 models, from simple low-res video conferencing models to higher-quality models with motorized pan and tile (www.creative.com/products/webcams).

The higher-end Creative WebCam Live! Motion ($149) is designed as a ball on a flexible stand. The ball contains the camera, with motorized pan/tilt control (200 degrees horizontal, and 105 degrees vertical). The base is multi-use -- to sit flat on a desk or clamp onto a flat-screen monitor or notebook display.

The camera itself uses a CCD sensor with 640 x 480 resolution, delivering up to 30 frames per second over the USB 2.0 interface. The sensor works well at dusk and in other low-light conditions. The lens is fixed focus (protected inside the motorized ball), with a 76 degree wide-angle view. The product also includes a lightweight over-ear headset with mic and earphone.

The Creative WebCam Live! Ultra for Notebooks ($99.99) squeezes similar camera imager specifications down into a highly compact and portable package, with 640 x 480 resolution and a 76 degree view. The adjustable base is designed to grip onto notebook screens, and the product includes a hands-free headset and travel pouch. You can manually rotate the camera vertically some 180 degrees to point at your face, or away from your notebook. The lens includes a manual focus ring.

Microsoft LifeCam VX-6000,

Jen — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 23:09:00 +0000

Purchased November 19, 2006, $99.99

I was surprised with the image quality in good lighting. Quite comparable with many of the other brands for the same price. While it does have good low light sensitivity, I was disappointed in the image quality with only my 7 watt reflector lamp (listed as no lights). I am impressed with its highest resolution image, reasonably sharp and good color in daylight.

A very good camera, however, it does require Windows XP or Vista to operate. It won't run on Windows 2000 or earlier.

I have discovered that this camera is not suitable for landscape or scenery shots. Its fixed focus lens only focuses clearly between about a foot and about 10 feet. I put the camera in my trailer pointing back at the house. The tree 5 feet from the trailer is sharp but the house, about 50 feet away, is blurred.

Pluses
Image sensor 1280x1024
Good quality image
Good low light sensitivity

Minuses
A bit fuzzy in very low light
Only works with Windows XP or later

Microsoft LifeCam VX-3000,

Jen — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 23:08:00 +0000

Purchased October 1, 2006, $49.99

Fairly good camera, some disappointment in the test image with back lighting, but overall this camera does well. This is a good mid-level camera. Microsoft seems to have created a series of cameras in which the quality reflects the pricing structure. You get what you pay for.

Good choice for the price. For the time being this camera has taken over the position of Best camera under $50.

Pluses
Mid level pricing
Good but not great quality images
Worth the price

Minuses
A little disipointing with backlight test
Not as sensitive as the 6000 in low light

Microsoft LifeCam VX-1000,

Jen — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 23:06:00 +0000

Purchased November 19, 2006, $29.99

A very good entry level camera. Out performs the Logitech Chat at the same price. Works best with plenty of light, but does a fair job under my office lighting conditions. Requires Windows XP or Vista. Will not run on older systems.

The specs seem to indicate this has a 640x480 sensor, but I can't confirm that at the moment.

Pluses
Good quality for the price
Better than Logitech Chat

Minuses
Entry level camera
Requires Windows XP or Vista

CNET editors' review

Jen — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 23:26:00 +0000

Sometimes the best things in life are free--such as Skype 2, the latest version of eBay's newly acquired VoIP service. Skype 2 tacks on free video calling between Skype users and other neat additions to its long list of cool features, which include conference calling and an IM client. You can also add low-cost inbound/outbound calling, voicemail, and call forwarding to analog phones. The Skype dashboard thankfully remains free of advertisements, and the quality of Skype-to-Skype calls is still high. Though the quality of landline calls hasn't improved, Skype 2 continues to be an overall excellent option for anyone seeking to make free phone calls.

