Ask Engadget: What's the best webcam for my PC?

It happens every year -- the holidays roll around, and you realize that you've missed out on chatting with some of your loved ones. They offer to video chat, and you have to politely decline while resorting to the not-nearly-as-personal telephone call. Trey's ready for a change:

"I'm looking for a webcam to connect to my desktop, preferably one with great video quality and at least decent capture abilities in low light. Size isn't too much of a factor, though I would obviously prefer it to be as small as possible with sacrificing quality. What's the best one out there?"

Don't deny it folks, we know you've got a favorite webcam when it comes to chatting with your undercover SO. Just give us the answer here -- no details about how you know it's the best are necessary. Oh, and feel free to hit us up with your own question at ask at engadget dawt com.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 5th 2008 3:34PM]

Were it me, I'd go for the webcam built into your laptop and/or cellphone and/or PDA and/or toilet. But go for a 5+ megapixel one, those 1.3 megapixel built-in cameras are so last year.

[pdconner Posted Dec 6th 2008 8:49AM]

Go to my website and see.. I am using only 3com HomeConnect USB's and I am running 19 of them live in my house all the time. Heck even my car has a cam in it you can watch me drive and everything.. live audio remote lights and everything.. Let me know what you think.. or if you have any quesitons at all let me know..

Thanks

[brendanleo Posted Dec 5th 2008 8:56PM]

"though I would obviously prefer it to be as small as possible with sacrificing quality."

with sacrificing quality? or without?

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 6th 2008 12:09AM]

Not to try to start a flame war or anything...but...every camera listed here....sucks. The asker did not mention price...so...a Logitech Express is not going to give you "Great video quality".

If you go for highest of high end, Point Grey's cams are amazing - you can snag the Firefly MV for ~$400 (you have to get the dev kit too).

The PS3 Eye is a great CHEAP alternative - $40. While there are no official drivers, unofficial drivers have certainly been released. Here's a good one: http://alexpopovich.wordpress.com/2008/10/17/sony-ps3eye-camera-touchlib-directshow-and-more/

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 6th 2008 3:22PM]

Well, I guess I'm so yesterday...., I'm still using my glass lens i sight, along with my MDD 1.25 mac. I'm very happy with it over the years, and it seems to me that every time you look one of these cams up on e bay, there are only 3 or 4 of them listed, and they always seem to be for more money than what the original brand new i sight went for, which I believe was around $129. Since these are firewire cams, I believe there usefulness on future mac products or any other computers are limited, because I think I read where Mac was dropping firewire on all it's products and going with USB3.0. Anyhow, I'm quite pleased with my old school tech, besides...., it's all I can afford in this economy.
I'd love to get a wireless outside Axis directional cam to monitor around my house and street, but who can afford to drop a grand for one of those cams?

@ Patrick Conner----> Looking for your web site to view your cams? URL?

If you have a regular web cam that you run all the time and would like to be included on my web cam site, go here http://ajayswebcams.com/ and drop me a e mail .

[erier2003 Posted Dec 6th 2008 5:53PM]

I love the Logitech Quickcam Ultra Vision. It's a little bigger than the Quickcam Pro 9000, making it sit a little easier on larger monitors.

[FuturePastNow Posted Dec 7th 2008 2:13AM]

I know what not to buy- a Microsoft webcam.

I have a VX3000, and the camera itself is OK (it was cheap), but the Lifecam software is just awful. The people who wrote Lifecam 2.0 obviously didn't test it at all and don't use it. I uninstalled it and went back to version 1.4, which at least doesn't crash, but it's slow as hell and doesn't even have a self-timer function.

[ebayaholic Posted Dec 7th 2008 6:56AM]

I must agree with the others that the Logitech Quickcam Pro 9000 is the best bet. I've had one for over a year now and use it on Skype. Works great. I have a tall floor lamp about 6 feet directly behind the camera's view and it adjusts to the light perfectly. The sound quality is also great. I have the laptop clip on version and it comes with a stand for using on a desktop and also a nice zippered carrying pouch. Came in handy when I was deployed to Iraq this past summer. Hope this info helps.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 7th 2008 7:47AM]

I just bought Logitech Quickcam Pro 9000 yesterday. It's really cool webcam, the quality of video and mic is quite great.
For who are making decission to buy it. you can read more detail at this url or you can go to youtube and search for "logitech pro 9000".

http://www.astoreastang.com/logitech-quickcam-pro-9000

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 7th 2008 11:13PM]

Why cant we just leave a comment? Whats with the funk email address dwat? cmon!

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 8th 2008 8:12PM]

1. buy monkey
2. tape to chair
3. attach leads to monkey's brain
4. feed monkey banana to keep him happy

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 13th 2008 11:17AM]

I want to add a webcam to my imac G5 (Power PC). Logitech Vision Pro sounds OK. I have firewire input as well as USB2. What video card do I need ? Is there even a slot for one ? What's a good headset ?