The two LifeCam models I reviewed last year were merely average performers, and both really struggled in low light. The LifeCam VX-5000 featured marked improvement, particularly in low-light scenarios. It showed little of the graininess that plagued last year's LifeCams. In a darkened room with really only the light of the laptop screen illuminating my face, the picture was bright and clean with accurate colors and very little noise. With the camera turned to my wife sitting next to me on the couch, with no light source near her, the picture was well rendered. It was every bit as good as the Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000, which uses Logitech's RightLight technology with good results in low light. Better yet, the LifeCam VX-5000 is cheaper and has a better design than the Logitech cam.
Webcams also struggle to keep up with fast-moving scenes. I performed a little kung fu fighting in front of the VX-5000, and dropped frames were few and far between. Image quality also degrades with any Webcam when video conferencing rather than simply recording a video. The VX-5000 is no different in this regard, but it still provided a very good image when using Skype. The image was cleaner and much less washed out than my MacBook's integrated camera, for example, with brighter, more accurate colors.
Unfortunately, it ships with the same LifeCam software. It has an updated look but the same functionality underneath. I wasn't a fan of the application last year (read my reviews of the NX-3000 and VX-7000 for more), and I'm no more a fan of it today. It makes it easy enough to record video or audio or snap a picture, but the e-mail button forces you to answer 20 questions before letting you simply e-mail a video or still image. The video effects are more lame than goofy, and the LifeCam window shows only your last video or still image captured as opposed to the more useful strip of thumbnails that Logitech's QuickCam software provides. You can easily open the folder to where video and images taken with the VX-5000 are stored, however. Microsoft says an overhaul to its LifeCam application is slated for this fall.
Microsoft backs the LifeCam VX-5000 with a three-year warranty.
Where to buy
Microsoft LifeCam VX-5000 (red):
$24.99 - $52.99
| store | price | in stock? | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
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$52.99 | Yes |
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$39.99 | Yes |
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$37.09 | Yes |
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Amazon.com Marketplace
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$32.99 | Yes |
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Office Depot
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$24.99 | Yes |
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