Installing Skype 2 is beyond easy: download and run an executable file, follow the few steps in the setup wizard, and you're done. The first time you launch the program--which pops up in an IM-like, dashboard window--a handy Getting Started wizard appears, taking you through a test call and helping you import contacts from address books it detects on your system. You'll be able to hear and see your callers using the audio or video devices (microphone/speakers, USB headset, Webcam) that you've already connected to your computer. Spend a few bucks on a device like the Actiontec Phone Wizard, and you can also use your analog phone.

All access to and adjustment of Skype 2's features happens through the dashboard window. The window is segmented into three main tabs: Contacts, Dial, and History. To place a free call to another Skype user, just click the name in your contacts list. If you've purchased credit to SkypeOut, which begins at 10 euros (currently just under $12 U.S.) and includes low rates for international locations, you can reach landline phone numbers by either clicking a number you've saved to your contacts list or by using the electronic keypad in the Dial tab. To redial a name or number that you've already called, click it in the History tab. The dashboard window is also where you can initiate other features, such as conference calling for up to five people; IMing with other Skype users; call forwarding for up to three numbers (if you have SkypeOut); and voicemail retrieval (if you bought a voicemail plan, which starts at 3 months for 5 euros).

One of the major new features in version 2 is Skype Video, free video calling between Skype users. Skype has partnered with a number of hardware companies, including Logitech and Motorola, to bring Skype-certified accessories to the market, including Webcams and Bluetooth headsets. Other new features include avatars, sounds, and ring tones (available for purchase from Skype's Web site); contact groups; and toolbars. The browser toolbar works with Internet Explorer and Firefox: Skype recognizes phone numbers and Skype names on search results pages, allowing one-click calling from the results page via Skype. The Outlook toolbar consolidates your Outlook and Skype contacts, allowing you place Skype calls to Skype users who have e-mailed you or call non-Skype users via SkypeOut.

Our anecdotal tests of Skype 2-to-Skype 2 audio calls yielded conversations that sounded almost exactly like those between two analog phones. Voices on both the calling and receiving ends came through quite clearly, and latency was barely evident. Using the video-calling function was an equally easy experience, as the program automatically detects whether the Skype user you're calling also has video capability and allows you to accept or decline the video feed. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Skype 2-to-landline calls (and vice versa). On a SkypeOut call to one of CNET Labs' analog phone lines, audio was relatively clear on the Skype end of the call, though the analog caller experienced some static and random chirp reminiscent of old Doctor Who episodes. Voice quality took another hit when we uploaded and downloaded data during calls, with the audio occasionally cutting out altogether on both sides of the call. After purchasing a SkypeIn subscription (starting at 3 months for 10 euros) and choosing a regular phone number to associate with our account, we made a series of analog calls to our Skype number--and experienced more of the same inferior call quality on both sides. Skype's performance problems when calling analog phones were worse than the problems that plague most VoIP services. For good call quality with Skype, your best bet is to persuade those you want to reach to install the program themselves; in addition to higher voice quality, your calls will always be free.

Free software is generally not well supported by the maker, but Skype makes a decent effort. The Skype Web site offers a user forum, downloadable user guides, a searchable knowledge base, and a troubleshooter tool that walks you through a series of questions to help you solve basic problems. Users can also submit a support request through an online form and check the status of the request.

Videoconference from your lap

Jen — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 22:38:00 +0000

A laptop with a built-in Webcam can prove useful for home and business users alike, especially given the proliferation of Wi-Fi and VoIP software to take advantage of broadband connections. Even most instant-messaging protocols now support video alongside text chat, bringing a familiar buddy-list interface to the technology. Use the Webcam built into these laptops to talk to your significant other who's traveling abroad or to videoconference your way into meetings from the comfort of home.

Below are some of our most recent reviews of laptops with built-in cameras. The Sony VAIO UX features dual cameras, one on the front for videoconferencing and another on the back for snapping pictures. The Asus W5F's Webcam, located above the display in the notebook's lid, swivels around to snap pictures and video in either direction. The Lenovo 3000 V100 has a 1.3-megapixel Webcam and the Apple MacBook Pro's camera iSight takes pictures at 640x480.

