Best inexpensive full HD webcam

[marcia]

Hello All,

Does anyone know of a great full HD webcam that would work with lm18.3 xfce?

inxi -Fxd
System: Host: xxxx Kernel: 4.4.0-119-lowlatency x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 5.4.0)
Desktop: Xfce 4.12.3 (Gtk 2.24.28) Distro: Linux Mint 18.3 Sylvia
Machine: System: Gigabyte product: N/A
Mobo: AMD model: 990FXA-UD3 v: x.x
Bios: American Megatrends v: FA date: 10/23/2012
CPU: Quad core AMD FX-4300 (-MCP-) cache: 8192 KB
flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 sse4a ssse3 svm) bmips: 30541
clock speeds: max: 3800 MHz 1: 1800 MHz 2: 1800 MHz 3: 1800 MHz
4: 1800 MHz
Graphics: Card: NVIDIA GF116 [GeForce GTX 550 Ti] bus-ID: 01:00.0
Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 driver: nvidia
Resolution: 1920x1080@60.00hz
GLX Renderer: GeForce GTX 550 Ti/PCIe/SSE2
GLX Version: 4.5.0 NVIDIA 384.111 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio: Card-1 NVIDIA GF116 High Definition Audio Controller
driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 01:00.1
Card-2 Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] SBx00 Azalia (Intel HDA)
driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:14.2
Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.4.0-119-lowlatency
Network: Card: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller
driver: r8169 v: 2.3LK-NAPI port: b000 bus-ID: 05:00.0
IF: enp5s0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full
mac: 9xxxxxxxx
Drives: HDD Total Size: 6001.2GB (12.5% used)
ID-1: /dev/sda model: TOSHIBA_HDWE140 size: 4000.8GB
ID-2: /dev/sdb model: ST2000DM001 size: 2000.4GB
Optical: /dev/sr0 model: ASUS DRW-24B1ST c
rev: 1.05 dev-links: cdrom,cdrw,dvd,dvdrw
Features: speed: 48x multisession: yes
audio: yes dvd: yes rw: cd-r,cd-rw,dvd-r,dvd-ram state: running
Partition: ID-1: / size: 3.6T used: 684G (20%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda2
ID-2: swap-1 size: 17.15GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sda3
RAID: No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors: System Temperatures: cpu: 13.0C mobo: N/A gpu: 0.0:39C
Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info: Processes: 246 Uptime: 38 min Memory: 942.7/16079.8MB
Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 5.4.0
Client: Shell (bash 4.3.481) inxi: 2.2.35

I am using a Logitech c910 which works well,however I only get 15fps using full screen full HD. I will be doing videoconferencing in the near future so I want to upgrade
the webcam. I have my eye on a Logitech refurbished Logitech c920 for $50 and free shipping. If there is something even better than a c920 for $50 or less, I would love
to know. Of course, it must work well with linux. These features are important, good sound, widescreen, works well in low light.

WIll appreciate any suggestions.

Thank you,

Marcia

[marcia]

Hello Everyone,

I have found this one:
https://www.amazon.com/Widescreen-Calli ... op?ie=UTF8

Any thoughts on this one?

Thanks.

Marcia

[phd21]

Hi marcia,

I think the Logitech c920 or higher could be a good choice for this. The link you just provided looks good.

Amazon.com: Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920, Widescreen Video Calling and Recording, 1080p Camera, $50us new
https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Widescr ... B006JH8T3S

Amazon.com: Logitech 1080p Pro Stream Webcam for HD Video Streaming and Recording at 1080p 30FPS $75us
https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Stream- ... APM8G2WK80

Depending upon the video conferencing application, there might be settings to reduce the resolution a little to get 20+ fps and still have high quality at a high resolution.

If you install the "v4L" (video for linux) packages from the "Synaptic Package Manager (SPM)", you can test a camera using Qt V4L2 test Utility (qv4l2) to see what fps (frames per second) you will get and a particular resolution; change the resolution and the fps changes. On my older Logitech c270, I cannot get real-time (real life) video performance at 25-30 fps without reducing the resolution substantially which of course reduces the size of the video displayed even though it claims 720p resolution. Depending on your needs, 20fps might work well enough.

If you purchase a webcam from a place with a good return policy like Amazon.com, then you can try other webcams from other manufacturers.


Hope this helps ...

Video4Linux1.jpg