Camera Labs

I currently have a Technika (Tesco UK) and a Microsoft VX 1000 webcam.

I am possibly looking to upgrade, but I don't know that much about them. There are pixels and frame rates, I think.

I have heard that Logitech are good, and there are some cheap non branded ones on ebay that look alright.

I have not really decided on a budget, but I would like to know more about them and what to look out for.


Enlighten me guys.

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Canon EOS 500D
Lenses: EFS 18-55mm IS, EF 50mm F/1.8 II

I recently bought the Microsoft Lifecam HD-5000. It's a pretty good cam actually, working quite well in lowlight.

Some flaws:
Skin tones are a bit purple, can be easily adjusted in the control panel

Autofocus hunts like a Canon at a concert
(can be fixed seasily by locking the focus in the control panel)

Does not contain an onboard video processor; utilizes your CPU.
720P video with image postprocessing takes up 6-10% of my Q6600 quadcore at 3.6 GHz

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I take pictures so quickly, my highschool was "Continuous High".

or u meant to say autofocus hunts like any Sigma lenses at moving things or concerts

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http://www.AnderssonPhoto.com
Cameras: Leica M8, Nikon FE-2, Canon EOS 1D Mark IV, 5D Mark II, 40D
Lenses: Voigtländer Nokton Classic 35mm 1.4, Ultra Wide Heliar 12mm 5.6 ASPH II, Nikkor AI-S 28mm 2.8, Canon 24-70 2.8L, 85mm 1.2L II, 300mm 2.8L IS, TS-E 45mm 2.8, Sigma 105mm 2.8 Macro
Canon 1.4x/2X TC II, Canon 580EX II X2, Gitzo + Manfrotto.
Wishlist: Leica Monochrom, Summilux 50 ASPH, Voigtlander 35mm 1.2 ASPH II

My trolling is brand independent

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I take pictures so quickly, my highschool was "Continuous High".

We use a Microsoft Lifecam too; the cinema web one, also 720p and HD. It works well and we haven't noticed excessive zooming but then we tend not to budge a lot from the chair. Used mainly by SWMBO to speak with kids/grandkids /friends in Mid-East and elsewhere. Price in UK about £32 to £40.

Here's a quick test shot from the HD-5000

Not at full res I think.

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I take pictures so quickly, my highschool was "Continuous High".

I would be getting it for internet conversations though, not for photographs.

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Canon EOS 500D
Lenses: EFS 18-55mm IS, EF 50mm F/1.8 II

It's a screencap from the video feed

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I take pictures so quickly, my highschool was "Continuous High".

I sometimes use an old Panasonic NV-DS65 video camera as a webcam over firewire, it has a much better zoom range than most webacams and a buit in stereo mic. If you have any old kit have a rummage and see if you can use it.

It also depends if you want your webcam to be tethered to a machine or independent, so you can have it post content to the web or allow remote access and control. This type of camera is handy if want to use it for security as well as a webcam.

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Nikon D90
Nikkor AF-S DX; 18-105 f/3.5-5.6G VR, 55-300 f/4.5-5.6G VR, 35mm f/1.8G
Speedlight SB-700

http://keystrokesukimages.com

Yes, that is the problem. You need Firewire on both the computer and camcorder. I have neither of those at the moment.

Saying that though, I have used a couple of USB stills type Cameras before as webcams.

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Canon EOS 500D
Lenses: EFS 18-55mm IS, EF 50mm F/1.8 II