NoteCam Pro A310

Jen — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 21:07:00 +0000

Purchased Feb. 14, 2003, $29

A VERY generic, inexpensive, small camera I picked up at a local computer store. In fact it is so generic, there isn't any writing on the camera except a serial number sticker. I was quite surprised at the quality of the image considering the price. It's actually better than the Logitech Quick Cam Messenger which cost $50. Nice little support bracket which can be used on a notebook or rotated and set on a desktop. It has a metal screw mount on the bottom where the base screws in. It's not a standard 1/4" tripod mount, but you could rig a simple mounting bracket to fasten it to, unlike the Quick Cam Messenger which will only work on its own base without damaging the case.

Thanks to a viewer in Denmark, we now know that the internal component to this camera is made by ZSMC of California. Back in late 2004 there was a website where you could get an updated driver but the driver is no longer available from them.
Pluses
Small size
Very inexpensive
Decent quality image in good light
A few nice features in Twain driver
Twain driver seems to be very stable
Has a small metal threaded mounting hole, rather than plastic

Minuses
Unlikely to find any reliable support for it (don't loose the driver disk)
Some of the auto controls in the supplied Twain driver don't seem to be available
When I tried to use the camera with a USB extension cable one of my computers didn't recognize the camera with the supplied drivers
When plugged into 2 of my USB hubs, Windows XP shut down to prevent damage to the operating system (note this problem seems to have been solved with the new driver)
Mounting hole is a metric 4mm 7 thread screw, not standard tripod size
Not very good for full motion video. 3 frames a second is doing good for this camera, most likely due to inefficiencies in the driver

Logitech QuickCam Pro (white ring)

Jen — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 19:38:00 +0000

Cowboy Chuck's. Purchased 1998, $130

One of Logitech's early webcams, this is a fairly good first time camera if you already have one or are given one by a friend. It is no longer available unless you see one at a yard sale. I would not pay more than $2 for one though. The newer $35 cameras are much better.

It has a fairly good image in good lighting as long as you stick with the 320x240 image size. In low light it tends to introduce colored pixels in areas across the screen.

Important note: The USB version of this camera is only compatible with Windows 95 and 98. It will not work under Windows 2000 or XP. Screen shots of camera configuration settings

Pluses
Small size
Many people already have one or can get one from a friend
Drivers are still available online from Logitech
Base can be removed and the camera mounted on a standard tripod

Minuses
Tends to have colored pixels when lighting is very low
Old technology
Fuzzy compared to high end webcam's of today
Base is strangely designed

Creative Live Ultra for Notebooks

Jen — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 21:00:00 +0000

Purchased July 14, 2005, $99.99

This is a good camera, if given a decent balance of white or mixed colors within the frame. The available settings for color adjustment, as is with most of the Creative cameras, is restricted to Auto, Incandescent, Florescent and Outdoor. If you change the color settings, it may take a minute or so for the camera to show any major change. During my initial testing phase, I was getting frustrated with a very red color balance that I couldn't seem to get past. I was about to give the camera a bad color review when I thought about the fact that I was sitting here in my red long johns and that might be having an effect. Then I put on a white shirt, which brought the overall image color right in line. From this experiment it appears the camera looks at an area near the center of the image, assumes that is your face, and tries to make that color flesh tone. If you have color balance problems, try a different color shirt or get much closer to the camera so your face fills the center of the image and see what happens.

The camera has good low light sensitivity and now that I have the color problem figured out I'm quite pleased overall. This camera has a wide angle lens which seems to be very popular with the webcam makers right now. I don't have any problem with the wide angle lenses, but they do require you to use a larger image to be seen easily, taking up more bandwidth. At the time of this writing (Sep. 2005) about 50% of the households connected to the Internet in the US now have broadband of some sort.

Creative seems to have solved the mounting problem I reported with the earlier notebook camera. This one clamps nicely to my notebook screen and stays put. I do wish it had a horizontal swivel though. You still have to sit directly in front of the camera. At least the mount allows me to place the camera anywhere along the top of my notebook screen, the previous camera would only fit in a few spots.

