Digital Cowboy intros webcam with telephoto lens

While it's decidedly lacking compared to some telephoto lenses we've seen, Digital Cowboy's new 7x number here should still be more than enough to make most other short-sighted webcams feel woefully inadequate about themselves. Detach that lens, however, and you're left with a fairly run-of-the-mill webcam, with a 1.3 megapixel resolution, face-tracking functionality, and video recording at up to 30 fps -- if you don't mind dropping things down to 640 x 480, that is (you'll just get 15 fps at the cam's full resolution). Those looking to put the webcam to some remotely-controlled use will also be out of luck, with the lens strictly a manually operated deal. Look for this one to hit Japan next month for 9.800 Yen, or just over $80.

[Via Popgadget]

[Tony C @ Jan 30th 2007 8:27AM]

Who the hell needs 7x zoom on a webcam? I'll tell you who -- peepers, voyeurs, private detectives and spys. Sure, you can mount this sucker across the room and aim it where you're sitting at your computer for chat... But WHY?? Not like it's a mechanically adjustable optical zoom lens, electronic, electric or manual -- it's a fixed 7x tele-converter! And at 1.3 megapixel, you're not gonna capture a whole lot of detail to begin with -- might as well just get a nice digital camcorder with 20x or more of zoomable optical goodness.

[dodgyc @ Jan 30th 2007 8:39AM]

I already have one of these. It was something like £3 literally from ebay. Shipped from Hong-Kong. Specs on these things are usually BS. Mine is identical in every way except its a bendy tripod stand, possibly the CMOS Sensor in this one is upgraded but honestly its still rubbish. Here's an example (specs are made-up, I know it)
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/4-0-Mega-Pixel-USB-2-0-Sharp-telescope-WebCam-Skype_W0QQitemZ170075052086QQihZ007QQcategoryZ57189QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Daniel Rutter @ Jan 30th 2007 8:56AM]

A very similar product is sold under the Cyber Snipa brand, too.

[Daniel Rutter @ Jan 30th 2007 8:58AM]

...and there's a review of it on my site :-):
http://www.dansdata.com/csspot.htm

[ThoughtFix @ Jan 30th 2007 12:08PM]

I got one on the cheap from Brando Workshop. The lens is good but the CMOS sensor is crap. :(

[dodgyc @ Feb 20th 2007 2:38AM]

Sorry here's the link for the same thing, but when I purchased this a while ago it was not £20 or anywhere near $80, it was approx £3 (£0.01 + £2.99 shipping):
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/X7-OPTICAL-ZOOM-LENS-TELESCOPE-Web-Camera-Webcam-PC-Cam_W0QQitemZ320045139843QQihZ011QQcategoryZ4616QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem