Tip #2742 - Buying a Webcam
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Q:
I want to buy a Webcam, but I'm not sure what to look for. What are some
things I should ask when shopping around?
A:
Webcams are becoming more and more popular every day. It seems like almost
everyone you talk to has one these days. We've even been selling them
every once in awhile here at WorldStart and they seem to be pretty popular
with all of you. Webcams are very neat when you think about what they
can do. I mean, all you have to do is hook it up to your computer and
you can put yourself on TV. That's basically what they do. You can turn
on your cam and your friends and family members can see you at the present
moment. Also, if one of your friends has one too, you can see them!
Webcams are a great
way to keep in touch with people who may live far away from you. Maybe
your grandchild just started to walk and you want to see it. (Who wouldn't?!)
Well, just get on the Webcam and you can see all of those wobbly steps.
Or maybe you just bought a new shirt and you want to show it off to your
friend. Use the Webcam and they will be able to see it firsthand. Cool,
huh?
So, back to the question.
Buying a Webcam is an important process, especially if you're going to
be using it for important things like seeing your grandbaby walk! Listed
below are some questions you should ask when buying a new Webcam.
1.) What resolution
does it have? You want people to be able to see you clearly,
so you'll want a good resolution rate. The standard is 320x240, but there
are also some out there that go up to 640x480.
2.) What is
its frame rate? In the end, your Internet connection really decides
the frame rate of a Webcam, but when you're buying one, shoot for a frame
rate of 30 frames per second. (Webcams don't usually run in a continuous
stream of film, they go by frames, so you want your rate to be pretty
high). Thirty frames per second is pretty good and most decently priced
cams can handle this rate with no problem.
3.) How will
my Internet connection factor in? As I said above, the type of
Internet connection you have is a big deciding factor on how well your
Webcam will run. If you have a faster Internet connection, you're going
to be able to get more frames per second. If you have a slower one (such
as dial-up), it may not be able to go that fast. You should check your
upload speed of your Internet connection before you buy a cam. For example,
to get an image of approximately 15 frames per second, you need an upload
speed of at least 256 kbps. So, just keep that in mind.
4.) How will
my computer's age affect the Webcam? If you have an older computer,
you may want to think about purchasing a more pricey cam. The reason for
this is that the image processing will be done in the Webcam and not on
the computer. That makes a difference.
5.) What type
of lens is best? Webcams come with both glass and plastic lenses.
A glass lens will give you a clear image, but they are also a bit more
expensive. This feature isn't always spelled out on the box the cam comes
in, so you'll want to make sure you ask about that before you purchase
it.
6.) What about
light sensitivity? Higher end Webcams will perform better in
lower light, but the others will work just as well in more lighting. You
will just need to keep in mind what type of lighting you have on when
you're using your cam.
7.) What type
of images will show? Well, the more expensive cams will give
out a better image. It will be a little more crisp and clear. It's all
up to you on what you want in a cam though.
8.) What about
prices? As you've already read, I've mentioned some higher prices
for higher end Web cams, better images, glass lens, etc. Also, if you
have an older computer, you may need a higher priced camera. Webcams can
run anywhere from $10 to $1,000. It all just depends on what you're willing
to pay and what you want to do with your cam. Before you go out and buy
one, write down some features you would like and then look for them when
you get to the store.
You'll also want to
keep tilting options in mind and find out where you can place the cam
on your computer. Those are important factors as well. Hopefully with
these guidelines, you will be able to find the perfect Webcam for yourself!
~ Erin
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