This is a true USB 2 camera, but I find that it appears to have a maximum speed of roughly 15 frames a second when used with a 640x480 image, at least that is my impression in viewing the preview window in my ConquerCam program. If you are going to make full use of the frame update speed, I recommend you turn preview off unless you need it. With preview on, about 50% of my notebook computer's processor power is occupied managing the preview image. With preview off, or the application minimized, only about 1% is used by the camera except when it captures a still image, then it jumps to about 10%, and some of that is most likely the uploading of the file.

This camera is a good improvement to the earlier Creative Notebook Camera and I am giving it high ratings all round. My new best pick for a portable camera.

Pluses
Good image with proper lighting
USB 2
Decent refresh rate
Compact
Mount improved, stays on my notebook
Good low light response

Minuses
Color can be difficult to adjust if unusual room or clothing colors
No swivel with mounting bracket

Creative Live Ultra,

Jen — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 20:59:00 +0000

Purchased March 13, 2005, $89.99

A good camera overall. I am seeing many improvements over earlier cameras. This one has a wide angle lens and comes with a headset rather than a built-in microphone. It is USB 2.0 compliant and does a good job of keeping up with a 640x480 resolution at 30 frames a second as long as your computer can handle the high data rate.

The color is quite good and realistic, even though it doesn't have a manual color balance slider. Its exposure does quite well in bright light and in very low light. My daylight only lighting setup tends to overdrive most cameras, but the Live Ultra handles the bright side of my face quite well with very little white level clipping.

For some reason my captured images had considerable jpg artifacts in them (pixelization in fine detail). I am not sure if this was caused by the camera drivers or my capture program. I tried capturing the images directly from the camera but those had some of the same artifacts while not quite as bad.

One drawback, which I am seeing on all the Creative cameras of this generation, is the mounting support. It works well on a flat panel monitor or notebook screen, but when folded and sitting on a flat surface, like a desktop or shelf, it is quite difficult to get the camera to sit still. It keeps twisting due to the stiffness of the cable. The mount is not removable without really pulling hard which could damage the camera. Then there is no practical way to mount the camera some other way such as on a tripod.

While this is not the best camera within its price range, it is a good choice for a wide angle camera.

Pluses
640x480 CCD image sensor
Includes headset with microphone
USB 2
Good color and light sensitivity

Minuses
Mounting stand difficult to use on desktop
No way to remove the stand

Creative Live Cam Video IM Pro

Jen — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 20:56:00 +0000

Purchased December 18, 2006, $52.99

A decent basic camera of the slightly above entry level type. Works well under bright light. A bit dark and fuzzy at night. Useless in monitor only lighting.

Don't be misled by the numbers on the front of the box. This is a 640x480 resolution camera. The larger 600x800 and 1.3 mega pixel images are interpolated.

The camera does not have a built in mike but comes with the standard Creative headset.

The mounting bracket is good, however on a flat pannel monitor make sure you extend out what I call the toung to help secure it to the back. You'll see what I mean when you look at the camera.

Basic
Sensor 640x480
Manual focus
USB 2

Pluses
Resonable quality in bright light

Minuses
No built in mike
Useless in monitor only light

Creative Live! Cam Voice

Jen — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 20:50:00 +0000

Purchased December 18, 2006, $99.99

As of this date (March 22, 2007), it would appear that this camera is not compatible with Windows Vista. Creative's website does not have a Vista driver available. As a last resort, I tried attaching the camera to my Vista computer anyway, and got the expected result: no drivers available. I would not recommend trying to force this camera's XP driver to install on a Vista machine.

The second issue is the image sensor. The box claims a 1.3 mega pixel sensor. Neither the software that came with the camera nor any of my third-party software packages could obtain an image larger than 640x480. There's just no option available in the selection dialogues for a 1.3 mega pixel image, much less the 5 mega pixel interpolated image the box claims. In trying to verify this, I looked through all the other web reviews I could find for this camera. Most simply referenced the specs from the box. Although one said the native resolution is 640x480. None actually stated whether they had achieved any 1.3 or 5 mega pixel captures. If anyone is able to produce a larger image, I would appreciate a note and explanation on how you did.

