01.Introduction
Test results for five general purpose webcams, ranging in price from $77 to $199
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so a moving picture must surely be even more valuable — which is probably why webcams have become so popular for personal communication and slowly becoming a common accessory for PCs (just like printers) . If you can’t meet someone in person, a webcam connected to your computer can be the next best thing to being there.
Don’t expect TV quality pictures though. Webcams have come a long way in quality of still and video images but both remain well below what you’d achieve with even a cheap digital still camera or video camera.
We looked at five general purpose webcams to see how they compared for image quality, ease of use and features. All connect to a PC via USB.
Please note: this information was current as of July 2008 but is still a useful guide to today's market.
Webcam models tested:
- Creative Live! Cam Optia AF
- Logitech QuickCam Sphere AF
- Microsoft LifeCam VX-6000
- Pro-Q USB 2.0 Motorised Motion-tracking Webcam
- Speed S8800i
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