webcams

[rh71]

Thinking of setting up a webcam to 'watch' my dog while we're all away at work. I don't know the first thing about setting one up... have only seen them in a box on the shelves of CompUSA or whatever. How's Logitech's Quickcam? Creative has one too... opinions? I notice a lot are USB... will parallel work as well? (I have a printer on LPT1 right now)

how much is a decent one for this purpose? what else is involved? basically i want to be able to type an internet address and have him show up! Please advise. Thanks.


[This message has been edited by rh71 (edited 04-02-2000).]

[M1pilot]

I tried four different cameras before I finally settled on the one I chose. The first one was Creative's Webcam3. I had a nightmare of a time getting the software to work and when it did the picture quality was very poor. You need floodlights in the house and the colour was always off...everything had a red tinge to it. Video in Netmeeting would'nt work at all. The software was extremely unreliable and hard to install.

Next I tried a Logitech Quickcam Pro. The software was excellent, but the picture quality was substandard and you needed a well lit room as well. The third camera I tried was the 3Com Home Connect. It had slightly buggy software, but the best picture quality and you could run the camera off the light of your monitor! What turned me off the 3Com was the video....they claim 60fps, but that's at postage stamp size resolution and black & white colour. At higher resolutions, the video was very choppy.

I finally ended up keeping the Intel PC Camera Pro Pack. It comes bundled with great software that works, and the camera, while not having the best picture quality, works well in low light conditions, and the video quality and colours are good. Included is software for uploading images to a website. The price was was 149.95 Cdn with rebate. Kind of mid range with the cameras I tried (the Creative was 120.00, the 3Com 229.00, and the Logitech 154.95 with rebate). It also has a privacy shutter, which is very handy in Netmeeting, and for keeping the dust off the lens when not in use.

These cameras were all USB and as far as I know, only the Creative is offered in parallel.....I could (and probably am) be wrong on this.

If your only interested in stills, I would highly recommend the 3Com....absolutely beautiful picture quality. If you want decent all around features, I found the Intel the best. I've heard the Kodak DVC325 is very good, but I've not had the chance to try one.

Well, that's my two bits, good luck.

-M1pilot

[rh71]

Well I couldn't wait any longer and put in a winning bid of $34 + $7 2-day shipping on a Logitech Quickcam VC Parallel. Its suggested retail is $79... did I make out ok?

So I presume already that I won't get the great picture quality you were looking for (because of the difference in our price ranges), but I guess it will suffice for my purposes.

Thanks for sharing your experience... helps a lot.

[M1pilot]

You done good!! Hey, up here in the Great White North we pay the price, man!! Enjoy!

-M1pilot

[Biff]

Right on rh71, glad you got one and a deal that your happy with. I remember m1 we got talking about creative cams, I took the web cam to go back, ended up with logitech pro, I like it. Glad to hear the 4th one was ok for ya
All the best Biff

[M1pilot]

Hey Biff....yeah, I think I would've kept the Pro if it had'nt been for the fact that I keep my computer room fairly dark. That clamp that comes with it is great, and some of the software is a lot better than the Intels. Oh well, each to his own....long as you're happy with it. That Webcam3/Go series is a real prize though!!! Cheers.

-M1pilot

[psyklone]

i have the logitech quickcam, the usb version. the video is grainy with the screen enlarged, but in the smaller size screen it isn't too bad. and M1 is right on about the light. we brought another light into the computer room just because of the camera!

[binarygirl]

I also have the intel pc camera pro pack. It has a lot of software that is easy to use if you are not an advanced user. I think the picture is quite decent and I setup a time lapse section on my website fairly easily with it. I can goto the website and see a relatively updated picture. The software it comes with is worth the extra money if you just want an overall intro to the whole scene. I think they cost a little over 100 bucks after rebate now. I also have used mine to do some video editing. The camera has a port that you can import video from a camcorder with, or from another video source I am sure. It is usb which makes it simple and convenient also. I am very happy with it and would recommmend it to anyone who is a beginner or intermediate and doesn't want to hassle with finding software. Oh also it's great if you have kids because it comes with some interactive games that are kinda neat.

[This message has been edited by binarygirl (edited 04-03-2000).]

[Toadman]

My logitech works fine, but now looking for a wireless USB camera to keep an ey on the dog downstairs as well. Any avail yet?

[M1pilot]

Have'nt heard of any Toad, but that would be THE way to go !!

-M1pilot

[M1pilot]

Great link binarygirl!! Definitely worth looking into. I can't believe how cheap they are.....anybody tried any of their products yet, or seen a review somewhere??

-M1pilot

[binarygirl]

I have seen a wireless cam. I don't know anyone that has one yet though. I was thinking about getting one, they look quite interesting. www.x10.com (http://www.x10.com)