seracorde11's Full Review: Logitech QuickCam Pro 4000 Web Cam
I purchased my Logitech QuickCam Pro 4000 the summer of 2005 to replace an older model that never quite took very good cam pictures. This one, on the other hand, I have been very satisfied with my purchase.
It comes with a stand that I never use. It is easily attachable to the LCD monitor by molding to its top. Its molding hook does not fit on the older CRT monitors. Either way one prefers, it is easily adjustable in height for different sitting angles (slouching or sitting up straight hehe).
TESTED
I have used this Cam on two different machines:
* EMachines T2542 with an Intel 2.5 GHz Celeron Processor, 2 Gig RAM PC2100 DDR266, ATI 9200 video card, running Windows XP Home
Results 1
The software did not install very well and kept hanging up toward the end of installation. After trying to reinstall at least two more times, I browsed to the Logitech website and found a newer version of the software and downloaded it. The new software installed correctly, and the Cam took pictures as expected.
However, the video creator portion of the program would not work. Only a black screen would come up. All the features of the Cam seemed to be functioning properly except for the video maker.
*Dell XPS Gen 3 with 3.4 GHz Intel Pentium 4 Processor, tested with two different video cards (ATI Radeon 256MB RADEON X850 XT and NVidia GeForce 6600 GT), 1 Gig RAM, running Windows XP Home
RESULTS 2
This machine was able to use every feature of the Cam including the video recorder even with the OLD software. So, buyer, be aware that there could be a hardware incompatibility problem when using this product.
Software
The installation software was simple to install on the Dell Gen 3, but I had many difficulties with the older machine. Once installed, you can use MSN Messenger, AIM, Yahoo Messenger, and Logitech VideoCall from the main menu. One can email their pics from this menu also.
The My Logitech Pictures button leads to a Windows Explorer type Gallery with your videos and pictures fully capable of view more than one photo or video, picture capturing, emailing, printing, and print ordering from online. Yes, this is all within the Gallery interface!
There is also a Video Snap button in the Gallery mode that allows one to create and post videos on an Ebay listing. How clever! Yahoo Photos is also available here making uploading, sharing, and online ordering of prints a snap.
Picture Adjustments
The Logitech Control Panel can be accessed from the main menu or from the QuickCapture Change Camera Settings section. These settings include Video, Audio, and the Zoom/Face Tracking.
The Video Camera Settings can Mirror Vertically or
Horizontally, adjust Brightness, Contrast, and Saturation. There is a Low Light Filter which works really well, and a nice Color Boost that makes washed-out pale images come to life!
Clicking on the Driver Settings button will open up a more
detailed Image Control panel. The slider bars can adjust the Brightness, Contrast, Gamma, Saturation, and Exposure even more!
So if you take a picture that you like except for the colors or exposure is all wrong, you can fix it!
You can also change the picture to Black and White, make a Mirror Horizontal or Vertical image, and change the Backlight Compensation.
The White Balance selections are also a handy tool which includes Freeze, Incandescent that gives a blueish lighting hue, Fluorescent, and Daylight setting.
Taking Pictures
To take pictures, simply click on the QuickCapture button, and the camera will activate if working properly. Click on the Arrow at the bottom right of this button, and you can select and Date/Time Stamp and also set a timer to where you can stand away from the cam to take a full shot or any other type of picture that requires "hands free" posing.
Camera Modes: 160 X 120, 320 X 240, 640 X 480, and
Megapixel
Face Tracking is included and is kind of freaky to play with. If one moves around, the camera zooms in and out trying to keep up with the activity. However, it likes to zoom in too much at times and focuses on your chin or shoulder, so it's not perfect. I usually keep it turned off. The Quick Assistance brings up this control whenever needed.
Recording Videos
To record videos, press the Record A Video button and if there are no incompatibility problems, it should record your every movement until stopped by user intervention or by timer. This also includes sound! Click on the arrow at the bottom right of the button to toggle the sound on or off and set the timer options.
The default of the software allows one to preview the picture or video after taking it, but it can be shut off with the Options menu in the QuickCapture area.
Through the Pictures and Videos QuickView preview menu, one
can email, add captions, watch a slide show, print, rename the files, and even use another editor. Multiple albums are allowed.
Other features include its Built-In Microphone, USB 1.1 interface and is compatible with Windows 98, 2000, ME, and XP, MAC OS X 10.15 to 10.2.6.
I would recommend this webcam for anyone that wants an
easy-to-use device to take quick pictures and simple videos. It is affordable, fairly easy to install the software, and takes good pictures. The microphone is also sensitive and sometimes causes the person on the other end pain if it is positioned over a monitor with speakers attached. :-) But on the end of the Cam, no worries. This webcam has also lasted through two moves and was compact enough to easily pack and big enough not to lose.
Still, the only con I could see was that some hardwares do not work precisely as it is suppose to with this product's software and may not work well for you. So keep your receipt just in case.
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