Good Pictures, Easy Connectivity
Written: Jan 07 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: High Quality Images, Nice Designed Package, USB Interface
Cons: Clip-Style Holder Not Included
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| razedvector's Full Review: 3Com HomeConnect PC Digital Camera |
I purchased this camera when it first came out quite some time ago, and it is still one of the best cameras on the market.
With its easy to use USB interface, the camera installation is a snap. Simply install the software, reboot, and plug the camera in. The system will automatically detect the camera, and you are ready to go.
Whether you are using this camera for NetMeeting, as a webcam for your homepage, or some other purpose, this is a great, general use camera.
It has a very easy to use focus on the front of the camera. Simply turn the lense to ensure a clear picture is being taken. If you want to take snapshots, that is easy too. There is a button on top of the camera which makes it easy to just click and shoot. And the include 9 foot USB cable, which is compatible with USB extension cables as well, can give you great mobility and placement possibilities. For instance, you can put the camera mounted on the wall in front of you, giving a wider picture of the room that you are in.
The included stand is sturdy and has non-slip pads on the bottom. You can also optionally buy a clip-style holder, which will allow you to place the camera on a laptop or LCD monitor.
The software included with the camera is rather sparce, including only a demo of WebCam32, the premier webcam software; and some additional packages which have very little value. Most of the packages also include the older version of NetMeeting, in which the newer version is installed automatically with Windows 2000/Me, and can be downloaded for free. In addition, the demo for WebCam32, which is now in a newer version, can also be downloaded. It will allow up to 1 hour of usage at one time. And if you have Windows Me, the included Windows Movie Maker works great with this camera.
The camera operates in a varied of lighting conditions. If the room is really dark, the camera will automatically adjust, and brighten its image. I suggest that you do not place bright lights, such as track lighting directly in front of the camera without dispersing the light against a wall, as it will create a white blotch in the image. Otherwise, the cameras adjustments, and easy to use controls make it easy to get a great picture.
There are now newer cameras coming out, which support FireWire, which will make the image smoother and easier to see in recording movies. However, a lot of computers don't have FireWire, and the cameras won't be at consumer-quality and ease of use levels for a year at least. So this, in the meantime, is definitely the camera to get.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
razedvector
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Member: Benj Hoppe
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Reviews written: 14
Trusted by: 2 members
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