A quicker cam on manual
Logitech claims that video can be recorded at up to 30 frames per second (fps) with the QuickCam for Notebooks, depending on light levels and the image size. Using the default maximum-frame-rate setting, our own testing with a 700MHz Pentium III PC and a bright, 5,500-lux light level yielded a little more than 15fps at the CIF (320x240-pixel) and QCIF (160x120) image sizes. With the camera on autoexposure, we experienced a lot of flicker as it tried to adjust to movement in the frame. At a low 350-lux light level, we also got 15fps. However, we were able to get 30fps when we manually set the frame rate.
A better image
This QuickCam's video is smooth and didn't have the excessive blurring that we've seen from some competitors. The automatic white balance gave us generally acceptable results with most light sources, but we would have liked to have presets for daylight, tungsten, and fluorescent lighting. In bright daylight and 3,200K tungsten lighting, the QuickCam did a good job with white balance. However, at low light levels, our image went green under fluorescent lighting and yellow under incandescent lighting. The camera also had difficulty getting the right exposure in contrasty and backlit scenes, such as a head shot with a sunny window in the background, but it did well with evenly lit subjects. When capturing changing scenes, we found that overriding the autogain was necessary to keep the camera from constantly searching for the right exposure and color balance.
If you're looking for a good-quality Webcam at a reasonable price, this is a fine choice. Priced at $59 (list), the QuickCam for Notebooks outshines its more expensive competitor--the $79 --when it comes to image quality. This Logitech's only real downside is its unsteady mount, which you may want to stabilize with a small piece of adhesive tape.
