Web Cam Recommendations

[theSpartan]

I was looking at getting a webcam. I have seen many that also dub as portable cams. These usually offer only a 640x480 pic and have built in 2 or 4 mb of memory. I am not wanting to buy a digital camera, I understand they are more expensive, but I was wondering if I should even bother buying a webcam/digital cam combo. I was looking to spend under $100. Also, I would love any recommendations on webcams or webcam/digital camera combos.

 

[RossMAN]

I would recommend reading some reviews such as CNETs Editors Choice picks. Probably the best bang for your buck is the Logitech QuickCam Pro USB. Is great picture quality more important than price? Do you have a PC or Mac with USB?

Read this thread for deals at Overstock.com with $20 off $50 for new customers with free shipping and a $10 rebate from Logitech.

Also if you can find the Kodak or 3Com web cam's cheap at Onvia Computers4Sure or Buy.com then you can price match against Staples using one of their $25 off $75 coupons plus free shipping.

 

[theSpartan]

Cool, Thanks. Yea I got USB Win2k though, so that may limit me.

 

[theSpartan]

Bump one more time.

 

[iamthebear]

i was in the same boat a couple of weeks ago looking for a web cam. All the research I did led me to pick a 3COM - picture is great

 

[Unsickle]

You can currently get TWO Logitech USB webcams for $25 shipped from overstock.com. Find the coupon and you're set.

 

[Janus]

I know it's hardly the cheapest solution, but I've been thrilled with the 3Com Home Connect camera. It's running around $122 now, has USB support and works in Mac, Win9x, and Win2K. Combine this camera with Surveyor's WebCam32 software and you're money - whole process probably takes 30 minutes including the time to set up a silly web page to display it all. After owning two different USB Logitech cams, I found the 3Com Home Connect to be miles above the rest when it comes to image quality and ability to gather insignificant amounts of light (my room looks fully lit sometimes when I only have a tiny light on.)

If you want to see this combination in action, check out my site - Doc Student WebCam and click on the link for the "Doc Student WebCam."

Hope this helps a little...

 

[Neoplasia]

What about good quality ones for NT 4? Obviously not USB.

 

[Janus]

I think on an NT system you're going to be limited to any camera that is either parallel port or one that uses an archaic video capture card and has the camera plugged into it. Win2K solutions are available, including some of the Logitech cams and the 3Com Home Connect. I'm not sure about the Intel cams.

 

[NaughtyusMaximus]

I guess it depends what you're using it for, but if you use Win2k, and only use the camera for web conferencing (not pictures), the intel webcam is quite nice.

 

[Neoplasia]

Yes that's true, would be better off plugging in into my workstation (98 probably). Just trying to keep web and shared devices off my workstation.

 

[Zipperhead]

3com is the best one!!

 

[theSpartan]

Thanks, Ill check it out.
What about Kodak?