Webcam Reviews

I got my netcam a few days ago.
Good packaging, easy to set up, nice idea.
First, the picture is not very good, and the color is off.
I did not get any documentation, specifically, I would
like to know how to interface to this camera ... what are
the switches that can be used on the URL to manipulate the
camera?
When you view the camera there is a top page for selecting
which type of interface you want, an updating picture, or
streaming type format. This is cool, and being able to

move the "eyeball" so to speak, is way cool, and in fact
the reason I got it.
The mounting is rather limited, and I would have liked
some mount that can be secured. With the existing mount
someone coming by could just steal the camera.
The important thing for me is to be able to store the
images, otherwise you do not know what happened during the
day. There is an archive mode, but it is very small, so
some interfacing to another "server" is needed, and the
documentations is not there.
It would be nice to be able to program the "eyeball" to scan
the view, and record it automatically, or to follow motion.
All in all, what does one expect for $250.00.
I would want to be able to just link to the camera URL
and put the image in a web page, but I cannot figure out
how to do that except for uploading the page somewhere ...
it would be better, easier and faster to link to the image
and have the server change it, or update it for you.
Panasonic gets credit here for a really nice product out
there first. Their other network cameras are even nicer,
but the universal swiveling, and zooming camera is still
over $1000.00 at this point. I am waiting for the price
to come down on that one.

I own the Dlink DCS-1000W and the Panasonic Network Camera, and under similar light conditions, the picture quality of the DLink blows the Panasonic away. The picture is very grainy on the Panasonic to the point where it is difficult to make out faces. The tilt/pan is cool, and if you don't care about the quality, then the Panasonic is a good buy. Otherwise, go with the Dlink.

Buyer beware... Dlink has some firmware problems that results in bi-weekly reboots.

Took me a while to assign the right port that made my home and office networks happy, but that's not a Panasonic issue. Overall, the entire process is very smooth and easy.

Works reliably and the interface is easy. Tilts and pans enough if you place it in a corner. High is better as it tilts down much more than up.

I wish it had better color and a zoom but for the price this is a bargain. Panasonic even provides FREE dynamic IP tracking so you can always find your camera.

Philips has no support for Windows XP ubtil Jan 2002. Now I await a month and a half to use the features it advertises.

Well I did not even order this cam but it came to me accidentally I expected alot from it but I was let down the picture quality was below par but for the money u cant complain its not worth more than 50 dollars

Examine the picture produced by one of Logitech's QuickCam web cameras, then examine the picture produced by the Philips Vesta Pro Scan. I've seen both, and there's no contest: the Philips produces a much sharper picture. I've had no technical problems at all with mine. I plugged it into my XP-powered laptop and was immediately teleconferencing, with both video and audio, on Yahoo Messenger. The tripod, though small, is a nice addition. I've had a little trouble with the software: I can't get the OCR scanning feature to work. But I think a real scanner is better for this job anyway. The VidCap utility (for recording video) works acceptably. I liked this camera enough to buy a second one for my girlfriend so we can webcam together.

I got the WebCamll as a gift, about about 5 months ago. It took a little while to get the hang of it, but I did it with the help of the directions it was easy to setup and use. They make a parallelport model, and a usb model. For some one like me who has loved ones accross the country, it performs well enoughfor me to recognize my my family, and at a great price, actually I am looking for three more.

This camera is back in the win95 arena - the manual saysnothing except win95 "only win95" ect..

It does not comewith any USB connections only a printer port connection that hooks up to your computer.

Here are some Head's up issues:

1. No USB connection

2. If you have a printer, your going to have to buy a switch box (A/B) so you can use your printer and the camera w/o having to unplug the printer cable every time.

3. You must configure your CMOS to use ECP which is not that difficult.

Overall: The camera is OK, good picture , comes with software that you'll really never use - because it about 3 years old.

If I had to do it all over again:

I would make sure I buy a PC camera with a USB connection! - Why? Because you can plug it into your pc and you don't have to go buy a switch box and the USB will run faster!

Hope this helps.

This device functions as a digital camera, web cam, and video recorder.

As a digital camera, I'd give it a "C-." Picture quality is only average. You can improve the picture quality somewhat with the included software, or use your own image correcting program. But don't expect professional quality images. There is also no zoom feature.

As a web cam, I'd give it a "B." It works fine on a Windows 98/ME computer, but frequently malfunctions on a XP machine. There is no built-in microphone, so you will need your own to record sound.

