The camera has a cable about 1.80m and is permanently attached to a clever hinge bracket that can either be used as a clip or as a table stand - but can also be folded so as to protect the lens the camera during transport for example. One may regret the absence of base screw to attach it to a tripod. Conventionally, the camera is also equipped to the left of the goal of an orange LED indicator - visible but unobtrusive - which lights up to indicate that the webcam is in use.
As expected, the camera comes with a CD - completely useless for me, because it contains software and drivers for Windows, but nothing for Linux user which I am one. A thick manual of almost 160 pages also accompanies the set. But he too is not very useful, since it is thick, it is because it contains the instructions in many different languages. Ultimately, only a dozen pages are devoted to each language, basically to explain how to install the software included with the webcam. By cons, no indication as to the characteristics of the webcam (supported resolutions, encoding the video stream, the number of frames per second, etc.)
We can only regret that the manufacturers still insist on incorporating CD and manuals as low added value. Especially for explicitly for use with Internet device: the average user with access to the web, it would have been easier to put these unwanted items available for download. The deletion would have allowed Logitech to reduce costs and reduce the packaging - and as a consequence of further lower the price of this camera yet already competitive.
To return on technical arguments, the camera is compatible with the protocol UVC (USB Video Device Class). Which guarantees interoperability with many modern hardware and operating systems. In particular, it is fully supported under Linux. In this case, no need to install proprietary drivers, because those in the USB Video Class Linux project - presumably included in any recent Linux distribution - will do the trick.
I do not have so many points of comparison, but in terms of image quality, the result seems okay, although the noise is quite present. This is particularly visible in shadows, but this is an inherent problem with all cameras using CMOS sensors and is amplified by the MJPEG encoding the video stream. Things can be improved by using the rather YUYV encoding, but this option will be reserved for still image capture, since in this mode the capture is no longer done at best 10 fps HD 1280x720 (against 30 frames / second MJPEG). In all cases, the color rendering also seems a little bland, but this may be a deliberate choice of the manufacturer for a more flattering picture when the video phone application use slightly erasing skin imperfections . In the same vein, the color balance is balanced for household incandescent lighting, and the image is bluish natural lighting. Unfortunately, and contrary to the integrated webcam on my laptop, it does not seem possible to intervene on the automatic settings of the image capture (color temperature, gamma correction, brightness / contrast / saturation). Therefore you should settle for factory settings and automatic adjustment to the acquisition and make these corrections via the capture software on your computer.
Note the automatic focusing is possible from 7cm, although at this distance the autofocus is a little hesitant. In manual mode it is possible to obtain a sharp image in just 2 or 3cm. This will consider using this as a webcam paw to tight shot on hardware during a presentation, not example.
Finally, I realize that I have some reservations in the absolute quality of the image. Obviously there is neither a broadcast quality HD camera or a high-end camera. If that's what you want, go your way. But you doubted since in terms of price, we are light years of these products. So okay, the Logitech® HD Webcam c525 remains only a webcam. But in its class, it seems to me well placed. So if that's what kind of product you need, not complicated, easy to carry and reasonable price, I can only recommend your eyes closed!
