Webcams are an indispensable piece of equipment for online streaming. Streams in which you can see the author himself are much more popular than regular streams. In fact, the camera helps viewers perceive the content shown on the screen as something new and unique, not just footage from the game. It also helps build and strengthen the connection between the streamer and the audience.
Below we take a look at a few of the most notable webcams currently available.
TOP-5 Live Streaming Webcams
Logitech Streamcam (under $160)
Even the name of this webcam hints at its purpose: yes, it's a device geared toward content creators and offers a wide list of features. These include high-resolution video recording, stabilization, monitor and tripod mounts, user motion tracking, and autofocus. In addition, the software allows you to create a variety of scenes, specify capture zones, add chromakey, watermarks, text, and effects, and more.
Pros:
- Good video and sound quality;
- Quality noise reduction;
- Installation on monitor and tripod;
- Functional software.
Cons:
- USB-C connection only.
Microsoft Lifecam Studio (under $70)
Users will enjoy high-quality image capture, a functional mount with a rotating mechanism, support for TrueColor and Clear Frame technology (the first provides realistic color reproduction, and the second adds clarity to the image), as well as automatic focusing. The sound recording doesn't fail either: Microsoft LifeCam Studio's microphone is sensitive enough to pick up even a whisper.
Pros:
- Video and sound recording quality;
- Good color reproduction and blur elimination.
Cons:
- Microphone picks up extraneous sounds
RAZER KIYO (under $75)
The Razer Kiyo combines a stylish design, its own backlighting, and two recording modes: 720p/60fps and 1080p/30fps. Not quite up to the modern standard of 60fps at FullHD resolution, but as an option for beginner streamers is more than suitable.
Pros:
- Proprietary backlighting;
- Intelligent design and easy mounting;
- Compatible with streaming apps.
Cons:
- Price is a bit high;
- No 1080p video recording at 60 fps.
Microsoft Lifecam HD-3000 (under $35)
The LifeCam HD-3000 can be called a budget option, although it would be more correct to consider it something between the middle and low price ranges. Externally, the device corresponds to the LifeCam line, so it has a painted black body with silver highlights. It's far from the best webcam for online broadcasting, but it does a great job.
Pros:
- Good video quality for its money;
- Records in HD 720p.
Cons:
- Difficult to mount on a monitor and adjust to the right angle.
Logitech HD C270 (under $25)
Another product from Logitech. Although much more modest than the C920 or C922x, the C270 is a simple webcam with a plastic housing that doesn't offer much in the way of advantages, except for the fact that it is a very reliable and affordable device. The C270 can record 720p video, which is the standard for most webcams today. Despite the fact that the device has a seemingly meager 3-megapixel camera, Logitech's great software plays a big part in helping the webcam deliver crisp quality.
Pros:
- Excellent video quality;
- Surprisingly good microphone;
- Good value for money.
Cons:
- Somewhat unstable when installed.
How to choose a webcam
As always, the choice of device strongly depends on the cost and therefore on your budget. That's why we've put together a little guide that tells you how important certain features are and which ones you should pay special attention to if you want to choose the perfect webcam for your needs.
We all know that obsessive desire to buy only new products made with the latest technology. And yet, only those whose budget is really limited, ask themselves the question, but do we need all these "newfangled" functions or can we do without them?
First, evaluate what exactly you are going to use the webcam for. If you just want the audience to see your face while you are streaming, then the choice between 720p or 1080p recording will hardly be crucial for you. Because such video will occupy only a small part of the monitor. And in order to see the difference between HD Ready and Full HD resolutions, you need to stretch it to the whole screen.
With this in mind, the highest video resolution available should not be the key factor in choosing a device. If you can afford to overpay for 1080p, go for it. Especially since such a webcam may prove to be more reliable in the future. But if your budget is strictly limited, 720p resolution will be enough for streaming.
Premium webcams differ from the cheap ones in that they are made of more expensive materials. Although in fact, their use does not greatly affect the quality of the picture. It would be more appropriate to hesitate between plastic and glass when choosing glasses or lenses, but not the webcam lens.
As we said before, webcams have quite ordinary microphones which can hardly surprise you with their performance. The only reason they are there at all is because manufacturers want to make video calls more convenient. And in this, they do an excellent job.
On the other hand, if you want to stream, you'll need an external microphone anyway. Why? Simply because it will in any case be much better than the built-in one, greatly affecting the overall sound quality. Plus, external microphones often offer additional functionality.
