Webcam specs are stuffed full of different
technical terms, so here we’ll try to comprehensively explain them. Here’s what
you’ll see, and why you might care:
Video
type/quality:
The cheapest webcams will offer
low-resolution VGA-style images. Look for 720p or 1080p if you want to get a
picture that makes it possible for the person on the other side to actually
identify you. Avoid cameras with 15fps frame-rates; they’ll produce rubbish-looking
videos. You want a device that does 30fps at least.
The
cheapest webcams will offer low-resolution VGA-style images
Zoom
type:
As with digital cameras, you’ll either have
digital zoom or optical zoom. The former is cheap and uses software-based
scaling techniques to increase the size of an area but not its quality. The
latter actually refocuses the lens, retaining the full quality of an image, but
it’s expensive. Either way, since you’re probably going to be sitting about 12
inches from a webcam, don’t worry too much about either.
Microphones:
You either get none, one (mono), or two
(stereo). Buying one with no microphone is a bad idea, because it prevents you
from using your webcam for video chat - arguably the primary application of a
webcam. Stereo microphones are much better at picking up a range of noises, but
probably not necessary unless you’re planning to use your webcam to record
professional-quality videos.
Motion sensing: This can activate a webcam
only when someone passes in front of it, allowing you to use it for security
purposes. It isn’t in every webcam, but even some of the cheapest on the market
have the ability, so don’t think a camera is special because it can do it!
Don’t be scared to go for a model with
slightly less capable video features if there are software features you want
instead
Automated
controls
Some cameras can only be manually adjusted,
but particularly good or expensive ones might include the ability for you to
adjust their movement and orientation in software only, and even to
automatically follow you around the room! Again, though, since most webcams are
used by people who are sitting no more than a few inches from the device, this
is a luxury feature more than a practical one.
Some
cameras can only be manually adjusted, but particularly good or expensive ones
might include the ability for you to adjust their movement and orientation in
software only
Lens
type:
Cheap webcams have plastic lenses.
Expensive ones have glass lenses. Glass ones give significantly better images,
because they let in more light. All other things being equal, you should go for
the glass lens.
Megapixels:
If a webcam description refers to the
ability to capture a certain value of megapixels, it’s talking about still
images unless otherwise stated. Still images will be larger than the video
image. If you’re planning to use your webcam to take photos, aim for around 8MP
- the same as a decent smartphone camera.
Facial
recognition/face tracking
These features allow your webcam to
‘recognize’ people. That can mean for simple purposes, like tracking the
position of the face to keep it in focus or more impressive tasks, like using
your face to unlock your PC. The majority of webcams will have some
face-tracking capabilities, but facial recognition is more specialist.
It’s ultimately up to you to decide which
of these features you want to make sure your webcam contains. We think that a
high video resolution is always the most important feature of a webcam (and
indeed, that’s the feature they tend to be priced around), but don’t be scared
to go for a model with slightly less capable video features if there are
software features you want instead!
Is Now The Right Time To Buy?
The lack of any stand-out devices cheaper
than the Logitech C920 suggests that if you were to wait a few months, there’s
a chance someone might finally fill the rather conspicuous void in the market
and offer a budget camera that’s ultimately worth waiting for. But that’s one
heck of a gamble to take, given that the webcam industry has been virtually
stagnant for years. All webcams are broadly identical, and any change in the
market is so slow that you’ll be able to see it coming long before it does.
At the moment, then, there’s no value to be
found in waiting for future iterations of webcam hardware. And for that matter,
neither is there any reason to recommend a quick purchase. Buy a webcam when
you need one, but not before, and you’ll pay a fair price for it. The only way
you can lose out is if you buy one and it sits unused in its box for a year.
What Are The Technical Constraints?
The technical constraints on webcams are,
unsurprisingly, quite low. Obviously, you need a free USB port. You also need a
place to clip or stand it. That, more or less, is it.
The
technical constraints on webcams are, unsurprisingly, quite low. Obviously, you
need a free USB port. You also need a place to clip or stand it
Despite that, it should be noted that
webcams tend to be quite resource heavy - deceptively so, given their low price
and small size. In a way, it makes sense when you consider it logically:
processing video in real time requires a lot of CPU resources (especially if
you apply facial recognition/face tracking or other post-processing effects),
and recording video, particularly in high definition, can take up a lot of hard
drive space.
However, any modern computer should be more
than capable of handling the meagre demands of a webcam, so don’t get too hung
up on the impact it’ll have on your system. Buy one in a reasonable price range
and they won’t be a problem.
What’s The Alternative?
Finding an alternative to a webcam depends
massively on what you planned to use one for and why you might want an
alternative instead. You’d need to have a very good reason to justify your
inability to plug in a USB camera. Still, let’s assume you do. What else could
you buy?
If you’re trying to get into video
conferencing, you could potentially buy a monitor with a built-in video chat
camera. This does away with the need for an external camera, and might be
aesthetically preferable to buying one and clipping it to the side of your
current screen. Of course, it’s also vastly more expensive, but that’s the
price you pay for clean lines.
If you’re after something that’ll let you
record digital video, digital camcorders can record straight into
Windows-compatible video formats. Unlike webcams, they have their own battery,
allowing you to take them anywhere you like, not just the three feet around
your desk that a USB cable offers! Unfortunately, they’re also considerably
more expensive than webcams are, and they don’t do video conferencing, so what
you gain in portability, you lose in practicality. A slightly cheaper
alternative might be to use a digital camera with video capabilities. The video
will be worse quality, but it’ll also save you money on hardware!
Finally, if you’re looking for a peripheral
that can give you a real-time video feed on your computer, consider an IP
camera or wireless webcam. These devices are sophisticated stand-alone webcams
that run their own servers so that you can stream video from them over your
Wi-Fi network. Although primarily aimed at the home security market, they’re a
great alternative if you want to keep an eye on the action in another room (or
even outdoors) - something webcams are quite bad at doing.
