Buying Guide
Webcams range in price from as low as $30 to as high as $150 or more, with most models priced in the $35 to $80 range. More expensive webcams usually deliver better quality images and may offer additional features, such as pan and tilt, which give you more freedom of movement while you’re talking or taping.
One of the first considerations when buying a webcam is to make sure that your computer meets the minimum hardware and memory requirements. (Unless you’ve got an old computer, it should be fine).
The next thing to consider is your computer’s display type. Most webcam bases can fit fine over an LCD screen or a laptop display, but not all webcams are good at resting on flat surfaces, such as a desk or the top of a CRT display. If you’re using your webcam with a laptop or notebook, you might consider models designed specifically for laptops. Laptop webcams have a lighter, more compact design than standard models.
Image quality is another consideration. A webcam’s image quality depends on the “frame rate” and the camera’s resolution, although the quality and capability of the lens also plays a role. The frame rate is expressed in frames per second (FPS), with common frame rates for webcams at 15 FPS and 30 FPS. Higher frame rates deliver better video quality with less image flicker, although a higher frame rate can also take longer to transmit across an internet connection. Keep in mind that the speed of your internet connection, as well as current
Internet traffic, also affects transmission. More expensive webcams usually provide better still and video images, and they also usually perform better in low-light situations.
Resolution is measured in pixels, and the higher the resolution, the better the image quality. Common webcam resolutions are 320X240 and 640X480.
Glass lenses provide better image quality than plastic lenses, but the price increases with the quality. Focusing may be automatic or manual, but you’re probably better off with auto focus – since it’s one less thing you have to worry about when you’re recording.
Although many webcams support audio, they don’t always include a microphone. Some have an integrated microphone, while others use a headset. The headset provides freedom of movement, but many individuals find it more cumbersome than a built-in microphone. The quality of supplied microphones is often poor, but you can always spring for a better microphone if audio quality is a major issue.
Some webcams also include software bundles that come with basic photo editing software, basic video creation and editing software, remote monitoring/motion-detection/time-lapse video capture software, collage or photo album creation software, and software for creating and sending video e-mail. Check your model for the features you want. In most cases, the best advice is: Keep it simple!
For more information and a complete webcam buying guide, please visit: http://theonlinevideoguy.com/home/index-webcam.html
