Choosing an HD webcam

[Dave Owen]

Has anyone got any advice on a good USB webcam to use with VB? I'm looking for something either 720p or 1080p. I guess that a webcam with built-in hardware encoding would be preferable. If so, what format? Is there anything else I should consider in a webcam that will minimize the CPU load and make things easy for VB?

[wiav8r]

Logitech C910 does 720p very nicely and plays with VB very nice in either 4:3 or 16:9

And cheap too. Should be able to get easily for 75$ US just about anywhere. Got mine from Amazon.

[Dave Owen]

Thanks Allan. That was one of the ones I liked the look of but I was put off by a review that said it used 20% of the CPU. I forget the specs of the testing system but I think it was a reasonable PC. Have you noticed how much CPU load it adds to your setup?

[wiav8r]

Only used it on production machine one time so I am sorry but cant remember CPU usage. However works fine on my Test rig with AMD quad. No more usage than my old cam. I'll be honest and say whenever I use it I only have one running at a time so, I cant give exact results but mine worked better than my old webcam. I love it and VB plays nice with the Logitech driver software also for effects.

Take a look at this recorded video using VB and Logitech C910 with recorder module and uploaded to Vimeo and hosted on Our Church website.

http://1goodshepherd.org/verse-o-rama-4/#.TqduB5uIkXk

This is my son running the controls for webcam and VB ( all ad-lib BTW)(makes me laugh). Notice the bad sound? That is the C910 built in mic and is set too hot!

[Dave Owen]

Thanks again Allan. Unless anyone has a better suggestion I think I might give this one a go.

[jak]

You can see my experiences of a Microsoft Lifecam in this thread (http://forum.vidblaster.com/showthread.php?t=2011).

[Dave Owen]

Thanks Jan. I was using a fairly old MS Lifecam and I didn't like the picture but perhaps I could try a later model.

Today I tried a Logitech C270 and the picture is acceptable but it sure does chew up the CPU for a single webcam. However I'm testing on an old computer so maybe I'll give it another go on a newer one.

[andranic]

I have tried both the Logitech c910 and the Microsoft Lifecam Cinema. Both had great results