The camera produced a good image in my daylight setting. During my night lighting tests, the image quality dropped to poor. I think the sample images speak for themselves. One problem I noticed while in the initial testing phase is that the camera is extremely sensitive to bright back light. The window behind me causes considerable flair during the daytime.

The camera's mount also leaves something to be desired. The camera would sit on my flat panel monitor as long as the cable didn't get moved. Whenever I moved the cable, the camera fell off the back.

On the positive side, the camera sits on top of a movable pin, which allows adjustments in all directions: tilting, swiveling and turning.

The on-line indicator glows green when off and turns red when the camera is connected to software.

Audio
Since the primary selling point of this camera is its audio features, I have decided to include two short video/audio presentations. One, using the fancy audio/noise canceling features of the camera; the other using the headset that came with the camera. Both files were recorded using the 44,100 sample rate, 16-bit audio settings of the software. I had wanted to use Windows Media Encoder, but Media Encoder couldn't find a connection to the microphone on the camera, so I used the Creative WebCam Center software. I could find no way to adjust the microphone input volume from the camera; as a result, the volume is quite low. You will probably need to turn your volume way up in order to hear anything. There was also no way to capture audio from the camera without also capturing the image, so, to reduce the size of the files, I set the picture to the smallest size and lowest quality the software would allow.

If you are on a dial up connection, right click on the links and choose "save target as" to save them to your computer before trying to play them.

Cowboy Frank reading from the book "The Longhorns" by Frank Dobie:
Audio test using included headset (332k)
Audio test using built in microphones with noise canceling turned on (359k)

The key sales point of this camera is its audio feature and its ability to reduce sounds coming from the side or behind the camera. I do have to admit, this feature works extremely well, but, considering the quality of the sound obtained from the on-board mikes, I wouldn't bother trying to use them. I'm not including the tests I did from the side, because you can't hear me, so it's not worth the disk space the files occupy.

Basic
Fixed Focus
Wide angle lens
USB 2

Pluses
Decent image with bright lighting
Excellent background and side audio limiting

Minuses
Poor sound considering the purpose of the camera
Poor results in dim lighting
Considerable flair with bright lights in background

Creative Live! Cam Notebook Pro USB

Jen — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 20:42:00 +0000

Purchased December 18, 2006 $49.99

Well it's taken me long enough to get around to this camera. Two days ago I ran this camera through my image tests. When I sat down to write this review I found that I had already shot the demo images back in March and had forgotten about them. I have replaced the no lights test image with the newer one for this final posting, the other images are from the earlier test.

One peculiar item I encountered while doing this recent set of tests was the image size. For some reason, which I was not able to determine, no matter what size image I specify in the camera controls of my software, the camera insisted on putting out a 640x480 image. Try as I might, it just wouldn't go down to my standard 320x240 test image size. This explains why the date stamp overlay on the no-light test appears to be shrunk. The only place I can find any image size adjustment is within my current software, as the camera console, which accompanies the driver, has no image size options.

This camera appears to be a simple re-release of the earlier model of the same design. I originally thought this camera had been updated to USB 2 circuitry, however, looking closer at the package I see it is labeled as "Compatible with the USB 2.0 Specification". Looking closer at the image, it does not seem to have the refresh rate of the newer USB 2 cameras.

In the original tests back in March, the camera appeared to do a bit better job of imaging than the earlier camera. However in the tests of the other day, I have found my camera has changed considerably in the last six months. It appears that a film or hazy coating must have gotten either on the lens or inside the camera. The flair has become very much worse. I tried cleaning the outside of the lens with little improvement.

The auto exposure control seems to work ok for a while, but if the camera is left on over night or for extended time periods, it can't seem to recover as the sun comes up. I have to go into the controls and reset them to get back to a reasonable exposure.

The camera could not handle the bright daylight as well as the earlier one, however the new release did better in the very low light test.

This camera has a dark gray body as opposed to the earlier model with a light silver case. Other than the color difference the camera bodies are identical.

