Webcam Advice

[Elcs]

As some of you will know, I have a 42" Plasma HDTV which is hooked up to my PC and I do everything PC like from A to Z on it.

I have a couple of friends who have moved away to work or for studying and I know they have webcams. I would like my own webcam to have proper video with them.

My main concern that is never brought up in any other webcam thread is that I am sitting 3-4 metres (10-14 feet) away from where the cam will be located and whether thats ok or not. I have lined up a couple of OK cameras (Logitech Quickcam Communicate Deluxe top end of budget and Logitech Quickcam Communicate STX which is my preferred budget)

Can anyone provide assistance? Do I need a digital zoom? I am not camera savvy at all so I dont particularly understand the technical stuf.

 

[mpilchfamily]

You'll need a good quality webcam if your going to be that far away. Most mid range webcames are ment more for about 3' to 6' of distance between you and the camera. If your going to have that much distance you'll need a cam with a good optical zoom on it.

 

[Elcs]

Bedtime bump.

What decent cams have an optical zoom?

 

[soccerballtux]

Your clients might prefer a lower quality webcam. Low resolution/zoom helps blurs defects. Less defects = happier customers = more money for you!

 

[Elcs]

Originally posted by: soccerballtux
Your clients might prefer a lower quality webcam. Low resolution/zoom helps blurs defects. Less defects = happier customers = more money for you!

I am confused by your post. I have no clients, I have no customers and I do not charge.

This is a simple case of having a webcam to allow my friends to see me.

My primary concern is that I am sitting so far away from the webcam that I may need something with an Optical Zoom.

I am looking for an answer to "Do I need a cam with an optical zoom?" and if so, which one do I go for? I have listed my two choices for non-optical zoom models, does anyone have any experience with these? If I do not require an Optical Zoom, are these acceptable cams?

 

[ForumMaster]

This is what i managed to find. don't know where you might be able to get it though. but high resolution (1280x1024) plus 7x optical zoom for around $81.

 

[RebateMonger]

Digital zoom is going to look pretty grainy at that distance. A (decent quality) optical zoom will give much better results. I have no idea what optical zoom webcams are available, if any.

 

[Elcs]

Thanks for the info guys.

Just a final bump, see if I can get an optical zoom suggestion.

 

[Ika]

can you use some digital camcorders as webcams? that might work well... some camcorders have something like 25x optical zoom.

 

[Elcs]

Originally posted by: Aflac
can you use some digital camcorders as webcams? that might work well... some camcorders have something like 25x optical zoom.

Sounds like a good call but can you get them reasonably cheap like $50-80? (My budget is £50 at an extreme stretch UK based Anandtecher)