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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?

#691

Post by rasz »

dathinab wrote: post #638
hengheng wrote: post #395

Earlier quoted context omitted.

$250 is deep into mirrorless camera territory though.

If you by new $250 isn't close to getting you anything decent which also works for streaming as far as I know. Plus for many cameras you need to capture their video output, i.e. USB is not enough (through that currently changes). So you need a capture chip with low latency or else things are bad for "life" usage. This is often another 60-130€ for something decent if brought anew. Plus they don't have a monitor clip s…

AverMedia PW513 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5MfenW7EqA

Re: Why can’t you buy a good webcam?

#692

Post by Animats »

There are plenty of camera modules available.[1][2] Those are both 4K, USB interface and take a big external lens. That's just from a quick look at Google. You could probably find more options, even without running around Huaqiangbei. You're not limited to phone-sized optics.

[1] http://www.camera-module.com/product/8mpcameramodule/cmt-4k-...

[2] https://www.e-consystems.com/4k-camera-module.asp

Re: Why can’t you buy a good webcam?

#694

Post by TulliusCicero »

coldtea wrote: post #178
TulliusCicero wrote: post #120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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.

> But...that is 4K. It's what 4K is defined as, exactly 2x 1080p resolution in each dimension. That's irrelevant though, except if we're talking about consuming movies fullscreen. For a monitor I don't want 4K, I want insivible pixels at viewing distances, so hi-dpi. I would also prefer no scaling for assets that are bitmap in nature. This ideally means pixel doubling (less cpu/gpu demanding and less fuzzy than fract…

> For a monitor I don't want 4K, I want insivible pixels at viewing distances, so hi-dpi.

That's cool I guess, I was just objecting to calling the 4K "Not quite 4K".

Re: Why can’t you buy a good webcam?

#695

Post by sigstoat »

antiterra wrote: post #645
lumost wrote: post #529

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The market for dedicated external webcams is a little sparse because most people don't want to have more peripherals. There's probably a good opportunity for home office external displays to incorporate smartphone cameras, studio mikes, and maybe even lighting elements to help people look good while working from home.

Since COVID the webcam market has exploded. Logitech had to significantly ramp up production due to increase in demand back in April. It’s not just remote work, but also aspiring content creators.

> Since COVID the webcam market has exploded.

companies that are crushed by demand for existing products, and dealing with covid-related supply chain issues, and long-term uncertainty about demand aren't going to have a lot of luck getting a new high-end product out in among other reasons, getting these sorts of things made usually requires some travel by the engineers to the manufacturing/assembly facility to sort out problems.

Re: Why can’t you buy a good webcam?

#696

Post by bhauer »

thaumasiotes wrote: post #157
another_kel wrote: post #125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Windows scaling looks like crap Huh? I'm using LG's 27 inch 4k and scaling looks good. It can bug and force you to relaunch app but that's not something you encounter often.

I'm using a Dell P2715Q (also 27 inch 4k); it looks fine. But... scaling? The point of having a gigantic 27 inch monitor is that you don't need to scale it. The only problem I do have with the monitor is that it makes me disable scaling on my 15" laptop screen, since there are annoying interactions when you have one screen with scaling active and one without.

27 inch is a small monitor. But I agree, usable real estate comes first, then clarity (by way of scaling). So you want a genuinely large monitor (at least 40 inches) at 8K+.

Re: Why can’t you buy a good webcam?

#697

Post by spyspy »

kylecordes wrote: post #624
iamatworknow wrote: post #588

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>and you usually need a capture card/camlink to convert the output from the camera Early on in the pandemic the major mirrorless camera providers (I believe at least Sony[1], Fujifilm[2], Canon[3], and Nikon[4]) all released software that lets you use any of their relatively recent cameras as webcams with the regular USB transfer/charging cable. A separate capture card is no longer a necessity. [1] https://imagingedg…

As I understand these are all awful in their own way, typically with quality problems and extra latency as well as the extra complexity of the software. The obvious solution is a camera mode in which it presents itself over USB as a webcam… As far as I know no "real" camera at any price does this. I solve the problem with a Camlink, but it really should not be necessary.

My Sony a6500 has been perfectly fine with my macbook since Sony released the new drivers. I haven't noticed any latency and love getting compliments from zoom peeps on the non-AI blur I get with my 16mm f1.4 lens.

Re: Why can’t you buy a good webcam?

#698

Post by stock_toaster »

notretarded wrote: post #372
Swizec wrote: post #355

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can turn your old phone into a webcam. An iPhone X has camera quality that competes with a cheap DSLR in a webcam situation. Main thing real cameras are better at is bokeh, but you won’t get that in a webcam. And software can passably fake it these days.

How?

iphone + lightning-digital-av-adapter + airmix solo[1] + camlink-4k = webcam

[1]: app that gives nice clean hdmi output, and has decent color/brightness controls

Re: Why can’t you buy a good webcam?

#699

Post by brianwawok »

novok wrote: post #578
brianwawok wrote: post #549

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What if the Smartphone camera cost $20, and the laptop camera cost $5 to manufacturer? Smart phones can maybe justify the extra $15, laptop makers cannot. If a laptop maker can't raise the price $15, it literally eats their profits.

Seriously? With laptops costing $1000+ I think they can afford to put in the $15 smartphone part from $300 smartphones in the higher end ones.

Seriously.

Take that $15 and apply to 8 other things. The memory. The speaker. The keyboard. Your $500 laptop is now $600. Your competitor is still $500. You lose.

Re: Why can’t you buy a good webcam?

#700

Post by balfirevic »

kevin_thibedeau wrote: post #574
goldcd wrote: post #457

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Logitech Brio is probably the most "state of the art" webcam you can find (and it's a few years old). Decent quality 4k (or 1080 at buttery FPS) with all manner of gubbins to correct lighting - amount, flicker, hue etc Oh, and does have depth sensing - with separate lens that'll scan your face and log you into windows (or out when you walk off).

> with separate lens that'll scan your face and log you into windows And hence the problem. Now you have a camera is dependent on custom drivers deeply entwined with your OS that are a security risk. It also isn't likely to have usable drivers five years down the line.

It works like normal webcam if you don't need face recognition login.
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