PC Webcams

Buying a PC webcam

Picking the best webcam for your needs involves weighing up a number of different factors.

Resolution

A webcam’s resolution is a count of the number of pixels that make up the image or video and is measured in pixel width by height. The higher the resolution, the sharper the image, better the clarity and the less grainy the picture will be. Webcam resolutions vary but you’ll find most webcams have one of these three particular resolutions; 720p (HD Ready, 1280 x 720 pixels), 1080p (Full HD, 1920 x 1080 pixels), 4K (Ultra HD, 3840 x 2160 pixels). 720p is ok for the occasional video call. A 1080p model may provide a crisper image although conference providers such as Zoom often compress footage down to 720p anyway. You only really need a 4K webcam if you’re a professional video editor looking to capture footage to edit later. If you need to capture still images using your webcam, you’ll need a model that can capture at a resolution of at least 2 megapixels. Most webcams can capture at much higher resolutions, 15 megapixel webcams are widely available.

Frame rate

Frame rate is also important for smooth, stutter free video. It’s measured in fps (frames per second) and the higher the number, the more fluid and natural streaming will be. The minimum frame rate needed for video is 15fps but most webcams can produce at least 30fps and better models are capable of 60fps or more. Note though that frame rate can be throttled by a number of factors such as the picture resolution (higher resolutions require more processing so fewer images can be captured per second). Your internet connection, lighting conditions and webcam software can also have an impact.

Lens type

Another attribute that affects webcam performance is the type of lens it uses. Entry level models tend to use plastic lenses whereas more expensive webcams typically use glass lenses. Plastic lenses offer poorer clarity and are more easily scratched so should be avoided if you want quality images and a high resolution video stream. The type of the lens used also governs how much light can reach the webcam’s sensor and what field of view it has. Bigger lenses generally let in more light which is important for good image quality in low/poor lighting settings. The field of view determines what fits into the frame of the webcam’s image. A webcam with a narrow field of view (say 60 degrees) will restrict the image to just show your head and shoulders whereas one with a wide field of view (78 - 90 degrees) could easily accommodate a group of people and would be suitable for a meeting room for example.

Sound quality

Pay attention to the webcam’s sound quality as well. Most webcams come with at least one built-in microphone and whilst they remove the need for a headset or external microphone, they’re often engineered to pick up as much sound as possible, including background noises. This makes them less than ideal if you’re working in a noisy environment. More expensive webcams feature multiple microphones including omnidirectional mics that target sound from different directions around the camera. Even the best webcams cannot compete with external microphones for sound quality though. For this reason, many high end webcams don’t include microphones at all and focus entirely on video quality. If you want the best sound quality, go for a USB microphone or headset.

Autofocus

Autofocus keeps the person or object that’s in front of the camera in focus at all times, even when moving. Cheaper webcams have fixed focus meaning images can become blurry if the subject moves out of the focus area (e.g. if you move something closer to the lens for a close up shot). Midrange and high end webcams respond better and some allow you to switch autofocus on and off as well as adjust settings via supplied webcam software. Some hi-res webcams include a feature called AI focus which automatically centres the picture on your face as you move around.

Lighting

Many of the latest webcams also feature low-light correction which try to compensate for dimly lit rooms or multiple sources of light by automatically adjusting brightness and contrast settings. Some webcams have built-in light rings which can be set at different brightness levels to provide more uniform lighting. If lighting is likely to be a regular issue for you, consider investing in separate lighting products to use alongside your webcam.

Other features

There are a few other bells and whistles available that might help you settle on a specific webcam model. You can buy webcams that have tiltable and rotatable heads for easier positioning and superior motion tracking capabilities. Some models come with special effects capabilities including green screening which allow you to strip out your background and swap it with a different image or video. Other software functions found on high-end webcams include motion sensing that allow you to deploy your webcam as a security camera, slow motion effects and RGB sync for fine colour control.

Compatibility

Finally, before buying a webcam check its listed system requirements and make sure your PC can support it. Most webcams will work on the last few versions of Windows but if you’re running on a Mac or Linux or you want to buy a high resolution webcam to use on an older PC, you could run into compatibility issues.