Webcams, like computers, come in a variety of models and vary in a very wide price range: from affordable budget to options that impress with their cost and features. But if you do not want to overpay for webcam features that you will never use, before buying a good idea to look at the review of new products from manufacturers of smart equipment or read the recommendations that are specially prepared for you by experts online store QwertyShop.
What is a webcam and what is it for
Internet technologies are developing very quickly. And the webcam has long been a favorite gadget for most computer users. Probably no need to explain for a long time what a webcam is. The task of this device – with the help of a computer and various programs (such as Skype and others) to provide video communication over the Internet. But the functions of modern webcams are not limited to this: they can also be used to take pictures and send images, shoot, edit and broadcast video. And today, many people can no longer imagine communicating, relaxing or working without a webcam.
As a rule, webcams are already built into laptops, but in most cases their quality leaves much to be desired. Fortunately, manufacturers of smart equipment have developed a variety of options: from expensive professional cameras for streaming to budget models. Cameras from Genius, Logitech, A4Tech, Philips, Canyon, Microsoft, HQ-Tech, Creative, Trust, Gembird, Defender, Gemix and many other manufacturers are doing wonders in the world of video communication.
But when it comes to global manufacturers of smart equipment is quite difficult to make a comparison, or to talk about which web-camera is the best. The right choice depends on the task to be performed by the gadget. Some users need a camera with a good microphone, others are looking for a high-resolution gadget, and still others dream of a webcam with a remote. While for some, the smallest camera is ideal, others are looking for a larger device for video broadcasting. But at the same time, some parameters are equally important to all buyers, no matter what kind of camera they are looking for.
Choosing the right one
Despite the great popularity of webcams, not many people know how to choose a gadget for your PC or laptop and what characteristics to pay attention to in the first place. Therefore we have prepared a small cheat sheet-guide on the choice of webcams.
Matrix
All devices can be equipped with a CCD or CMOS matrix. The CCD options are considered the best. Their main advantage is that they provide a minimum level of “noise”. But these models have a disadvantage – they are much more expensive. However, if the camcorder is designed exclusively for Skype, a CMOS matrix will be quite sufficient. If you are planning to use a webcam to work with programs which recognize faces, it makes sense to give preference to a CCD matrix which will produce high-quality video with minimum noise.
The sensitivity of the sensor indicates the level of light needed to take good pictures. But in low light, even CCD-based webcams will produce a picture with noise.
Resolution
The image quality depends on the resolution of the device. This parameter is measured in pixels. Leaning towards one or another option, you need to understand what image quality is needed for certain purposes. And the first thing to know: the lower the resolution, the more grainy the image on the monitor will be. For home use webcams with a resolution starting from 640x480p are suitable.
For example, VGA 640×480 or 800×600 (never mind, even 320x240p) resolution will do for standard video conferences. If you’re planning to use your webcam for video recording, then HD 1280x720p or 1280×1024 is the best choice. To make it clearer what parameters are behind these numbers, it should be said that HD is the resolution used in good TVs. A higher resolution (1600×1200 or Full HD 1920×1080) is not only superior picture quality, but also the freedom to share photos and videos.
Number of frames per second
The third parameter of a webcam which directly affects the quality of the picture is the frame rate per second (FPS). The higher the FPS, the smoother the video stream. To ensure that the video quality does not cause irritation and the frame rate does not resemble slow motion, you should choose a device with parameters not lower than 30 FPS. A lower frame rate is fraught with “stuttering” freezes the picture. 40 FPS and more is a great choice for professional streamers.
Lenses
The type of lens has a significant impact on video quality. Webcams use two types of lenses: plastic and glass.
Glass lenses compared to plastic lenses guarantee a higher quality result. This type of webcam is the only right choice when high quality video recording or exceptional picture clarity during a chat is important.
Plastic lenses give grainy frames and poor image quality in low light conditions. These are cheaper options that are, however, very popular for home use.
Also, when choosing a lens, it is important to pay attention to the angle of view. A wide angle will allow you to stay in the frame, even if you have to move around while shooting.
Mounting Options
Webcam mount optionsDifferent manufacturers of webcams offer different options for fixing the gadget. The most common are desktop and so-called cameras on clothespins. Desktop – the best choice if there is a lot of free space on the desktop. In this case, the gadget can be placed on a special platform behind the computer. The “clothespin” variant requires much less space – the gadget is attached directly to the laptop or PC monitor. Another common attachment option is suspended. Such “flying” webcams, as a rule, are used as a device for video surveillance.
Connection options
The most popular webcam models are equipped with USB 2.0 or 3.0 ports. You’ll need at least a 1.5 meter cable to connect your webcam to your desktop computer. To connect to a laptop, the length of the cable does not matter.
It is also possible to connect the webcam via bluetooth or wifi. Such models belong to the category of more expensive. But the quality of their work depends entirely on the quality of the transmitted signal.
Operating System Support
Most webcams support the Windows operating system. Nevertheless, when buying it will not be superfluous to test the gadget for compatibility with a particular operating system.
Extra Options
Auto Focusing and Backlighting
Additional options in webcamsThe autofocus models have the ability to automatically zoom in and smart control the clarity and brightness of the image. In addition, it is very advantageous to buy webcams with backlighting. These additional features significantly improve image quality in darkened rooms.
Microphone
Models with a built-in microphone are advantageous. But the sound quality in such devices is not always on top. Meanwhile, for the home such a variant is quite suitable. But if finances allow, you can buy another, more powerful microphone to improve the sound clarity. If the camera is intended for professional video broadcasting, then the purchase of a high-quality microphone is a must. This is the only way to achieve high image and sound quality at the same time. If you still opt for the budget version, you should additionally check before buying whether the computer camera is equipped with a microphone – some brands are not equipped with an audio system.
Special effects
Many models feature a function to create different video effects: from animated images to virtual screen savers and special effects that distort the actual picture. If you do not need this kind of additions, it is better to choose a cheaper model without “gimmicks.