The tinyWebcam on your laptop has gotten more use in the last few years than it ever has before. Chances are that back-to-back Zoom calls are a part of your professional life even if you are back to taking some of your meetings in the office. The fact that most built-in cameras are not able to provide consistent, high-quality video chat experiences is one of the reasons your computer'sWebcam has become one of its most important components.
External webcams come in here. Those with lackluster built-in webcams, people who spend most of their working hours on video conferences, and those who picked up a new hobby of streaming on the internet can all be helped by them. It can be difficult to find the right PC accessory. We looked at a bunch of the latest webcams to see which were worth the money and which were not.
Most built-in cameras have a resolution of 720p, so you'll want to look for an external one that's better than that. Ideally, you're looking for something that can handle 30 frames per second or 60 frames per second, and FHD webcams will give you a noticeable boost in video quality. If you're thinking of buying a cheap 720p webcam, make sure it supports at least 30 frames per second or 60 frames per second. If your main concern is looking better during video calls, then you should go with the higher resolution.
Some webcams can shoot in 4K, but that's not enough for most people. Most video conferencing services don't support 4K video. When it comes to streaming, it's best to use a streaming service that has a max out at1080p video. Most people can get by with a good camera, even with limited use of 4K shots.
When you're recording, the field of view is important. The default field of view on most of the webcams I tested was 78 degrees, which was enough to capture me and show that I need to organize my home office. Smaller fields of view are usually found on cheaper webcams. They won't show as much of your background, but that also means you won't be able to squeeze as many friends or family into frame when you're having a zoom birthday party. The field of view on a more expensive webcams may be even wider than average.
Without a lot of work on your part, Webcams with autofocus will keep you looking sharp. You should be able to move around, step back and forth, and remain focused. If you have specific needs, some models let you manually adjust focus. Fixed focus devices are more affordable and less convenient.
Some high-end webcams now offer auto framing, a feature that was previously only offered by cheaper models. Similar to Apple's Center Stage feature, the camera automatically adjusts to keep you in the center of the frame even as you move around. The only two webcams I tested that had auto framing were the $200 Dell UltraSharp webcam and the $220 Anker Video Bar, and while that helped them stand out from the pack, neither were great enough to earn a spot in.
The features listed in the webcam specifications include auto light correction. This will make up for a dimly lit room by adjusting the camera's settings. If you don't have a well-lit setup for your video calls or take calls in different places where you can't control the lighting, this feature will be valuable.
Depending on your setup, most webcams have microphones that will be closer to you than your own mics. If the model you're considering has mono or stereo mics, it's better. Some use noise reduction technology to keep their voices clear. A built-in mic is the best way to get a microphone, even if you don't want to invest in one.
There aren't a lot of fascinating discoveries when it comes to webcam design. Round or rectangular devices are used to clip onto a monitor or laptop screen. Some people can sit on your desk with a tripod stand, while others can only sit on it with a computer. The latter isn't ideal if you like having people stare up your nose. If you want to make sure that yourWebcam is at or slightly above eye level, you should clip it to your monitor.
Hardware extras like built-in lights and lens covers are added to some webcams. The former will help you stand out in a dark room, while the latter will make it easier for hackers to view you through your webcam.
The built-in camera for most external webcams costs between $60 and $150. If the internal resolution of your laptop is the same as the internal resolution of the webcam, you should look for other specifications like auto light correction, a wider field of view or an extra-long connecting cable that can provide a step-up in quality or ease of use.
If you spend $150 or more, you will get advanced features like 4K resolution, vertical and horizontal recording options, stereo mics, and more. Unless you spend hours on video calls each day or stream multiple times each week, you can skip most of those high-end options.
The C920s Pro HD is a great value on paper, and it proves that once you take it out of the box. For around $60, you can get an FHD webcam that can shoot in up to 30 frames per second, has a 78 degree field of view, dual microphones, and auto light correction. It is a fairly average-looking webcam with a lens in the middle and two microphones on either side.
Buy Logitech C920s Pro HD at B&H - $70The base is sturdy and you could easily attach it to your laptop or desk and angle the camera upward, even though I kept it hooked to my external monitor most of the time. If you want to connect it to a tripod, there is a hole on the underside. There is an optional lens cover in the box that protects you when you transport the webcam, but also gives you more privacy.
I saw an improvement in video quality when I used the C920s Pro HD. I have only one lamp and one large window in my small home office, so I usually don't fight for good light. Even on cloudy days, the camera's video was sharp and accurate. The C920s Pro HD illuminated my face and had minimal shadows, unlike cheaper cameras that struggled with the lamp off.
