Logitech QuickCam VC: What it does and how well it does it
Written: Jan 24 '01 (Updated Jan 24 '01)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Software is easy to use.
Cons: Image quality is poor.
The Bottom Line: The Logitech QuickCam VC is a decent web camera for video conferencing purposes. Image quality is lacking, but ease-of-use is excellent.
|
|
|
| DrDad's Full Review: Logitech Camera Family |
This review of the Logitech QuickCam VC describes what it can be used for, and the quality of what you get when you use it.
Background
My Logitech QuickCam VC was a gift from a friend. He got one for himself, his grown children (so he could see his grandchildren), and for me (as thanks for helping him build his online course). At the time, we were also looking into possibly including a video conferencing component to his online course.
Having had the Logitech QuickCam VC for several months, I am ready to tell you what it does and how well it does it.
The Logitech Family
Before I review my Logitech QuickCam, let me introduce you to the whole Logitech family. Logitech sells five different QuickCams: the QuickCam Express, QuickCam VC (video conferencing), QuickCam Web, QuickCam Pro 3000 and the QuickCam Traveler. The whole clan can be seen at the following URL: http://www.logitech.com/cf/products/cameras.cfm?42
I wish I could give detailed information about each camera, but I have only used the QuickCam VC. From my experience I can recommend that you get the camera with the highest image quality possible. My main complaint with the QuickCam VC is the image quality, which is poor enough that I rarely use the camera.
Logitech QuickCam VC: Taking pictures
My QuickCam VC allows me to take pictures ranging in size from 160 X 120 pixels to 640 X 480 pixels. Pictures can be taken in either 16 bit color or 24 bit color. Once a picture is taken, the QuickCam interface has options to (1) e-mail the picture, (2) create a web page with the picture, (3) copy the picture to the clipboard, (4) print the picture, (5) save the picture or (6) edit the picture.
The e-mail, copy, save, and print functions all work as expected. The Edit function has very minimal editing effects and you'd be better off using another image editor if you want to tweak your image. The Create a Web Page function is very easy to use, and will automatically create a page of thumbnail images linking to individual images. The individual image pages have ad-links to Logitech, but if don't have any other way to make a web page of your pictures, the Logitech software is acceptable and user-friendly.
Logitech QuickCam VC: Taking movies
The QuickCam has three movie format options. Normal functions just like any video camera, taking a movie until you tell it to stop. Time-lapse mode allows you to set how much time will pass between frames. By setting the time-lapse to one minute, videoing something for an hour would produce a video with 60 frames (one frame per minute). Frame-by-frame mode allows you to manually control the recording of each movie frame. This would be useful, for example, if you wanted to create a clay-mation movie and record a frame only after you have adjusted the clay to your liking.
You have the same options for saving, copying, etc. for movies as you do for still pictures. Keep in mind though that a 640 X 480 24 bit movie will take multiple MB of disk space, even if the movie is only for a few seconds.
Logitech QuickCam VC: Video Conferencing
Microsoft Netmeeting software is included with this camera, and I used it to video conference with my friend. The video conferencing interface is more a function of the Netmeeting software than of the Logitech camera, so I will save most of the video conferencing details for my review of Netmeeting.
Here, suffice it to say that it was fairly easy to set up a video conference connection using the Logitech QuickCam and the Netmeeting software. You will need a microphone if you want audio with your video conference (which most people do). The Netmeeting software automatically interfaces with the Logitech camera to provide your video connection.
Logitech QuickCam VC: Quality
The Logitech camera and included software is very user friendly. Whether you want to video conference with your grandchildren across country, create a web page of your pictures, or just e-mail a picture to a friend, Logitech makes it easy. The problem, though, is that the quality of the pictures and/or video is less than perfect (with my QuickCam VC at least). The biggest difficulty I had was that my pictures were always dark. I used both automatic lighting settings and tried to adjust the lighting setting manual to improve the images, but to no avail. I brought extra lamps into the room where the camera was located and that didn't help either. I think the only thing that would have improved the situation would have been studio lighting.
Also, the focus dial on the camera itself was difficult to adjust. It turned easily enough, but it was very difficult get the picture in the best focus. Furthermore, adjusting the focus manually always resulted in the camera moving on its very flimsy base. The camera stand/base for the QuickCam VC is horrible and was a constant nuisance.
The video conferencing image quality was the same as that of pictures - dark and slightly out of focus. The video conferencing signal quality (number of skipped frames, smoothness of video, etc.) was horrible on my end, but that was mainly due to my slow Internet connection and limited computer memory. If you want to use any camera for video conferencing, I strongly recommend you have high-speed Internet access and a fast processor with a lot of memory.
Logitech QuickCam VC: Overall
I am pleased to have my QuickCam and have used it for a variety of purposes. On holidays, we use it to take pictures of our children and e-mail them to the grandparents. While the image quality isn't that great, the grandparents appreciate the instant gratification. If I had to video conference with someone, the QuickCam would allow me to do so, but not at the quality level you see in movies (I am not sure any camera can do that though). Overall, I can recommend the QuickCam VC if you need to take simple electronic images or videos, or want to do video conferencing, and image quality is not a top priority. If high image quality is a must (for example, if you want to take pictures of items you are selling at eBay), then I recommend you look into true digital cameras instead of web cams (or have studio lighting available in your home!)
Bret (DrDad)
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
DrDad
|
 - Top 500 |
|
Location: Oklahoma
Reviews written: 53
Trusted by: 192 members
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.