bvh - Posted - 12/03/2007:  07:33:19

Any suggestions, on which webcam to buy, for online lessons? Thanks.

Bill

waystation - Posted - 12/03/2007:  08:47:18

I just scanned through the ones at my local computer store. I'm using a Creative webcam that isn't made anymore. It's a basic model - 640x480 video and a focusing ring. Zoom is accomplished by moving the camera closer and pointing it at my hands. Cameras almost exactly like mine are selling for about $30 at the local Staples.

I'm shopping for a better one, and here's what I found: at around $50 you start getting 3x digital zoom and maybe 1-2 megapixel resolution. $70 buys you 4-6 megapixels and maybe face-following. The most expensive webcams I saw were $100 and they had all those features plus they were tiny, for carrying around with a laptop.

My recommendations: The video lessons I've given have gone OK with the lower-resolution camera, and if you don't want to spring for a zoom model, I'd say cheap is OK. I'm going to upgrade to a zoom camera - digital zoom is terrible for photography, but it's the only available alternative on webcams and it's useful for those closeups. I'd suggest the lowest resolution that offers a zoom is the best bargain for this purpose. Creative and Microsoft both make cameras with these mixes of features. Face-following isn't worth it for banjo lessons - you'll just end up turning the feature off because it'll point where you don't want it. I've done high-end video conferencing and even there face-following is a gimmick.

A second alternative, if you're looking for a regular digital camera, is to buy a good one that also serves as a webcam. it'll be much bigger than a dedicated webcam, but it'll give you much better picture quality, optical zoom, and a camera you can detach from the computer and take to bluegrass festivals. An extra $50-$100 added to a digicam budget can buy you some nice extra features.

One other thing - don't pay extra for a camera with a built-in microphone. Get a separate mic so you can aim it properly and have some control over the quality. You can get a cheap mic that plugs into the computer's microphone jack and does the job for $10, or you can spring for a high-end USB mic that'll be as good as anything people use on stage for around $100. My experience from the listening end has been that the audio quality of Skype erases the difference between cheap and expensive mics. If you're buying an expensive one to record with, it'll wok great for online lessons, but don't spend the money for that purpose only.

Oh - and speaking of USB, all this stuff should be plugged into 1 USB 2.0 or Firewire port. The older USB 1.1 makes the video choppy, especially if you get a multi-megapixel camera. If you have an older computer with only USB 1.1 ports, you can get an upgrade card for under $20.

Hope that helps - maybe someone else has experience with other brands?


Rich Stillman

Banjo - it's what's for dinner.

Skype "banjoteacher"
http://www.americanmadebanjo.com: home of Kel Kroydon banjos, Dannick tone rings and cryogenic strings
http://world.std.com/~muller/SR/index.html: Home of Southern Rail.

bvh - Posted - 12/03/2007:  09:38:53

Hey Rich....Thanks so much for the information. That gives me some things, to think about. You don't happen to know, some of the digital cameras, that one can use as a webcam, do you? I was actually thinking about buying a Canon SD850is.

Bill

waystation - Posted - 12/03/2007:  12:47:15

Hi Bill,
I just spent a frustrating hour trying to get my 2002 vintage Olympus to work as a webcam. There are drivers out there from Pine Tree Computing (http://www.pinetreecomputing.com/camctl.asp), and they let me get still images up but not continuously monitor the viewfinder. I expect most modern digicams will work as webcams - try putting the name of the camera and the word "webcam" into Google and see what you come up with.


Rich Stillman

Banjo - it's what's for dinner.

Skype "banjoteacher"
http://www.americanmadebanjo.com: home of Kel Kroydon banjos, Dannick tone rings and cryogenic strings
http://world.std.com/~muller/SR/index.html: Home of Southern Rail.

kalvadoz - Posted - 12/07/2007:  18:48:48

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