webcam

[ronidog]

i have decided that I may move with the times, particularity given the way all these covid restrictions are stopping social interactions. I may as well look to using zoom etc

My problem is my pc does not have a webcam and I know nothing about them. I am looking for webcam suggestions up to say £80. Auto focus and light adjustment and built in microphone are needed ( i read that somewhere) plus the ability to mount the camera on a table top tripod..(my screen is large and I am not sure if a camera mounted on it would work.

Any suggestions?

[Bikie John]

There is an app to allow some Oly m43 bodies to be used as a webcam. I can't remember the details but a forum search should find it fairly quickly, I think it was launched about a month ago. Do you have a smart phone? There are apps to use a phone camera as a webcam - Ian mentioned Iriun Webcam) on here a while back, I have used it and it is good. There is also one called WO Mic which allows the use of the microphone on a phone. Both require installation on both the phone and the PC, Iriun is pretty straightforward, WO Mic is a bit of a faff but works.

Good luck!
John

[MJ224]

I struggled to get a bought webcam to work with a Windows 10 computer. In the end I bought a more uptodate computer with a webcam. Ian and others discovered an app or drivers to allow you to use your Oly camera as a webcam (only certain models)

https://www.e-group.uk.net/forum/for...pus-windows-10

I see John has beaten me to it...Good luck

[ronidog]

Unfortunately my m5 mark iii does not work with new Olympus app. Thanks for the suggestion.

[AMc]

I bought a Microsoft Lifecam years ago for my daughter to use to create stop frame animations with an old laptop.
When lock down kicked in we connected it up to the PC under the telly in the lounge and hung it on the top of the screen.
It does an excellent job of dealing with a bright conservatory in the day or subdued lighting in the evening and the microphone picks us up across the room on Zoom and Skye.

The model I have is long gone but I've had good experiences with Microsoft accessories and would look there again

https://www.microsoft.com/accessories/en-in/webcams

Don't worry about them not being 1080 HD unless you're planning on doing your own webcasts 720 is fine for Zoom etc.

You should also look at Logitech.

As others have noted - if you have a smartphone, the camera and microphone are likely to beat any reasonable webcam even if it's an older model.
It is possible to tether some to PCs for video conferencing too.

[moggi1964]

I use this one https://www.logitech.com/en-gb/produ...ro-webcam-c920 which does a really good job and can likely be had close to your budget if you don't buy direct form Logitech. It has the tripod mount. Only thing it lacks is a cover for the lens when you aren't using it but I generally throw a lens cloth over it and lock out the microphone in Windows until I need to use it..

[Adagio]

I have had a Microsoft Lifecam for about 5 years. Plug-n-Play works perfectly with Skype and Zoom.

[DerekW]

I have a 12 year old Logitech camera that works very well, I use it instead of the builtin camera on my screen, better colour and image quality.

[ronidog]

Thanks all for your help I got a logic tech second hand. It works I treat