The webcam comes with the new packaging now in a small box with almost no plastic. A great plus!
It is only the hardware, Quick Guide, and the safety and warranty information.
The driver brings with Windows when plugging the camera from the house, then you can skype immediately. The associated software is easy to download on the Internet and quickly installed (Windows Vista Ultimate SP2). The additional installation of Windows Essentials can be turned off.
The HD 3000 surprised with a good representation in low light conditions.
The noise keeps in the price range within acceptable limits and the automatic white balance works without TrueColor very well and can, if necessary, manually adjust quite fine.
The holder has a tripod thread, has nevertheless convinced me. Because the foot is good pliable and significantly heavier than the cam, it can be set up well, reconnecting or position it on a shelf. Even on a tripod I could install it useful.
In the image quality I lack a little sharpness in total, which is negligible in the price range. The pictures / streams appear natural that it is not there knackscharf occurs in the background. The camera has a fixed focus lens, so no autofocus. This simple design is also beneficial: unrest in the image through the often refocussing autofocus does not exist. But they do have blurred regions outside of this focus. The Fixfokusbereich proves to be more than indicated by Microsoft (0,3-1,5m). Also in 2-4m distant objects appear blurred yet. Beyond the 10m it is but then significantly blurred. As external webcam is therefore not as well suited.
The camera has a 68 ° wide-angle lens, which at first seems great. In the video interview, but the other party has the impression that I was sitting very far away. Here, the software offers a 10 stage adjustable Digital zoom, the quality also is still adequate to the 4th level. A useful tool here is the control of the image section on the Software.
The sound is good and clear a background noise is barely perceptible.
Shortcomings:
- The camera is advertised with 720p HD quality. In 1280x720HD are max. 10fps poss., Which is definitely useless. At 960x544 and 800x448 are max. 15 fps poss., Which is already usable. Only when there is 640x360 30fps.
My feeling is that Cam brings the best results at 800x448.
- The advertised "True Color" technology does not quite work properly. TrueColor operate even in 640x360 in Lifestream happy times at 10fps down (even in bright light and not talking), often leads to disturbing exposure corrections. I prefer therefore more manual settings.
Then there's a bug in shots in the resolution 800x448 with TrueColor. Here the sound is first delayed and then breaking completely. In other resolutions, this problem does not occur when recording.
- The menu for manual adjustments must be called awkward with 2 clicks (first always appears the Tab with the zoom function, and not the one with the image settings). The manual settings have to be absurdly readjusted frequently after restarting or when recording, because here in the background something is constantly trying to adapt the software. The manual adjustment of the camera is thus a total bit fiddly.
For currently about 21, - a good value for money, the defects can be quite negligible at this price.