I recently found that old smart phones make better dash cams than the purpose built dash cams sold in stores. I turned a two year old Samsung J3 into a dash cam. The phone cost 90 bucks two years ago when it was new. The dash cam app was 4.99 and the windshield mount was 6 bucks. The video is way better quality and there are more options/settings to play with.
Why can’t you buy a good webcam?
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Re: Why can’t you buy a good webcam?
#52The trick to great picture quality is to use good lighting and drop the ISO on the video as low as possible. I've been using Reincubate Camo for my iPhone along with Key Light Air Lights. The quality is better than any webcam. Most webcams crank up ISO so they can work in the dark and that is what ruins picture quality.
This cannot be overstated. While I agree with many of the camera recommendations in this thread the most important factor is enough light.
Even the worst webcams go from absolutely trash to something usable if you add better lighting to you subject.
And when people start thinking over lighting you can move away from your window so you do not have that as a powerful backlight. Look out the window and the webcam will have much better results.
Re: Why can’t you buy a good webcam?
#53Re: Why can’t you buy a good webcam?
#54This nails the issue with creating any kind of hardware. I’ve worked for hardware developers for most of my career, and have seen these types of challenges play out.
Frankly, hardware problems are hard. The laws of physics are non-negotiable, and doing what we assume to be simple tasks at scale can be crazy difficult. Solving a problem in a lab is not the same as making it at scale. That’s why you keep reading these stories about major lab discoveries that never seem to actually materialize in product.
Us software developers get used to being able to write some code, or license a library, and the problem is solved. Scale isn’t really an issue for us. If we can do it on our laptop, then we can push out our product to millions, almost overnight.
Hardware is quite a different world. We need to tool up factories, train assemblers, set up suppliers and transportation networks, negotiate dozens of contracts; even for simple projects, resolve regulatory issues (which can be quite intimidating, depending on the industry and market), establish distribution channels and create packaging. Some of these are reflected in the software world, but at a much easier-to-manage level.
Also, with software, failure usually doesn’t cost as much as it does with hardware. It’s a lot easier to pick ourselves up, dust off our lapels, and try again. Iteration is relatively easy.
One of my favorite scenes: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YlVDGmjz7eM
Re: Why can’t you buy a good webcam?
#55> you also can buy a great XLR microphone for $100, but then you’ll need an external sound card with phantom power supply.
this is only true if you buy a condenser microphone. a dynamic microphone will work reasonably fine with your onboard soundcard if you have an xlr-->1/8" trs cable.
Re: Why can’t you buy a good webcam?
#56Perhaps buy a tripod for a phone instead?
Re: Why can’t you buy a good webcam?
#57A high end Logitech with a Zeiss lens and auto focus is superior to any webcam you can buy. It'll also last for a long long time. Of course a bigger sensor and a bigger lens (DSLR, Mirrorless, etc.) is something different.
They are mediocre at best, owners say. I know some people that have one they use as secondary cameras (for multi-angle setups), but they bought it first, got disappointed and bought something else, this is the path.
I own an old Pro 9000 and it's still respectable. Only its FPS is a little low but, it was the king of the hill when I bought it.
As I've looked now, it seems that they discontinued ones with Zeiss lenses. The ones with Zeiss lenses were both low light and clarity monsters for their size.
Their highest model is Brio Pro with 3D sensing it seems. I need to see its performance. However Logi says it has a real glass lens so it shouldn't be a slouch.
Nevertheless, it's not fair to compare a lentil sized sensor with a Full 35mm, last gen mirrorless.
Re: Why can’t you buy a good webcam?
#58Absolutly! Also, Webcams are almost not developing. e.g. the Logitech C270 is 10 years old and is still selling for 30-40€, I think almost the same price since 2010.
Imagine the phones or cameras in the year 2010. I really think the webcam industrie is a cartel (not to say mafia).
Re: Why can’t you buy a good webcam?
#59> So there is a market gap between so-so webcams for $100-200 and a full-blown setup with a mirrorless camera, an external mic and lighting panels that will cost almost a grand or two, if you're so inclined. Nope. You can get a mirrorless camera set up (with mic and lights) for around $500 to $600. There are plenty of 1" compacts as well in that price range.
I am looking for an improvement in convenience over mirrorless, even if it costs the same. A webcam can be more compact because it does not need half the stuff thats in a mirrorless camera
Re: Why can’t you buy a good webcam?
#60I've also investigated this quite deeply. As I'm sure most of us know, the main problems with 'webcams', either the built-in ones or USB ones that you perch on top of your monitor, are the lens size, and the CCD/CMOS image sensor size. Manufacturers spouting specs like '4k' are deliberately misleading the public if the sensor and/or the lens aren't also upgraded. The only cost-viable methods to get 'broadcast quality…
Rumour has it that the imitation 'Camlink' products overheat and cut out. Probably solvable with the addition of a heatsink if true.