Web Cams

Cameras

Also see Video-Conferencing

Logitech

QuickCam Pro 4000

This camera is one of the most widely supported and recommended cameras in the software-based video-conferencing world. While not the most current camera, it has the advantage of being supported on all major platforms (Windows, Mac, and Linux) plus many others, including BSD and Solaris. Works well indoors and in any low light situation. USB 1.1 means that it provides a maximum of 12.5 frames per second at full resolution, which is good for most purposes. It has a built-in microphone, but without noise cancelling, it is nearly useless for a good video-conference. Must be installed using the older QuickCam 8.x drivers.

QuickCam Pro 5000

This camera has the exact same sensor and image quality as the older 4000, but the USB controller has been upgraded to USB 2.0 speeds. It uses UVC for transmitting data. Right now this is only supported for Windows (The linux-uvc project is underway to provide support eventually) and Mac users will not be able to use any USB 2.0 cameras right now.

QuickCam Fusion

This camera is currently regarded as the very best in image quality and speed. It provides resolution 4 times higher than the QuickCam Pros (the maximum resolution is 1.3 megapixel), and has a built-in microphone with noise cancellation. It is also designed to clip onto an LCD monitor or laptop screen, and is small, making it a nice portable, stand-alone solution for video-conferencing. Only 2 other cameras have 1.3 megapixel resolution, the QuickCam Orbit (Sphere) and the Creative Live! Motion. This is a fast USB 2.0 camera, but currently only supported by Windows machines (see linux-uvc project status).

QuickCam Orbit/Sphere

Note there are actually two versions of this camera, the Orbit, and the Orbit MP. The former works on Macs and in Linux (USB 1.1) while the newer one (USB 2.0) works only in Windows (see linux-uvc project status). In Europe and the UK it is sold as the QuickCam Sphere. This has motion tracking and supports pan/tilt/zoom features and remote control, making it a professional quality camera. This camera is the one currently recommended by the Internet2 Commons. Comes with an adjustable stand.

Creative

'''Live! Motion'''

Creative is Logitech's only real competitor for high quality web cams. The Live! Motion supports 1.3 megapixel resolution and is one of only 4 cameras (as of June 2006) that does so. It also supports pan/tilt/zoom and motion tracking as well as remote control. There is no built-in microphone, so the camera must be used with a conference microphone or a headset. Also the camera can not be mounted on a stand or tripod, and is meant to sit on a monitor or clip onto a laptop screen. Unlike the Logitech's, this camera does not normalize the image, meaning the distortion of the lens is preserved, which in my experience is not a big problem. This camera provides rich vibrant colors and the image quality is quite high, though many people prefer the brighter, cleaner output of the Logitech cameras and the distortion correction (rectangular object appears as rectangles through a Logitech, but not on a Creative).

'''Live! Cam Voice'''

The Live! Cam Voice is a brand new camera from Creative that also supports 1.3 megapixel resolution. There is not only a built-in microphone, but a microphone array, so it is supposed to eliminate background noise and side chatter while doing a better job of picking up the speaker's voice. I have not had a chance to see or use this camera, but it looks like a very promising addition to the Creative high end line aimed at business users who do not wish to have a separate headset or mic. I presume it uses a similar sensor to the one found in the Live! Motion.