Microsoft LifeCam VX-6000 reviewed

Our peeps over at PC Mag have gotten their hands on the higher-end of Microsoft's two Live-optimized LifeCams announced last month and, for the most part at least, seem to have dug it, giving it a hefty 4/5 rating. True to Microsoft's claims, they found that the cam was in fact, very easy to use and delivered some nice added features like face-tracking along with the standard pan, tilt, and zoom control. And while they were impressed with the 30 fps, 1,280-by-1,024 (interpolated, of course) video, they found that the audio quality from the built-in mic left a lot to be desired, having to crank up the volume in order to hear each other clearly, resulting in some nasty feedback. An external microphone would obviously solve that problem but, you know, would kinda defeat the purpose. Not surprisingly, the best results also came when using Windows Live Messenger, with some additional audio/video problems cropping up when used with AIM and Yahoo. A deliberate downgrade? Nah, couldn't be.

[whatsaname @ Aug 28th 2006 6:47PM]

I need a new webcam, what would be a good pick? Mine is fine but I would prefer a higher resolution and motor skills derr~! Under 60 bucks though.

[Julio @ Aug 28th 2006 7:54PM]

I bought this cam, it works great.

It's also one of the only webcams that supports Windows XP64-bit. Works flawlessly in xp64.

[CiXel @ Aug 28th 2006 8:40PM]

What about NOT under $60. I would say Apple's iSight is probably the top web cam with it's autofocus and all, but it don't work so well under XP. What would we gather is the Top webcam on the PC side? Is is this new Microsoft one or something else out there?

[Jeff @ Aug 28th 2006 11:13PM]

I tried this camera head to head w/ a Logitech QuickCam Pro 5000, and the logitech beat it pretty handily. The resolution on the 5000 isn't as high, but if you're using it as a web cam, it doesn't really matter. 640x480 is all you could really use anyway. The image quality was noticeably superior, even after adjusting settings. (I did have to adjust from the defaults in the logitech software though. I was definitely not satisfied w/ the defaults.) The audio on the logitech is also better, but I'd still use the included headset over the built-in mic. (I actually use a bluetooth headset). The LifeCam has a wider field of view, and is a lot smaller. That's the only advantage.

[YourMother @ Aug 29th 2006 5:59AM]

I have a Logitech QuickCam Pro 5000 and upgraded to the VX-6000, the HD video sucks (fps sucks) on this thing but when it runs at 640x480 30fps it blows my 5000 out of the water. Its high quality hardware. The audio is also better. On the 5000 it sounds like a projector in the background. On the vx6000 you get good sound when sitting next to the cam. You can tell that the cams mic wasnt made to hear things from far away. Very good cam, if you dont have one I recomend this one. Im waiting for the next generation HD webcams with true HD with at least 30fps.

[keith waddington @ Aug 30th 2006 12:20AM]

The cam/software needs to understand the difference between your voice and the voice of your conference partner coming out of your speakers. It must reject the latter otherwise their will be feedback. This is the reason headsets are common for the audio, because it avoids this issue,

The iSight for mac does not have audio problems. It's expensive, but it just works. And the video uses h.264 codec which means its unsurpassed. And the 4 way conference really looks like this!

http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/ichat/

If you have close friends or relatives who live far away, forget the OS war: do yourself a favour and look into using iSight and iChat.

cheers
http://www.waddo.net/

[Brian @ Sep 24th 2006 7:57PM]

I bought this cam upon seeing it advertised on the Microsoft website just a few days after it released, and I must say that I am very impressed with this webcam. I didn't have to reset anything, just in the dark, had to go in and turn the low light boost on, and backlight. The cam is awesome when you are in your room at night and you don't want to turn lights on to wake up anyone. And upon using the audio part in testing out a video email, as well as in Yahoo! Messenger, The responses from my friends and collegues were that they heard me crystally clear. I would definitely recommed this webcam over Logitech's anyday. I have used Logitech Procam 4000 in the past, and the audio mic sucked. It worked wonderfully as far as the video of it for a few months, but then it went crappy; I reinstalled the drivers and updated them, and it still worked very negatively. I bought a Logitech Webcam Pro5000, and it screwed up my OS; redid my OS and reinstalled it, and it screwed it up again. I took the am back and then bought the Logitech Orbit, and the same thing happened! Installing this webcam was so much easier and simpler. I definitely recommend this Microsoft Lifecam VX6000 to anyone over any webcam on the market.

[geoffrey whitaker @ Jun 15th 2007 8:14AM]

can you please help.I have just bought a vx-6000 from office works and it as a 20% casback offer. office works say you have to fill a form in of the web and were very unhelpful. I have tried all your sites and cannot locate the form can you please advise thanks Geoff

[fenacv @ Jan 8th 2008 6:14PM]

I just got one of this last week. But yesterday I found it's onsale here $30 off.
http://www.pricebat.ca/Microsoft-Lifecam-VX-6000-Web-Camera-Windows-USB-Port.p_10061524/
...oooooops