Anyone got a webcam?

by **F1Pilot** on Sun Mar 14, 2004 7:06 pm

Heya all...
My daughter just turned 2, and my folks are bitching about how they never get to see her. Instead of putting my little girl through the stress of dealing with the grandparents by flying to see them (folks are Westies), I considering getting a webcam so that they can see her. I hoping that we have a lotta tech junkies here that use webcams. Any sugestions? What I'm looking for:
01) I know you pay for what you get, but I want something on the cheap end.
02) Smooth vid capabilities (yes, grandparents and myself are on broadband feeds).
03) Nice still captures.
04) Not a requirement, but it it's portable for a notebook, that would be a bonus!
Thanks!
F1

by **jase** on Sun Mar 14, 2004 10:28 pm

Think it's all in the software isn't it?

I'm pretty sure 99% of webcams have the same 100K CMOS as each other. The lenses vary in quality but generally there isn't much difference.

If you want optimum quality, I'd suggest using your digital camera as a webcam. With the right software should give better results than most webcams.

by **BuddhaTB** on Sun Mar 14, 2004 10:37 pm

Can't go wrong with Logitech.

It'd probably be much better looking if you just shot some videos with a camcorder and just uploaded them to your computer.

by **UALOneKPlus** on Mon Mar 15, 2004 1:20 am

I've got an Intel webcam that I bought for about $80 or so. It works really well with Yahoo messenger. The grand parents can see my little one pretty well on the web.

by **hoxlund** on Mon Mar 15, 2004 1:23 am

I have a creative webcam pro, works great on msn, yahoo, aol

by **pranav81** on Mon Mar 15, 2004 3:06 am

I have a Logitech Wbcam Pro 4000 which has a 1.3 MeagPixel CMOS and it works as a beauty.I dont know it's proice though as my brother bought it for me.
I can also hook up my Sony MiniDV Handycam DCR-PC330E to work as a webcam.Works as a charm.

::Pranav::

by **F1Pilot** on Mon Mar 15, 2004 6:52 am

Heya jase, B, UALOneKPlus, hox and pranav81...thanks for posting!

I've had webcams in the past that looked like absolute crap, but this is about 6+ years ago...just wondering what's out there now. Anyone got links to still sample shots on the web?

At one point, I had the Intel Pro Cam...imaging was really good. I had a Creative and Alaris that were horrible, although I'd like to try Creative again...maybe that specific notebook one that they have.

Good idea with the upload, B. The prob is that my folks are such pain in the asses, they'll want to see her live.

Thanks all! Any more 411 is appreciated!

F1

by **hoxlund** on Mon Mar 15, 2004 11:56 am

when your buying a webcam just make sure not to buy anything with a video resolution lower than 640x480, so don't buy those $5-$20 POS

I work at staples and trust me we carry plenty of shitty webcams, also that creative notebook webcam would do great video

by **jase** on Mon Mar 15, 2004 12:24 pm

Is it not possible to hook your camcorder up directly as a webcam? No PC device would be able to beat it for quality.

by **JayDee** on Mon Mar 15, 2004 3:51 pm

I have a Sony ccx-z11 I think it is one of the first CCD cameras but it quit dated, the only thing I don't like is it need a lot of light to have a good picture, & with the kind I have you need a capture card, but I don't think you'll need one with the new usb types out there, but I would agree to get a CCD type & the lowest LUX you can get, unless you have lot of light in the room. also get the highest FPS camera as well.

Dave

by **BuddhaTB** on Mon Mar 15, 2004 10:29 pm

jase wrote:Is it not possible to hook your camcorder up directly as a webcam? No PC device would be able to beat it for quality.

It should be possible.

by **JayDee** on Mon Mar 15, 2004 11:18 pm

BuddhaTB, yes of course you can use a camcorder you just have to have some sort of capture card, I have a Ati TV Wonder Pro R/C, most if not all TV Tuner cards have capture abilities all you need is a Video IN & use your sound card for the audio. My friend has a ATI AIW & he uses his home camcorder for on-line video chat.

Dave

by **pranav81** on Tue Mar 16, 2004 2:34 am

jase wrote:Is it not possible to hook your camcorder up directly as a webcam? No PC device would be able to beat it for quality.

Yeah jase,
I can hookup my Sony MiniDV Handycam DCR-PC330E directly to the computer using the provided USB cable and use it as a normal webcam.It offers amazing clarity and you can zoom in and out using the remote! You can also play the MiniDV tape in the handycam and the people at the other end will be able to see whats playing!!!Really cool I must say.

::Pranav::

by **aviationwiz** on Tue Mar 16, 2004 10:37 am

Go Logitech for sure...

by **F1Pilot** on Tue Mar 16, 2004 5:55 pm

...alternately, anyone know of really good wecam hardware review sites? I can't seem to find anything worth jack. :-?

by **pranav81** on Wed Mar 17, 2004 1:48 am

aviationwiz wrote:Go Logitech for sure...

Yeah,I agree.

::Pranav::

by **LoneWolf** on Thu Mar 18, 2004 2:59 pm

jase wrote:Is it not possible to hook your camcorder up directly as a webcam? No PC device would be able to beat it for quality.

It is if you have a card with composite video in, like an ATI TV-Wonder, or an ATI All-In-Wonder or Radeon VIVO.

I have a Logitech QuickCam Pro USB now, but had a small OEM Sony camera hooked up through my composite in on my ATI TV Wonder. Worked just fine.

by **pranav81** on Fri Mar 19, 2004 2:12 pm

LoneWolf wrote:
jase wrote:Is it not possible to hook your camcorder up directly as a webcam? No PC device would be able to beat it for quality.

It is if you have a card with composite video in, like an ATI TV-Wonder, or an ATI All-In-Wonder or Radeon VIVO.

I have a Logitech QuickCam Pro USB now, but had a small OEM Sony camera hooked up through my composite in on my ATI TV Wonder. Worked just fine.

No.Newer handycam's from Sony can be connected though USB port and they can work as webcam.

::Pranav::

by **F1Pilot** on Fri Mar 19, 2004 7:23 pm

hoxlund wrote:that creative notebook webcam would do great video

Have you seen the vid quality on it, hox?

I looked into the Logitech stuff too. Specs sound good, but I still can't find jack as far as samples go. :-?

by **JayDee** on Fri Mar 19, 2004 9:42 pm

Mesa, do you have a home camcorder??? you could use it & the pic would be the best

by **F1Pilot** on Fri Mar 19, 2004 10:12 pm

JayDee wrote:Mesa, do you have a home camcorder??? you could use it & the pic would be the best

Heya JayDee...
I do have a camcorder. By the sounds of what everyone says, I should go that way. I may check into doing that.

Thanks everyone!

by **JayDee** on Fri Mar 19, 2004 11:21 pm

Mesa, apparently from someone post on this thread if you have one of the newer camcorders you don't need a capture/tuner card just use the USB or firewire port. But if you have one of the older ones without these ports & only have a Video RCA type connector then you must use a capture card, ATI makes one of the best capture cards on the market & for the best price, & yes I have one.

Dave

by **jtan** on Sun Mar 21, 2004 12:30 am

record it using miniDV, encode it to mpeg2 format, burn it to DVD, mail it. =)

Anyone got a webcam?

Anyone got a webcam?

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