Webcam reviews

03.Product profiles

Logitech QuickCam Sphere AF

Price $199

Good points:

• Supplied column attachment raises camera closer to head height (but see Bad points).
• Software supports video uploading to YouTube, Crackle and Logitech Mobile Video services.

Bad points:

• No in-built functionality for snapshot uploading.
• Motorised pan/tilt is jerky.
• Camera is much less stable when the column attachment is used.

Microsoft LifeCam VX-6000

Price $99

Good points:

• Designed to work with Microsoft’s Windows Live Spaces online service.
• Can clip on top of an LCD screen or laptop computer.

Bad points:

• The USB cable interferes with the pan/tilt of the camera on its base and makes it unstable.
• Produces jerky video even with moderate light levels.
• No zoom.

Creative Live! Cam Optia AF

Price $129

Good points:

• Supplied with combined earphones/microphone.
• Supplied with a soft cover.
• Supports video output in AVI and WMV formats.
• Supports snapshot output in both BMP and JPEG formats.
• Easiest to use for still image uploading to the internet.

Bad points:

• No in-built functionality for video uploading.
• Still images have noticeable pixelation.
• Still images have a pinkish tinge (poor automatic white balance).
• Relatively low score for still images.

Pro-Q Motion Tracking Web Cam

Price $77

Good points:

• Fixed focus lens means no waiting for auto-focus or having to manually focus the lens (but see Bad points)

Bad points:

• Video scan rate defaults to 60Hz and may create flickering video when shooting under artificial light unless adjusted.
• Motorised pan/tilt is jerky.
• Much of the supplied software is unintuitive and not easy to use.
• Does not list any compatible applications for IM chat or videoconferencing.
• Images consistently soft looking (maybe due to fixed focus lens).
• Image colours undersaturated.
• Produces very jerky video even with moderate light levels.

Speed S8800i

Price $85

Good points:

• Supplied with a mini tripod (but see Bad points).
• Has a large shutter button on the top of the camera for taking snapshots.
• Apple Mac compatible.

Bad points:

• Camera not very stable when on supplied mini tripod, and is even less stable without it.
• Camera is loose on its base and difficult to aim accurately as a result.
• The focus thumbwheel has little resistance and is difficult to set accurately.
• Much of the supplied software is unintuitive and not easy to use.
• Does not list any compatible applications for IM chat or videoconferencing.
• Couldn’t locate a vendor website, so after sales support may be an issue.
• Produces jerky video even with moderate light levels.
• Still images have very noticeable barrel distortion Borderline score for still images.