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Why can’t you buy a good webcam?

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Re: Why can’t you buy a good webcam?

#141

Post by thaumasiotes »

mattowen_uk wrote: post #20

I'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…

> Manufacturers spouting specs like '4k' are deliberately misleading the public if the sensor and/or the lens aren't also upgraded.

I vaguely remember reading about a video card that had more RAM than it was able to address.

Re: Why can’t you buy a good webcam?

#142

Post by Veen »

Aldipower wrote: post #115
muro wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Dell sells good monitors.

I fell into this trap. Now I own a very bad Dell monitor. :(

Me too but with Samsung. I bought a cheapish 34-inch curved monitor that had great reviews, but it has almost as much light coming through gaps in the rear housing as the screen. Text looks like crap on its "not quite retina" resolution, especially when it's next to a retina macbook pro, although videos look very nice. I really do wish Apple would make a monitor more reasonably priced than the Pro Display XDR.

Re: Why can’t you buy a good webcam?

#143

Post by mdre »

pembrook wrote: post #40

The reason you can’t buy a good webcam is the same reason you can’t buy a high quality monitor outside of LG’s unreliable apple collab. The lazy conglomerates who sell these peripherals often don’t actually produce the parts in them. They simply rebrand commodity cameras and IPS panels in a crap plastic housing and slap their logo on it. Then they give the product a hilariously user-hostile product name, like “PQS GR…

I spent 6 months learning about monitors before buying one for graphic design and the tldr version is: you buy from NEC or EIZO. The panel is one thing, but what sets them apart from the other ones are the electronics inside that drive the panel. And QC, the commodity brands tend to be very hit or miss.

Re: Why can’t you buy a good webcam?

#144

Post by iamacyborg »

riho wrote: post #137
mattowen_uk wrote: post #20

I'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…

Finally made an account, just to reply to this. With newer Canon DSLR bodies you can use the Canon Webcam Utility[1] to directly get the video feed show up as a webcam, with just a USB cable. I've been using the EOS R as my webcam with the RF 35mm F1.8 lens and it's working pretty great. I just hook it up with the USB-C cable and it shows up as a webcam. The only annoyance that I haven't been able to get around yet i…

Fuji does something similar with their cameras. I can use their webcam software and get clean video output when I connect my Xt3 via usb to my pc or laptop. No need to purchase extra unnecessary dongles.

Re: Why can’t you buy a good webcam?

#146

Post by k_sze »

einpoklum wrote: post #116
grenoire wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The geo-locking of model numbers is one of the vilest practices I've seen. I don't see it going away for any reason, it'll only be possible to combat by intl. legislation... but how do you even legislate that?

Legislation can mandate the conspicuous publication of a clear indication of the difference between models. Now, companies can of course lie about this, in theory, but that's a bit like car manufacturers lying w.r.t. emission tests - possible, but you tend to get caught (cf. the recent Volkswagen case) so it's probably not worth it.

Here’s my lazy take: the best governing body to start petitioning about this is probably the EU. If I remember correctly, they already have some of the most consumer-friendly laws on the planet, e.g. w.r.t. planned obsolescence.

Re: Why can’t you buy a good webcam?

#147

Post by MisterTea »

yarcob wrote: post #122
lmilcin wrote: post #41

If you are looking here to improve your webcam because you started to do remote work, don't. First try to improve lighting and audio. Any camera will look bad in bad lighting. It is always better to first improve your lighting before you invest in a new camera. Use high CRI lightbulbs and ensure even source color temperature in your room (ie. all lightbulbs should be emitting same color temperature). Audio is also ve…

Here's a trick how to get beautiful studio-like lighting for less than 50€: - buy two large sheets of white styrofoam (1m x 0.5m or bigger) - buy two cheap bright floodlights (the brighter the better) - get some mounting materials (eg. wood and screws, or cardboard and duct tape) - Place the two styrofoam plates right and left behind your laptop. - point the floodlights at the styrofoam, carefully positioning them so…

Why not white bed sheets? I'm sure you could pick up a pack at a mega mart for a few quid. Easier to store, more environmentally friendly and less messy than styrofoam.

Re: Why can’t you buy a good webcam?

#149

Post by mdre »

TulliusCicero wrote: post #120
pembrook wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Dell used to have good offerings, but all they seem to push now is the same 27” not-quite-4K 3,840 x 2,160 panels everybody else does. Now even the 22" inch LG ultrafine that used to be 4069 x 2304 is bigger at 24" and a worse 3,840 x 2,160. The only good option for mac is the 27 ultrafine 5k. 27 4k a bad size & resolution for the current computer market. Windows scaling looks like crap, and MacOS has to do more reso…

> not-quite-4K 3,840 x 2,160 But...that is 4K. It's what 4K is defined as, exactly 2x 1080p resolution in each dimension. > Windows scaling looks like crap I don't understand. 2x each dimension (so 1 pixel in the old resolution is 4 in the new) is, like, the easiest possible scenario when it comes to scaling in software.

That's UHD. 4K is defined as 4096px wide. But I guess the mass adoption of the term 4K in consumer electronics changed the definition.

Re: Why can’t you buy a good webcam?

#150

Post by dmitri1981 »

jcims wrote: post #88
clan wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 h…

I just want something with some depth of field.

Given my limited understanding of photography that is not really possible with small sensor sizes. Phones can achieve that using computational photography, but I don't think it's possible using optics on webcams.
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