A disappointing camera, with very little improvement, that I can see, from the earlier model except a drop in price.

Pluses
640x480 image sensor
Quite small, easy to carry around

Minuses
Poor sharpness
Subject to flair
Image size not registering with software

Creative Live! Cam Optia,

Jen — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 20:35:00 +0000

Purchased February 27, 2007, $79.99

The designers have done a good job of copying the successful look of the iMac products, with clean lines and a hospital white appearence. For some reason it includes a fabric carrying bag; although, I'm not sure why anyone would want to carry this camera around. The stand makes it just a bit too big for a portable notebook camera.

The camera includes a simple headphone similar to many cell phone headsets, the small ear bud type with a microphone a few inches down the cord. There is no microphone inside the camera.

The camera does quite well with a bright light just behind my head. You can still see my face. Acceptable performance in all higher lighting levels. A little fuzzy in low light.

The stand fits nicely on flat panel monitors that have a square edge and some relatively level top. There are some issues with mounting on my notebook with a rounded edge. The camera will sit on the top, but if any vibration or movement occurs, the camera has a tendency to slip, usually forward falling on the screen. Creative has added a feature which allows the camera to swivel side to side just a bit. Since the camera head is mounted to the base on the left side, that is where it swivels. This is also the area where the blue online indicator glows around the mount.

This is the first camera I have tested that is fully USB Video Class compatable, meaning you don't have to install any drivers. You can just plug it in to a Windows XP or Visa computer and it will work. The included software offers added features.

Overall not a bad camera.

Creative has set up a special site for software updates and added features for their newer cameras at www.MyLiveCam.com Screen shots of camera configuration settings
Camera Control Video Proc Amp Stream Format
Sample images showing how this camera performs under different lighting conditions

See a 640x480 image taken under plenty of light
Basic
640x480 sensor
Focus, manual
USB 2
Pluses
Decent image
Nice look
Good mounting bracket
Minuses
Only 640x480 senor

Creative Live! Optia AF

Jen — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 20:29:00 +0000

Received September 10, 2007, $129.99

Creative's first foray into a true auto focus camera, the Optia AF performs well. The image has nice color but just a bit on the dark side in comparison to the Optia Pro (new camera coming shortly). However, my personal preference for a pleasant image is an image like this one with a bit more contrast. This comment is stickily comparing the 3 Optia cameras and is not neccessary relevant to other cameras.

The glass lens is sharper than the cheaper plastic lenses. While it doesn't come up to the sharpness of the Logitech Zeiss lenses, it is a good step forward for Creative. The auto focus is a bit flakey at times. It seems to not be quite as sharp as the Optia Pro despite having a larger image sensor.

I had an odd problem, while the camera works on my notebook and interfaces properly with my current preferred webcam program, the Creative console application which comes with the camera couldn't find the camera. I have to admit that this notebook has a rather messed up operating system due to all the applications that get constantly installed and removed. Something about the software for one of the recent cameras that was installed has caused Helix Encoder to crash so I suspect this may have some relation to the Creative console problem. The result is I can only work with the USB Video class camera controls which are a bit limited.

I like the current stand for the Optia series cameras. Sits on top of a flat panel nicely as well as on a desktop. It stays put and doesn't move around. I do wish the pan side to side movement would go a bit farther though.

The auto focus takes a few seconds for the camera to find what it wants to focus on, and for a few minutes it tends to wander a bit. It would appear the focus system is using the Voice Coil Motor technology like the Logitech cameras, but I can't say that for sure.

If you are a Creative fan, this is a recommended cameras for high resolution and overall quality.

Creative has set up a special site for software updates and added features for their newer cameras at www.MyLiveCam.com

Basic
Sensor 1600x1200 (2 mega pixel)
USB Video Class
USB 2
Focus, Automatic
Pluses
Automatic Focus
Sits well on monitor or desktop
No special drivers needed
Minuses
Creative Console app didn't find camera

Creative Live! Optia Pro VF0380

Jen — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 20:13:00 +0000

Received September 10, 2007, $79.99

Of the 3 Optia series cameras this is my favorite. Between the 3, the Optia Pro has the most consistent image quality across extreme lighting levels from dark to very bright. The color is maintained reasonably accurate in auto mode between daylight and incandescent, between bright and low light levels.

