webcam recommendations

[sub]

My wife wants to keep in touch will some family members overseas, and we were thinking about getting a couple of webcams to enable this. I've never used one and dont know much about them, and dont want to buy junk. Can anyone make any recommendations for what make/model to get?

[psycik]

Your gonna hate me for this, but after my parents bought a new laptop with an integrated webcam I'd say that the best. No set up, and it's pointing directly at you.


Failing that I've used a budgo Singapore special for $19 with no problems, and I've got a $400 D-Link IP camera (wireless ethernet).

Other members I'm sure will be more useful.

[groover km]

A slightly different application, we use one of these gizmo's from D-Link:

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http://www.dlink.com/products/?sec=1&pid=8

I bought it off ebay for $100, I think they are about double that retail. Handy as I can plug it into any tv anywhere on the network, and WAF is pretty good as it just works off the universal remote. They also make a wireless version.

Might be worth a look.

[wharrad]

Got to say that Logitech have always done me well if you're going down the USB route. The Fusion model is my current one for keeping in touch with family members that don't like to type.

The quality is good (look for something with a true 1.3 Megapixel senor to avoid grainy pictures) and echo cancellation is also not bad. However, I am not a fan of the logitech software - need to 'msconfig' a few services.

But I guarantee you're going to spend awhile trying to find software that works for you MSN is the most common, but headphones must be worn... Skype's ok most of the time... Ach, good luck and try a few things I guess.

[sub]

Thanks for the info guys.

I've read a few reviews, and have seen a few more recommendations for the Logitech Fusion cameras, so will probably go with a pair of these. I had been thinking of using MSN for the software.

Wharrad, am I safe to assume you can use a lower res and/or bitrate if the internet connection is too slow?

[cprossu]

I always have used an old vhs camcorder hooked to some sort of cap card and have had great results

it tends to be less choppy, offers decent autofocus, and eats less system resources than most webcams out there... I find most software that has video chat will let me specify a cap source just fine...

[fender]

I always have used an old vhs camcorder hooked to some sort of cap card and have had great results

it tends to be less choppy, offers decent autofocus, and eats less system resources than most webcams out there... I find most software that has video chat will let me specify a cap source just fine...

This approach also has the benefit of the camcorder having a glass lense vs. the el-cheapo plastic lenses most webcams use.

[sub]

I need two of them, and for support purposes, I think a pair of the same purpose built webcams would be easier than rigging up camcorders etc.

[sub]

The MS VX3000 does also look pretty good to me, and definitely an option I'll look into.

I'm going to be on holiday in China in a few weeks, so I'll have a look to buy them there first, but otherwise I'll get them when I'm back.