I kept the default settings on this one, since the company's camera settings app can be used to adjust things like field of view and brightness. The C920s Pro HD was so good that I barely noticed it. I was always in focus during my video chats, even if I moved around.
The PowerConf C200 is the same as the C920s Pro HD, with a few extras and a price that is $10 more. Just plug the cam into your computer or docking station and start using it. I kept all of the settings for brightness, sharpness and contrast ratio at their default when I downloaded the AnkerWork software.
Buy PowerConf C200 at Amazon - $70You can also control the camera's resolution and field of view with this software. If you want, you can change the resolution of the C200 webcam to either 2K or 720p. The field of view is set at 95 degrees, but I changed it to 78 degrees to spare my colleagues a better view of my messy home office.
The extra sharpness and clarity of the C200's video is a nice touch, but it's likely more than most people need. The larger f/2.0 camera captures more light so you stay illuminated even in darker settings.
The C200 has dual stereo mics that do a good job of capturing your voice loud and clear, as well as a built-in lens cover that you can slide closed for privacy. If you have more than one person speaking on your end, you can choose omnidirectional vocal pickup in the AnkerWork settings.
My biggest complaint about the C200 is that it's difficult to adjust its angle when it's on your monitor or screen. Unlike most other webcams, Anker's doesn't have a short neck of sorts that connects the camera to its base, it's just one piece of plastic that I had to use both hands to adjust. The C200 comes with a cable that is shorter than others. If you have a standing desk conversion or a more complicated setup that requires long cables, this won't be a problem if you connect the webcam directly to your laptop.
I had the most fun using the Stream cam. I had fun with the Streamcam, and it was remarkable in many ways. The video quality is excellent, it shoots in a high definition format, and its video is slightly sharper than that of the C920s Pro HD. The details in my clothing came through better and the texture on my skin did the same. One of the best devices for color reproduction was the Streamcam.
Buy Logitech Streamcam at Amazon - $170When you are shooting in low-light conditions, all of those perks remain the same. The Stream cam's auto-exposure feature made up for the darkness in my office. It has the best kind of focus that you don't notice in action.
My voice was loud and clear when I spoke during the video calls. It's nice to know that you can get by with the built-in ones if you need them. The microphones have a noise reduction feature.
The Streamcam is a bit larger than most. It is a large almost square that can be positioned on a monitor or on a tripod, and it has the ability to shoot either vertically or horizontally. I kept mine in the standard format, but some streamers prefer the 9:16 format for their posts on social media. You can use the Streamcam directly out of the box for your next live session if it's compatible with Open Broadcaster Software (OBS), XSplit and Streamlabs.
The Streamcam is the best all-purpose webcam because it can do everything from video conferences to family video chats. Not everyone will want to pay $170 for one. The higher price keeps it from being our top spot because those who just want to look better on the phone don't need to drop $170.
If you're willing to spend no more than $200 on a webcam, the one to get is the one from Logitech. It has a lot of things going for it, but the most important feature is its 4K recording. It is capable of shooting in both 60 and 30 frames per second. I looked better on a video call when I kept it set at 4K. My feed was clear and sharp, and the only negative thing about it was the slightly inaccurate colors.
Buy Logitech Brio at Amazon - $200The low-light performance was excellent. The cave-like environment in which I was sometimes forced to record was made up for by the light correction technology of the Brio. The dual microphones inside the Brio were some of the loudest and clearest of any I tested. They use noise-canceling technology to block out background noise and capture audio from up to one meter away.
The settings of the cameras I tried were not the same as those of the Brio. In addition to brightness, contrast, color intensity, white balance and autofocus, you can adjust the camera settings in the app. I changed my field of view from 65 degrees to 78 degrees to capture just enough of my background but still kept me as the focal point.
I turned off the focus because I found it to be difficult. I have reached out to Logitech for help with the issues with the Brio. There might not be enough contrast between myself and the background for an Engadget colleague who uses the Brio as his daily webcam. Since I take most video calls from my home office desk, adjusting the focus manually worked well for me.
It's hard to get excited aboutWebcam design, but Logitech tried to make the Brio as sleek as possible. The Brio is an oblong with rounded edges and a base that clips onto a screen. The front is glossy black and has a camera lens on it. You can use facial recognition to open your system with Windows Hello. You can use the included lens shade to cover the camera when you want more privacy.
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