It would appear that the optimum focal point is at about 3 feet. In playing with the camera on my notebook sitting in my living room chair, and the notebook on my lap, the best focus was slightly behind my head on the back of the chair.

Even with this slight focal point drawback, I thought the focus was better than the Optia AF which tended to vary a lot and frequently ended up focusing on the wall behind me even when I was in the center of the image.

The stand is well designed. It fits easily on a flat panel or on a flat surface. There is a tong which can be rotated out to hold it in place if used on a notebook computer. The camera does rotate a small amount from side to side but not as much as I would like.

The camera can be rotated vertically about 300 degrees. Past the vertical up position the image is inverted so it remains right side up if pointed away from you. If pointed directly down the camera shuts its image off, the blue lamp shuts off but the camera continues sending a black video signal to the computer. This allows you to black out the image without creating errors in your webcam software.

A decent camera but not up to the quality achievable with the new Logitech high resolution series.

Basic
Sensor 1280x1024 (1.3 mega pixels)
Fixed focus
USB video class
USB 2

Pluses
Good image across wide light range
Good sharpness

Minuses
Focus point seems to be about 3 feet

Creative Live! Cam Video IM VF0350

Jen — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 19:42:00 +0000

Received September 10, 2007, $29.99

An update of the Creative Instant, this USB 2 version is a reasonable low end camera for instant messenger chatting for the budget minded light user.

It is considerably more sensitive in low light conditions than its predecessor and also takes bright light well. This camera is not USB Video class so you must install the drivers. I found it had some difficulty in auto adjusting between extreme lighting levels; however, taking it out of auto mode allowed adjustment to acceptable levels.

The camera maintains its color ballance well across all lighting levels and performed quite well in my computer monitor light test.

The camera has a built-in microphone, and comes with a simple headset.

Initially I had some difficulty with the camera sitting on my shelf. The entire device is so light that it was difficult to keep it pointed where I wanted it. I didn't notice until later that opening the tongue part of the mount exposes a small rubber area which can help it sit still.

Basic
Sensor 640x480
Manual focus
USB 2

Pluses
Inexpensive
Decent color
Works well in low light

Minuses
Requires drivers to be installed
Very light, dificult to stay put

Creative Live! Cam Video IM Pro VF0410

Jen — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 19:39:00 +0000

Received September 10, 2007, $54.99

Just a hair sharper than the Video IM, this camera also includes an internal microphone which sits behind the focus ring.

Preforms nicely in bright light but slightly fuzzy in my tests under room lighting. In my monitor lighting test, the camera seems to push maximum gain and looks terrible. Taking it out of auto mode, I got either a totally dark image or the same over exposure as in auto mode. Adjusting the slider to any intermediate position gave me the washed out image as seen on the demo page.

I would recommend this camera as an entry level low cost purchase if you want a built in microphone.

Creative has set up a special site for software updates and added features for their newer cameras at www.MyLiveCam.com

Basic
Sensor 640x480
Manual focus
Built in mike
USB 2
Pluses
Inexpensive
Decent color
Works well in low light

How To Light A Webcam

Jen — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 23:23:00 +0000

Lighting for a webcam is actually quite simple. A lamp placed to one side of your computer monitor should normally be sufficient. A lamp with a white translucent shade will give a more pleasing image by softening the harsh shadows which a bare bulb would make.

If you have a camera that doesn't do well in dim light, use brighter light bulbs. Experiment with different wattage bulbs to find the best level for your particular setup and camera model. Or, you might consider placing dimmers on each lamp so they can be individually controlled for the best effect. That's how I did my demonstration setup seen in the photos on this page.

Avoid lights in direct line of sight of the camera. This tends to effect the auto exposure and sometimes color balance of your images. Yes, I know, my regular setup has several lamps in front of my cameras, but this page is about good lighting, not my lighting.