As a video recorder, I'd give it an "A-." Video is recorded in the .avi format, which is quite large, with no sound, up to about 35-40 seconds. Video quality is very nice.

In conclusion, this device should work well on a Windows 98/ME computer, but I cannot recommend it for a machine running Windows XP, even though Creative insists it's XP compatible. If you have XP and want a Creative PC-CAM, get a newer model than this one.

April 2004 update: the camera is malfunctioning. The power does not turn off unless I remove the batteries. When the power is running, I cannot take any photos or switch to different camera modes. I replaced the batteries with new ones, but that didn't fix anything. My 90-day warranty expired a long time ago, so now I'm going to get a better, more advanced, XP-compatible, (and of course more expensive) digital camera. And it definitely won't be a Creative digital camera.

Buyer beware!
Every single product I tested made by Veo does not perform half of what is claimed on the box or advertised by sellers. Quality is simply not acceptable if you will make it work.

Dont expect ANY support! There is no 800 number, nor filing out customer support form on veo.com brings any results. After trying couple of times with the letter below, I did not get any reply from them, not even that my email was received!

I guess VEO mentality is:
-we will make a crappy product,
-we will make up stories about performance,
-we dont care if product does not even work,
-we dont have to spend any money for tech support,
-we will take your money and run,
but some fools will still buy our products!

Here is what was emailed to company:

This is the third Veo camera exchanged from Circuit City that I am not able to make it work correctly.

Computer: 2 years old Dell Dimension XP, SP1, with ad on PCI 5port USB 2 card made by Ratoc.

Camera: Velocity Connect

Problem: -after installing the software and connecting the camera, "Found new hardware wizard" tries to install the software, but the result is "Cannot Install this Hardware, because the wizard cannot find the necessary software..." Pointing to CD, does not find drivers either.

It could be the USB card. If you want to know more about Ratoc USB2 card or problems people have with them, follow the link: http://www.usbman.com/Reviews/ratoc_usb_20_5.htm

But those problems seem to be with USB 1 devices. And this Ratoc card on my computer works fine with HP Laser printer, Pioneer DVD burner, etc.

Camera works with usb1, but the reason I bought it is because of the resolution.

The low light resolution is horrible! What a lie on the box where it states "ultra low light lens"

I feel sorry about VEO products, because I am not able to make them work on none of my computers. Other product I had to exchange for this Velocity camera was VEO Network Observer. The software could not install on none of the computers. This specific Dell mentioned above and other computer with DVD drive. The CD simply could not run, just kept spinning. CD itself was without any flaws.
The camera could be accessed with the browser , then worked for 2 minutes and then all it could do is show vertical streaks .

This camera I exchanged for the same one thinking that installing software would help, but had the same results. Even making the camera work, quality can be described "could not catch a thiev"

Would never ever buy anything made under Veo name

Compared to the other netcams out there that have built-in PAN and TILT functions, the price makes it a great deal. I wanted to use it to create a time-lapsed movie of my backyard going from a dirt lot to a personal oasis 8-). I was disappointed that the provided software only gave me basic functions (record, snapshot, pan, tilt, zoom). I WISH it had capabilities like
- scheduled monitoring (ex. record from 8am to 5pm),
- software-based motion detection (currently requires an optional sensor),
- 'take a snapshot every X seconds' feature.
Also, it sucks that only one user can access the camera at a time. Has anyone figured out a way to stream the video (or snapshots) over the Internet (so a bunch of people can view the webcam)?
Currently, the only third-party software application I could find that supports the Veo Observer is Netcam Watcher Professional by Beau Software (www.beausoft.com).

I was a bit harsh on this camera when I first started messing with it, but after a week I've warmed up to it. The images are decent, the auto white balance is above average, the built-in microphone works well, and the integrated pan & tilt puts this unit above the other web cams in its price range. Compared to the other web cams I have, wireless as well as wired, this one is well worth the money.

Now for a small reality check. It's not a 640x480 camera, its 320x240. You have the option to enlarge the image in the application's built-in web browser, but it just doubles the 320x240 image. Forget about the digital zoom. The image is nice though, well above average for a web cam with sharp focus, good contrast and excellent color control. You can opt to allow the system to run on auto or manually select exposure as well as red, blue, and green levels.

The description below the camera on this page says: "Microphone required for sending audio" which is confusing. It has a microphone built-in. You can add an external microphone to the camera if you like, but the inputs are bare wire terminals instead of mini plugs. The built-in mic should be good enough for most uses.

