Best Webcams

Best webcams for image quality and software

Reviewers agree that the Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000 (*Est. $80) is one of the best-performing webcams. In his review for PCMag.com, Rick Broida describes the image quality as "unsurpassed," and Frank Harrell at CowboyFrank.net writes that it "leaves the competitors dragging their cables in the mud." Web User's Andy Shaw points out that the QuickCam Pro 9000 delivers "what's effectively better-than-TV image quality to your Internet communications."

The QuickCam Pro 9000 has a glass Tessar autofocus lens designed by the Carl Zeiss Company. This type of lens can be found in many point-and-shoot digital cameras. According to EverythingUSB.com's Scott Clark, the glass lens improves clarity and takes in more light than plastic lenses. This minimizes exposure time and allows for higher frame rates. CNET.com's Matthew Elliott notes that the QuickCam Pro 9000's images are "well-balanced, vibrant and clear ...; even in low light." He goes on to write that it produces better images than competing webcams under any lighting circumstance and recommends it for "desktop and laptop users alike."

The QuickCam Pro 9000 has an integrated microphone with echo-canceling and noise-reduction capability, and reviewers at Pocket-lint.co.uk and WebUser report favorably on the sound quality. Other features include a 2-megapixel sensor, a maximum optical video resolution of 1,600 pixels by 1,200 pixels, 8-megapixel still images and a two-year warranty. The frame rate is up to 30 frames per second. On the downside, reviewers complain that the enclosed USB cable is too short for practical desktop use and that the face-tracking feature is occasionally delayed. Although this is one of the pricier webcams on the market, reviewers report that the QuickCam Pro 9000 is worth it for those who want the best image quality; in more than 700 user ratings at Amazon.com, it maintains an almost impossibly high overall score of 4.5 stars (out of five).

Creative is one of Logitech's main webcam competitors. We found several reviews that complain about bloatware in Logitech and Creative products. In particular, we read complaints that both brands install unnecessary startup items. Microsoft webcams have also recently been criticized for barraging users with prompts to install Microsoft applications.

That said, Microsoft webcams have become more popular with reviewers since our last webcam update, particularly in the budget category, covered later in this report. The new Microsoft LifeCam Show (*Est. $80), for instance, has been well received. Frank Harrell at CowboyFrank.net likes this webcam very much, saying that it compares very well with the Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000 in terms of sharpness and light sensitivity. While the LifeCam Show has a fixed focused lens, as opposed to automatic or manually-adjustable focus, Harrell is impressed that Microsoft is the first manufacturer in his extensive experience to state the focal length right on the box (between 21 and 60 inches).

The LifeCam Show webcam has a 2-megapixel sensor, glass lens and built-in noise-canceling microphone. It also has a unique magnet-based mounting system, which reviewers all like. The webcam can be mounted on an included desktop stand, or attached to a laptop either with a conventional clip or with adhesive discs (also included).

Dana Wollman at Laptop magazine also has high praise for the LifeCamShow . She points out its slick design, and notes that Microsoft has vastly improved its special effects software over that which shipped with earlier LifeCam models. Matthew Elliott at CNET, on the other hand, finds Microsoft's software remains "quirky" and "lackluster." Reviewers and users alike are not particularly impressed with the unit's overall value, especially compared to the better Logitech models like the QuickCam Pro 9000. This is a new webcam, so there aren't as many user reviews for the LifeCam Show; most of the approximately two dozen reviews at Amazon.com are positive. Complaints aren't consistent; one user says it's great in low light, while another says it's terrible.

The HP Elite Autofocus (*est. $80) is another high-end webcam contender. This latest HP model can take 12-megapixel still images, has a 3-megapixel sensor and is priced to compete with the Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000. Frank Harrell at CowboyFrank.net finds that this is the best HP camera he has tested and is impressed with the image quality. However, he has serious reservations about the mounting stand, citing a loose hinge that allows the camera to droop downward. He also calls the flimsy notebook mounting clip "a joke." Harrell does not recommend HP's bundled software.

HardwareGeeks.com also covers the HP Elite Autofocus in a detailed, though non-comparative, review. Blogger Michael writes that the webcam itself is "fantastic," with "crystal clear" images (after some tweaking of settings). He also complains about the bundled ArcSoft software, however, and ultimately opts not to install it at all.

Mac webcams

Unfortunately, none of these webcams offer native support for the Mac operating system, OS X. However, some webcams will work, even though they are officially Windows-only. Apple used to make a great webcam, the Apple iSight. Now, Apple integrates webcams into all of its iMac and MacBook computers, and has stopped making standalone models. That, combined with Apple's smaller market share, leaves little incentive for third-party manufacturers of webcams to create Macintosh drivers. Still, owners of older Macintosh systems have a few options.

The Logitech QuickCam Vision Pro for Mac (*est. $120) is very similar to the QuickCam Pro 9000, but designed to work exclusively with Macs. It has a Carl Zeiss lens, 1,600 pixels by 1,200 pixels resolution, 2-megapixel sensor, integrated microphone and Logitech's RightLight 2 technology, which automatically adjusts for light conditions. Mac users praise this new webcam for its image quality and ease of use, though some report that it isn't compatible with Apple's iMovie application.

The Macally Icecam 2 (*est. $30) is a budget camera designed specifically for users who wish to supplement the built-in webcams on their iMacs and MacBooks, and it is compatible with PCs as well. Stuart Miles at Pocket-lint.co.uk praises the camera's image quality and value, but complains about the "tinny" sound from its built-in microphone.

Another alternative is 'macam,' a freeware driver that makes most USB 2.0 webcams compatible with Mac OS X. We didn't find any professional or user reviews. The macam website also maintains a listing of which cameras work (or should work) with the driver.

Some experts, including Frank Harrell at CowboyFrank.net, claim that webcams that meet the Universal Video Class (UVC) standard required for Windows Vista will work with newer Macintosh systems. Older Logitech webcams are Mac-compatible, and some users of the MacInTouch forum experienced success with new Logitech webcams. Others had trouble, or found they only worked in some applications. User expertise and comfort in locating and installing drivers appears to be a factor. We did read a couple of reviews from Mac owners that are successfully using the Microsoft LifeCam Show on their Apple laptops; the LifeCam Show is a UVC webcam.