Recommended Webcam for Skype

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Oubadah

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Ultimate Geek

Topic # 113744 26-Jan-2013 19:51
Need a webcam for Skyping. I don't really know anything about them, so any recommendations?

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Reply # 751294 26-Jan-2013 20:00
Microsoft & Logitech both make the best consumer grade webcam's. LifeCam is really good. http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=CAMMST1182164&name=MICROSOFT-LIFECAM-STUDIO-Webcam-Full-1080p-HD-sens Microsoft\|Outlook\|Skydrive\|Windows Live Admin Center\|Skype\|Office Web Apps\|Office 365\| Windows Phone\|Windows 8\|Xbox\|Hyper-V\|Office2013\|Bing\|Security Essentials\|Server 2012

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Reply # 751324 26-Jan-2013 21:57
Harvey Norman have 30% of all Logitech this weekend. They are much of a muchness AFAIK these days, unless you are after something to provide HD images. Artificial intelligence is no match, for natural stupidity!

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Ultimate Geek

Reply # 751380 27-Jan-2013 01:51
The Logitech C920. Dick Smith has it on deep discount at the moment. The C920 converts to h.264 in-camera. Few HD webcams can do that meaning they use alot more CPU and potentially more bandwidth so in many cases a computer won't have enough CPU or bandwidth to simultaneously handle ingoing and outgoing HD streams. Most cheap webcams have really bad picture quality, that includes cheap "HD" webcams. If you do get the C920 I think the onboard h.264 requires the Logitech drivers to work when used with older versions of Windows. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cameras_with_onboard_video_stream_encoding

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Ultimate Geek

Reply # 751392 27-Jan-2013 06:53
The onboard h.264 encoder is required by skype to be able to send HD video. HD Video requires 1 Megabit upload all the way to the person receiving the call. Even if you are not getting that (Such as my DSL connection only getting 0.8Mb/s upload) the Logitech C920 will give you the best picture quality. I think the Logitech C920 is the BEST camera for skype. The Naggyman! http://naggyman.wordpress.com

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Ultimate Geek

Reply # 751611 27-Jan-2013 19:24
The onboard h.264 encoder is required by skype to be able to send HD video. This isn't the case for 720p, maybe you thinking of 1080p video?

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Ultimate Geek

Reply # 752187 28-Jan-2013 19:02
After much deliberation I've ordered a C920. Really liked the aesthetics of the MS one though. I'm also looking for a desktop microphone for my brother, so that I don't have to put up with his laptop's horrible integrated mic. Does anyone have suggestions? He's got good heaphones, so it needs to be a discrete mic, not a headset. I suppose desktop or clip on will work.

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Reply # 752189 28-Jan-2013 19:07
The mics in recent cameras are actually really good, sometimes too good, so you shouldnt really need one. ;) XPD / @DemiseNZ / Gavin Website CPU : Intel E5300 GFX: Geforce 9800GTX/+ RAM: 3GB DDR2 A+ - MCDST - MCTS CCNA Arriving soon.

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Ultimate Geek

Reply # 752215 28-Jan-2013 19:44
xpd: The mics in recent cameras are actually really good, sometimes too good, so you shouldnt really need one. ;) Not as a substiture for the C920's mics. This is for another system - for my brother to use with his laptop which has an integrated camera and useless mic. I'm sick of hearing him typing and the drive seeking etc. Need an external mic.