The Veo also has a display that shows you the last three digits of it's IP address, so if you have a DHCP server on your network you can see what address it's been assigned. The kit comes with a low profile bracket and mounting plate that lets you attach the camera to a wall so that it can cover just about any room using it's pan & tilt controls.

I plan on buying a couple more of these things.

Buy Logitech webcams at your own risk. I had a terrible experience with Logitech Quickcam pro 3000. The software would install, windows detects the camera, but after rebooting the machine, the camera is just not detected. When I looked at the device in device manager, all it would say was "Device cannot be started (Code 10)". Tried it under both Windows 98 and 2000, with the same problems. My advice, go with Intel or 3Com

The Logitech QuickCam Pro comes in a few differing models, but I use the USB version with the DARK focus ring. (Do not be confused with the similar looking camera with the light beige ring) and it works fine. Software version 5.3 is the best for range of set up options including using you own web site for visuals.(Some of the other versions 5.0 amd 5.4 do not seem to allow your own site set up but only to a pre-set Spotlife website) Pictures are good but camera cannot tolerate bright sunlight exposure into lens as it damages the camera over time. This model has been replaced by the 3000 model.

I just bought this camera so that I can start Net Meetings. The installation was very easy. I do not have a CD-Rom on my laptop, but used my cable modem to download the information from the Logitech site. After downloading the drivers I was able to install the required software, plug the camera in the USB port and I was on my way.
The software includes 8 different sections:

1. Create pictures and videos: You can take pictures or make a video.
2. Create Video E-mail: You can record your own video (Audio and Video) and sent it to people in your mail distribution list. Works very well.
3. Create a Web album: As the title states this is an image repository.
4. Create a Web Cam: Logitech signs you up with a 3rd party web site that hosts live Web cam. A little choppy but works well.
5. Broadcast Live: You can record your own TV show and invite people to view your show at a given time. The recording is done with the camera and the broadcasting by the 3rd party vendor mentioned above.
6. Create Animation: This activity let's you create stop-motion and time-lapse videos.
7. Activate Motion Director: Use the sensor to see who is in your house/room. You can set the sensitivity and have it record immediately.
8. Look at my Gallery: You can store, sort and organize your images and videos in this location.

The user interface of the software is very well with all the mentioned sections having a step-by-step guide. Within the software main screen you have two windows. One window guides you real-time as your camera focuses and the other window displays the result of your action (snap-shoot, video, web cast, etc.) The unit itself has a button to take snap shots, a sensor for detecting movement, a microphone that adds value (and a must) that enables Net Meetings and Internet phone calls - This is where the productive part comes in.
I gave this a four star because of the image size and zoom capability and the colors of the output (good but needs some touching up).

Have fun watching!

Using for a month has shown many good qualities and a few bad ones. First the bad ones. The rate is slower than it shows. When larger resolution is used movement along with voice are slower ,and lag behind. The still pics are good. As with all cameras in this price range, When enlarged, quality suffers. But the overall quality looks good to me. If it were in a price range of several hundred dollars it would be disturbing. The overall quality performance are very acceptable to me.The software programs that come with it are to say the least, most satisfactory. I have used a logitech video camera with it's programs, and all functions perfectly. As neither are the "Top of the line" cameras. I would recommend this camera to all who would like a useful and handy camera. For the price,it will be very hard to find another with it's features and software.To be able to use as a VIDEO WEB CAMERA,and also a DETACHABLE STILL CAMERA, ALL IN ONE, is a very hard offer to refuse.

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I have been extremely impressed with the Ezonic EZ DualCAM. I was also very skeptical of the price and even more skeptical when I received the product (it seems like it is cheaply made). However, the camera's software was easy to install and I had the camera running in minutes. The quality of the pictures is good. Granted, you can spend $500 more dollars for better resolution; however, then all of your friend with slow internet connections get frustrated with you due to the large files to download. My computer appears to lock up a little more, but that is probably due to me unplugging the camera from the USB port while it's running. Overall, this is an extremely good value for the price. You cannot find a better value!

Inexpensive dual-function camera. Pretty cool when you don't need fancy digital cameras. Doesn't look too stylish, but in person it looks better.

This Camera DOES NOT WORK FOR WINDOW'S XP. If anyone knows how to get it to work please add a review. I have tried 3+ hours to get it to work with no luck. Micro Innovations needs to take down the "XP Driver" they claim to work from their website. Don't buy this cam if you have XP!!