For a better lighting setup try two lamps a foot or so on either side of and slightly behind your camera. You can improve on this basic arrangement by placing a lower wattage bulb in one of the lamps. You might start with a 100 watt bulb in one and a 25 watt bulb in the other. Compare the right side of my face on images 1 and 2. (That's my right not yours) In image 1 there was only one lamp being used on my left. In image 2, notice how the right side is just a bit brighter than in image 1 after adding a second light.

The brighter lamp produces what the pros call the "key light" and the lower wattage one is called the "fill light". The purpose is to place the main lighting on one side of your face and fill in the other side with just enough illumination to keep that side from being completely dark. This is better than 2 lamps the same brightness because it gives some shadow on the face adding depth to the subject. The same effect can be achieved by placing one lamp further away from the subject.

Want to really wow your viewers? Place an unshaded lamp behind you near the wall. See the difference between image 2 and image 3. Unlike my little experiment seen in the photo at the top of this page, you should create a shield to block the light bulb from the camera if you move your head around while using your camera.

It should be easy to cut a circle of cardboard about 6 inches in diameter and fasten it to a length of bent coat hanger mounted to the lamp to hold it away from the bulb. We don't want a fire after all. Again experiment with different wattage bulbs to get a light that works well with your camera. You just want to illuminate the wall a bit, not so much as to overexpose the camera, which would darken your face.

Alteratively you could use a low wattage spotlight in a clamp light or fixture sitting on the floor and pointed at the wall. You will probably want to have this light on a dimmer as it is very hard to keep these lights from being too bright.

For even more improvement to this effect, suspend a small spot light about 4 or 5 feet above and a couple of feet behind your head. Choose a lamp with a wide enough beam to light your head and shoulders, plus a bit to move around in, but not so wide as to spill all over the room.

For this "back light" I used a 50 watt 12 volt halogen mini spot light suspended from a tall tripod. You could also use a narrow beam spotlight in a clamp light fastened to a shelf or the top of a door. This lamp highlights your hair or hat, and makes the edges stand out from the background. Notice how the front brim of my cowboy hat blends in with the crown (top) in image 3, but stands out in image 4. Try to keep any of this light from shining onto the camera as many cameras will give you some flair if light strikes the lens, even from an oblique angle.

Compare the front of my face between image 2 and 3. In image 2 my face is a bit washed out because I had too much light coming from the front lamps and not enough on the background. The dark background caused the camera to lighten up, trying to even out the entire picture.

No matter what kind of lighting you use, it is important to experiment with lamp wattage, dimmers, or distances of the lamps from the subject to achieve the best lighting balance from bright to dark.

Swann Max-IP-Cam

Jen — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 21:00:00 +0000

Purchased September 17, 2006 $250.99

A very disappointing camera considering the price. I returned it the next day after testing to get my money back.

I am again reminded that most IP type cameras (ones that don't require a computer) are only suited for surveillance purposes. Other than the Stardot NetCam, none of the IP cameras I have either tried, or had reliable sources tell me about, are capable of functioning like the standard Webcam which these pages are about. The major reason is they cannot overwrite an image on a server with a single file name. They all are either only capable of streaming directly from the camera, or the stored images each have individual file names designed for storage. To have a webcam in the sense of what most of you are looking for, the camera either has to be able to update an image file, or connect to an Instant Messenger program.

As for daytime or evening use, the images are rather poor in comparison to all the other cameras listed here. The color saturation is very weak, and without the infrared turned on, low light imagery is unusable. The quality was so disappointing, I didn't have the patience to run through all the settings for different image sizes. So I took all the test shots in 640x480 resolution and resized them for the lighting comparison page.

I believe this camera is best suited for night surveillance at close range. Using the built-in infrared sight source the camera does pretty well in total darkness up to about 15 feet. Beyond that night shots are questionable.
Screen shots of camera configuration settings

Pluses
No computer required

Minuses
Poor quality image
Not compatible with IM programs
Very expensive for the quality