Microsoft L2 LifeCam HD-3000, Black

Product Information

Programs includes some excellent video effects, perfect for usage with Windows Live Messenger and Skype. The key benefit, of course, is the ability to achieve a cinematic look on your live streams by taking advantage of the full-frame sensor's depth of field capability, as well as the choice of any lens you want. If you want to use an f/1.2 lens for bokehlicious blur and tip-top low-light performance, now you can –and it will certainly make your streams stand out from the crowd. Yes, it's expensive, but the cheers you receive for your image quality might pay dividends! A 1080p Full HD webcam will always look better, and a 4K webcam gives you the ability to zoom in without dipping below Full HD. But if you only need a webcam to briefly log into a once-weekly meeting, or to have the occasional catch-up with a far-flung relative, then the LifeCam is perfectly acceptable. All of that said, we were actually pleasantly surprised by the performance of the LifeCam. Our face was correctly exposed despite a bright window behind us, with the webcam’s automatic light compensation doing its job well. p style="margin: 0cm;" data-mce-style="margin: 0cm;">How do I look better on a webcam?

While this model of the LifeCam doesn't have autofocus, it handles relatively low light conditions well, thanks to Microsoft's "TrueColor" feature. It also sports a clever stand that allows the camera to be mounted on a screen or stand freely. Sadly, there's no tripod thread, but otherwise, it's surprisingly versatile for the money.The Microsoft LifeCam HD-3000 is USB-powered, eliminating the need for additional power sources or batteries. Its compact design, with dimensions of 44.5 mm in width, 39.3 mm in depth, and 109 mm in height, makes it portable and easy to set up anywhere. A webcam can be accessed remotely by someone else if your computer is infected with a type of virus called a Remote Access Trojan (RAT). If you are concerned about the potential for remote access, install some good antivirus software and use or buy a modesty shield for your camera. As for the camera itself, the Razer Kiyo streams at 1080p Full HD resolution at 30 frames per second (the gold standard for streaming at this price range), and a 60fps at 720p option is also available. Although a little larger than some other streaming cameras, the Kiyo still clips neatly to the top of your PC display.

However, if you're obsessed with image quality and you only want the best for your audience, then why not consider investing in a mirrorless or DSLR camera. Up until as recently as last year, streaming with an interchangeable lens camera was a little complicated, but now most manufacturers have provided firmware updates that turn cameras into USB webcams, including the Canon EOS R. The Sigma fp was actually one of the first "proper cameras" that could be used natively as a webcam without an HDMI capture card, but now the streaming world is your oyster! When you're investing in your new live streaming camera, it's worth remembering that many cameras can't actually stream at the same resolution that they're capable of recording at. For example, some cameras may be able to record in 4K Ultra HD, but are only able to output 1080p Full HD when being used to stream. With an approximate 1 megapixel resolution, this webcam delivers decent image quality, suitable for everyday video chatting and casual recordings. However, it does not feature a built-in flash, limiting its performance in low-light conditions. Live streaming from an action camera is a brilliant idea; the cameras themselves are portable and already equipped with connectivity. Both DJI's Osmo Action series and the better-known GoPro Hero series it is attempting to supplant are both so equipped. Both, too, can live stream, albeit via a phone app. There is also a digital zoom function, although we would advise against using this, because the 720p resolution, while acceptable when viewed normally, doesn’t provide enough pixels for images to remain sharp when zoomed in. Finally, there is a manual focus option for making sure the image stays exactly the way you want it – we prefer this, as autofocus can have a habit of incorrectly adjusting in some lighting conditions, taking you out of focus.

It clips neatly onto the top of your television or PC monitor or can be attached to a tripod if you want to get more creative with your angles and framing. The camera shoots and streams live in 1080p Full HD resolution at 30 frames per second, and there's also a ‘hyperfast’ mode for streaming 720p at 60fps. We were at first a bit confused by the flexible rubber stand of the LifeCam, but after a few minutes we realized it makes perfect sense. The stand still grips to the top of almost any monitor like those of all other webcams. But it can also act as a foot, so the webcam can be sat on a desk or shelf too. Furthermore, the stand offers left/right panning adjustment, which is something we very rarely see from any other webcams. Usually, it’s a case of turning your monitor to get the right angle, but here you just turn the camera itself.

Automatic light correction: Adjusts the exposure and white balance of the camera to suit the lighting conditions in the room. Equipped with a built-in microphone, this webcam allows for convenient and hassle-free audio communication. The USB 2.0 interface offers a reliable connection and facilitates easy plug-and-play installation. With a minimum RAM requirement of 1024 MB, it ensures compatibility with most systems. Logitech's budget model, the HD Webcam C310, was sharp, clear and bright; it caught all of the detail that the LifeCam didn't. The C310 showed off the stitching in my shirt, and individual hairs on my head and beard. There was still some visual noise, but not as much as on Microsoft's camera. There isn’t any vertical adjustment as such, but the rubber mount is flexible enough to allow for some up/down movement while still gripping securely onto your monitor.Notably, it's one of the few webcams to offer 1080p 60 fps streaming, assuming that your computer meets the minimum specifications for it. Most webcams opt for 720p 60 fps or 1080p 30 fps, so this is a pretty nice perk.

All told, I see the LifeCam HD-3000 as a bargain-priced desktop PC upgrade. Nearly all recent laptops come with at least a VGA-quality webcam built in, and the HD-3000 won't give you higher resolution video chats anyway. Our Editors' Choice webcam remains the Microsoft LifeCam Studio, which offers 1080p video recording (in limited situations) and higher-quality audio. The Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910 is another solid option; if you can find it at a discount, it's easily worth the extra money over the HD-3000 thanks to its 1080p resolution and top-notch stereo microphones.What you get with the upgraded C922x is a camera with exceptional low-light performance, class-leading stereo audio capture, and autofocus optimized for people who move around energetically on stream. The webcam also comes with a 6-month XSplit license, which very nearly makes the camera as cheap as a LifeCam HD-3000 if you were going to get a subscription anyway. The Logitech Brio is, in our opinion, the best 4K webcam for those who have a legitimate need for one. Who are these users? 4K isn't necessary for video calls or for game streaming since many don't have the internet broadband to stream 4K content. Of course there are reasons to look for the Tail series (which is just about to get an update), but unless you need features like NDI|HX3 and multi-cam setups managed by the cameras themselves then the smarts you need can all be found in this sophisticated webcam. If you use a platform like OBS it'll have no issue recognising it, and the 4K image is good, even in relatively low light thanks to the 1/1.5-inch sensor.