When you install the driver, it tells you that the driver doesn't have a signiture for XP. It's still a win 2000 driver, if you click OK, it installs and works without a problem. I agree that this is unacceptable... but it does not affect performance. It works fine.

I've had no problems with the functionality of this device.
Picture quality is OK for the price, it's all I need to see friends and family across the country. Be sure you have a lot of light... lower light produces images with a blue tint.

My wife bought this to communicate with family. If I had made the decision, I would probably have bought one that had in integrated microphone. Probably the logitec when it's on rebate... But I see no reason to replace the IC100C.
If you're looking for something cheap with no rebate hassle, this will do the job.. and for under $20.

I haven't had any issues with this running on XP. I've had it for a year now and use it once a week to catch up with friends internationally. It's been great for me. It runs off a hub in my setup.

The camera does works but is very difficult to set up and administer. Also, Linksys tech support is among the worst I've ever used. I used the camera for about 9 months, but finally threw it out because I just couldn't bear to waste any more time on it.

if you plan to see your kids or your pet or your office on the Web , then DON'T BUY THIS CAMERA !

if you want to see your kids or your pet next room , it is ok .

*Wireless is ok.
*Video Quality is acceptable.
*SoloLink is a mess (linksys ddns service).
*Setting up for http Access is a mess (well, it doesn't work with my linksys router)

if someone has already put this camera on the web , please contact me, xes_traderx@xamnetsal.com (take out the 3 x's), I will appreciate it.

First off, as others pointed out, if you a looking for a professional level camera for a business or real security, this is not it. Among other limitations, it only supports 4 active video connections, no sound, no remote pan/scan movement, no autofocus, limiting software, and most important the picture quality is only so-so.

But for a gadget guy like me who can't resist a stand-alone wireless video camera to play around with, it works great!

The stand-alone part means it has it's own little web server built in, so once you get it up and running, you don't have to leave your PC on. Anybody can connect to it with the limit being needing to use Internet Explorer as the browser.

The installation was pretty painless; I uploaded the latest firmware from the linksys website, and it seems to work ok with minimal fuss.

The only thing I can't seem to get to work correctly (yet) is the sending of the alert e-mail when motion is detected (I think it doesn't like the format of my e-mail address and the name of my smtp server). Going to play around with that a little more before giving up.

The only other issue for me, is the video screen that gets shown in the browser is not customizable - it's basically a big logo for Linksys and Cisco with your video in the middle.

But as a toy/gadget to play around with it works great.

what seemed like a wonderful idea - new and advanced.. has turned out to be a thorn in my side - and left me with trying to find a new camera.

the good side - is the picture quality is state of the art.

that is all.

after the first day - the face tracking stopped working.. and now the entire camera wont tilt upwards. for now, its sitting on books.

a total waste of money. - i had the first Logitech series cam they had out.. and it worked like a champ - and still does.. however now its too obsolete to work with XP.

I can't review the product itself because I could never get it to install, but I will review the installation.

If your computer has a SiS or VIA Chipset I would recommend you not buy this thing. The instructions say nothing about having a problem with these chipsets and as for the instructions, they are typical instructions for products these days, none existence. The same for the live support, a real joke...

Buried in Logitech's Knowledge Base I found that if you have one of these chipsets you have to reconfigure your computer to what I would equate to standing on your head and trying to drink water. If you don't know what I am talking about when I say SiS and VIA chipset, I can just tell you that these are two very common chipsets used with USB.

I also tried to install this thing on three different computers and it didn't work on any of them. The first two computers had either the SiS and VIA chipset, but the third did not and it still didn't work on the third one. Five hours of wasted time later is when I decided that it wasn't worth my time to fool with this lousy installation and I returned the product.

Logitech's lost not mine...

If you run it on Win 2000 computers, its awesome. You can pan and tilt across a whole room manually or let the face tracking software track you during a video conference. The face tracking works very well as long as you don't have too noisy of a background in the room to confuse the camera. If we all ran Win 2000 machines, I'd rate the product a 4 star!

Unfortunately, the product doesn't work well on my New Dell Windows XP machine and a few other people have reported a similar problem on XP machines. The range of the pan and tilt seems to mysteriously only be about 20 percent of full range. It looks like a softare problem. If Logitech fixes this bug, we're back to 4 star all around.

To get a 5 star rating, Logitech would need to include some more useful software like motion detector software, and the ability to control your camera remotely via the web. As it is you can only control it locally at your PC.