How to Buy a Webcam
Keeping Your Loved Ones Close
Whether we are talking friendship or love, long distance relationships are always difficult. When a loved one moves away, even telephone and email conversations leave us feeling disconnected. Thankfully, modern technology can provide us with more personal and intimate contact with our loved ones: adding a webcam to your computer system will allow you to see the face of the person you are speaking with, even if they are halfway around the world!
As the popularity of these handy little cameras grows, the large number of models and makes on the market can leave shoppers feeling overwhelmed before they even start looking.
A webcam is not only useful for putting a face to a telephone conversation, but can also serve for videoconferencing, home surveillance or even (for the adventurous) to start a reality website. It is therefore important to identify your requirements before you go out to buy a webcam. Also, it is important to be familiar with your home computer system and type of Internet connection.
The following reference material should help you target your needs with a brief explanation of basic webcam features.
What does the sensor do?
If you were to compare a webcam to an eye, the sensor would be considered the retina. There are currently two different types of sensors available:
- The CMOS sensor is economic energy-wise, and less expensive, but does not produce as clear an image as it's counterpart.
- The CCD sensor will cost you more but will deliver a more defined image.
What is resolution?
When we refer to resolution, we are talking about quality of video image. Resolution is measured in pixels and most webcams on the market offer a 640 x 480 resolution.
Keep in mind that the higher the resolution the longer it will take to transmit a video image on the Internet.
I want to make a video, why are you talking to me about images per second?
The video image captured by a webcam is composed of a large number of pictures rapidly taken one after the other.
In short, the larger the number of images captured every second, the smoother and more stable the video. Most cameras offer a rate of 20 to 30 frames per second.
Does the type of lens really make a difference?
Webcam lenses are available in two materials:
- The plastic lens is cheaper and delivers an acceptable quality picture.
- The glass lens is substantially more expensive but the image quality is noticeably superior. This lens is a better choice if the camera will be utilized for surveillance purposes.
Separate or integrated microphone?
Contrary to popular belief, not all webcams are automatically equipped with a microphone.
If you plan to use your camera as a surveillance system, a microphone will probably not be necessary. On the other hand, a good quality integrated microphone is required for communication purposes. If your selected camera does not come with a microphone you can purchase one separately.
Do I need special lighting to use my camera?
When you take lighting capacity into consideration, more expensive cameras almost always produce a clearer image, even in less than ideal lighting. Cheaper models perform well but require optimum lighting conditions to produce a good image.
Installing your webcam
It is important to consider the type of computer that you own for webcam installation purposes. For instance, if you have a laptop, the camera mount should be adjustable in order to properly attach to your computer. The manner in which your camera is installed will make a huge difference in the stability of the image captured.
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