How to Choose Your PC Camera

Contents

– Camera PC: the applications

– Connections of this camera: USB, WiFi…

– PC Camera: compare and choose

– Price of the PC camera: from $20

With the computer screen, the printer, the USB key, the external hard drive, and the computer keyboard, the PC camera is one of the peripherals you can connect to a laptop or a desktop computer.

PC camera: applications

The PC camera, also called a webcam, is a video device connected to the graphics card that allows communication by video on the Internet, including video conferencing.

You can also use a PC camera to take digital pictures, make short video films, and even be used as a surveillance video by configuring motion detection.

Each PC camera has its driver. Then you can use it with the provided software and instant messaging software, VoIP, or other programs.

Some cameras and camcorders can be used as PC cameras.

Connectivity of this camera: USB, WiFi…

Most laptops have a built-in PC camera.

Otherwise, it is possible to connect a PC camera in:

– USB, FireWire

– WiFi, Bluetooth.

Good to know: Most of the PC cameras on the market are connected via USB.

PC camera: compare and choose

To choose your PC camera, here are the different points that we advise you to compare:

Criteria for choosing a PC camera	Explanation
Micro	– Some PC cameras have a built-in microphone, so the quality of the microphone may vary from one PC camera to another. Sometimes, getting a headset with a microphone is preferable for better comfort use.
Stability	– You can fix the PC camera on the screens, the central unit, the keyboard, or the desk. It should have a good foot to prevent it from falling or moving during use.
Options	The options offered from one PC camera to another may vary. You can thus have: – Motion detection, – Microphone, – Automatic image correction, – Autofocus, – Infrared to film even in the dark, – Zoom, – Face framing…
Resolution	It plays on the quality of the video. There are PC cameras with different resolutions: – 352 × 288, – 640 × 480 (sufficient and most common resolution), – 800 × 600, – 1280 × 720 (allows broadcasting a high definition video).
Refresh rate	Corresponds to the number of images per second.
Types of sensors	There are two different types of sensors for PC cameras: – CMOS: average quality but largely sufficient for video conferencing, – CCD: offers a better quality video.

Price of the PC camera: from $20

You can find PC cameras for less than $20, but this price will be a minimum for a decent quality PC camera.
High-end PC cameras are sold for around $ 100.
Logitech is the most reliable and popular brand among PC camera manufacturers, followed by Microsoft, Creative Labs, Genius, and Hercules.

	Resolution	Connectivity	Refresh rate	Average price ($)
Genius iLook 300	640 × 480	USB	30 Fps	15,00
Logitech Webcam C210	640 × 480	USB	30 Fps	20,00
Hercules Webcam Dualpix HD	640 × 480	USB	30 Fps	35,00
Logitech HD Webcam C510	1280 × 720	USB	60 Fps	45,00
Microsoft LifeCam Cinema	640 × 480	USB	30 Fps	60,00
Creative Labs Live! Cam Optia	640 × 480	USB	30 Fps	65,00
D-Link DCS-1130	640 × 480	WiFi	30 Fps	220,00