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[Mejilan]

Hi folks. I'm in the market for a good webcam, one that has support for good online webcam
+ audio chats via, say, MSN Messenger.

I currently have a Logitech Webcam Messenger (I believe it is called) and it's pretty crappy. I'm on a decent DSL connection, and currently have it hooked up via a USB1.1 interface.

It doesn't work very well. It captures video very choppy, and recently, hasn't succeeded in outputting audio during chats at all. I don't think it's because of my internet connection, so it's either the camera itself, or the fact that it's connected via USB1.1 which is slow.

My question, then, do Firewire webcams exist for PCs, and would they run functionally better due to the drastic increase in speed firewire connections offer?

Thanks!

 

[Neo_ZX]

Although I haven't seen new models, every logitech camera I've seen looks really grainy. I have an old Creative WebCam3 and it seems to have better picture quality than anything I've seen. Intel cameras look okay as well.

Thanks for reminding me I have to go and buy a Creative WebCam Go (detachable version of the WebCam3) for $20CAN

I don't think you'll find a fast connection webcam since they're made to be used on the web. Internet bandwidth is just to narrow even for even 30fps at 640x480. Most cameras are only 15fps at that res that I've seen. Usually 30fps at half the res. The best you might find is USB2.0 since that's the new standard but I don't know if any actually take advantage of the speed increase.

 

[Mejilan]

Micro Orange seems to be a reliable manufacturer of firewire products, but all of their product seem to be sold out / discontinued. Ugh.

 

[Mejilan]

No one? Bumped for the Monday morning crew... I hope.

 

[Naked Snake]

*bump*

I need to buy a couple of webcams quick! And I'm having trouble choosing... Let's say you have an entry-level webcam from Creative, Logitech, Genius, and Labtec... which would you go with based on gut-instinct?

 

[ChrisReid]

Yeah, I'm actually broadcasting an event in about a month and could use one. I've got a cheapo one that was used last year. It was like a $10 one from 1999 that did the job fine, but I'm looking for something better. Technically I'm on broadband, but it'll be from a somewhat crappy hotel connection. Need to run it about 24 hours a day for about a week. Won't be used for any of that webchat software. It needs to broadcast to a simple webpage linked off my site.

Any webcams with remote directional controls (off the web page) cheap and any good? What about sound?