While the
iSight built into your new Macbook (or any laptop-integrated webcam for that matter) might meet your day-to-day needs, Logitech is hoping that their new QuickCam Ultra Vision can significantly raise the production value on your next YouTube masterpiece. For $129, you get a mostly glass lens -- there are still a few plastic elements in there, just less than usual -- that'll open all the way up to f/1.6, making acceptable results possible even in darkness that would turn normal cams into digital noise-filled nightmares. The press release also boasts "high definition" capability from its wide format, interpolation-free 1.3-megapixel sensor, but skimps on the hard resolution numbers, with the product page only making mention of its capability to do "live video up to 640 x 480" at 30fps. (That doesn't sound very HD to us.) Other amenities include a 4-megapixel (there's the interpolation) still camera, USB 2.0 connectivity, RightSound microphone, a
heap of cheesy effects and the RightLight 2 metering system, which promises "twice the image clarity of conventional webcams." If you still feel your cinematic needs aren't being met, you can check out the rest of the updated
QuickCam line, including the Orbit MP, Fusion, Pro 5000 and the Communicate STX, all which received minor spec bumps. These all should be available by the end of August, so you still have a little time to clean your room before exposing it to the world -- or at least your Skype contacts.
[Via Tech Digest]
posted Jul 18th 2006 8:43AM
glass lens > plastic lens?
would the iSight be considered as "conventional" ? :P
Is it me, or does this thing almost look like it's supposed to o over your ear like a bluetooth headset?
I agree, it does look like it could hang from your ear. The bracket on the back is for clamping it to your monitor or laptop screen. It's the same system Logitech has been using on their cams for a while now.
that'll open all the way up to f/1.6, making acceptable results possible even in darkness that would turn normal cams into digital noise-filled nightmares.
A larger f stop does not indicate that it will be able to control noise in low light conditions. If they put a larger sensor in there then there might be something. Or they put in a chip with some sort of noise filter. Just saying it has a larger f stop for a lens/sensor this small really doesnt mean much.
Yes, optically, glass tends to be more "pure" than plastic, adding fewer optical, chromatic abberations or in other words, distorting the light less when it passes through the lens.
"A larger f stop does not indicate that it will be able to control noise in low light conditions... Just saying it has a larger f stop for a lens/sensor this small really doesnt mean much."
You're kinda wrong. While it is true that a larger sensor or noise filtering will help with noise, so will a larger max aperture. Sensors get noisier when you have to crank up their sensitivity... You have to crank up their sensitivity when there's not enough light.
A larger max aperture will allow more light, thereby allowing for a lower sensitivity (ISO equiv.) and decreasing the amount of noise.
I'd like to see some f/1.6 lens in other cams, such as point-and-shoot digicams... Their images would crank up a lot just by doing that...
f stop what? I think it looks really sleek and sophisticated. At last there is an attractive webcam out there...
Since when does Logitech make OS X compatible webcams?
"Since when does Logitech make OS X compatible webcams?"
they did say MacBook... so maybe they are implying you can use the Logitech while booted in Windows XP via BootCamp... which still lacks drivers to use the built-in iSight thus making it non-functional.
Does anyone know if this specific camera will or will not work for OS X 10.4? Let me know, thanks!
looks great!
mmm, webcam
didn't know cams could look that good...
yeeeehhaaaa!!!!
Engadget, you're closer to my heart than the holly Apple is. Now how is that for a compliment? :-)
webcam it is
Gimme Gimme Gimme Gimme
It might be my first webcam!
uh uh I want it!
I could really use a webcam!!!
Nice WebCam. Logitech the best cams.
It's great! this is my first time, and I'm so excited!!!!
Check !
Oops, wrong topic...thought I was on the gadget givaway !
Engadget is the most smartest!
That first one is the coolest prize.
I need to win, win, win!
CHEESE :-)
great once again. you guys are really, really number one.
My birthday just passed and I didn't get one decent present - I think this webcam would be the coolest bday present :)-
definition for old model of logitech camera