Which or what webcam for Zoom etc ?

[Turn7]

Suddenly find I have the need for a webcam, and know next to nothing about them...

MrsT7 will be doing a professional qualification over the next 4 months and the tutor has advised they will now be using Zoom.

Ideally cheap as, but it needs to be worth having if you know what I mean..

And, ideally from Amazon.......

[The_Jackal]

It really doesnt matter.
Pick any one that is 1080 HD and you like the look of. Try and stick with a named brand like Logitech, HP, Dell etc.
IT is such old established technology these days, they are dirt cheap to make.
How good your internet connection is, will determine the quality more.

[Turn7]

Internet is 100mps VM so should be fine....she was using the phone the other day and its noto a very elegeant solution the the problem...

[eltawater]

Does she have a recent smart phone or tablet? The Zoom Android app works fine with the built in cameras of our cheapo phones / tablets and the client is also available for iOS etc.

I have a cheapo Logitech C270 which is a 720p camera and it works absolutely fine for video conferencing with my work colleagues. If you're not trying to wave bits of paper at the screen then ultimately it just needs to be good enough to show your face whilst talking. The Zoom service is going to compress and degrade it anyway depending on available bandwidth between the clients, the servers etc.

Edited by eltawater on Sunday 29th March 19:14

[Turn7]

IP 5SE.....

[poing]

If I'm not using the laptop and I'm using Teams (similar to Zoom) on the phone then I prefer to have the phone mounted. Saves having to hold it and I can type/take notes.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Portable-Flexible-Wireles...

[Turn7]

poing said:

If I'm not using the laptop and I'm using Teams (similar to Zoom) on the phone then I prefer to have the phone mounted. Saves having to hold it and I can type/take notes.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Portable-Flexible-Wireles...

Hmm, not considered that.....

[TwistingMyMelon]

Good luck getting anything atm

When I looked last week it looked like everywhere in country was sold out of cheaper models at least ! Pricier stuff was still for sale but it looked like there had been a mad rush on WiFi adapters and webcams for wfh

[DE1975]

There's loads of Chinese GoPro copies on amazon for around £30. E.g:-

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07W7P1Y9V/ref=cm_sw_r...

Or

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07RBV8XCD/ref=cm_sw_r...

You can plug it into a computer to use as a webcam, with the added versatility of having 4k portable action cam for whenever the need for such a thing arises.

Edited by DE1975 on Monday 30th March 14:37

[FunkyNige]

There are a few more suggestions in another thread in the Photography & Video section -
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[jimmyjimjim]

Do you actually have a need for a webcam, or for a device that you can use with teams, such as a wireless headset? Does the instructor actually need to see you?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B006A2Q8...

Has some.

In my thread, I was only able to find the logitech stream cam (albeit for $131) and it's delayed in shipping - not a big deal in my case as my wife gets my webcam, and I use my plantronics headset for teams and zoom etc - in 10 years working from home, I've used my webcam twice as anything other than a microphone - you might well get by with something like this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Trust-Gaming-Microphone-L...

or a headset:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/AmazonBasics-Pro-Gaming-H...

Other...purtier...colours are available.

[Turn7]

Thanks for the replies chaps....

After a Zoom session today, MrsT7 has announced that the iphone sits perfectly in front of the PC screen and thus a cam is unneccesary.....