With the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, most offices and schools have been closed down and no one has an idea when things will get back to normal. With the closure of almost every workplace and educational institutions, online conferences, meetings, and classes are on the rise, and to have the best experience with that, you need to have a good webcam to help you out.
Most laptops nowadays are equipped with a webcam but they may not be good enough due to the fact that most in-built webcams cannot capture high-quality videos, the videos they capture tend to be grainy in nature. If you want to avoid the grainy videos then you should think about investing in a good quality webcam.
A good quality webcam will help you capture high-quality videos and help eliminate the problems that you may experience with the in-built webcams on your laptops, you can also place the webcam in any position you want, unlike the fixed in-built webcams.
Investing in a good webcam is definitely worth it, especially if you’re spending a lot of time on online meetings, conferences, or classes.
There are certain things you should be aware of when you’re looking to buy a webcam. The sensors in a webcam make a lof difference when it comes to resolving pixels.
Remember 1080p is a decent resolution for a decent webcam but if you’re looking forward to having a really good video quality and the ability to crop the frame then you will need to invest in a 4K resolution webcam.
The frame rates make a lot of difference when it comes to making your videos look simple and smooth. Bear in mind that a 30 fps (Frames Per Second) will not be suitable if you want your videos to look naturalistic and real. To make it look more naturalistic you should opt for a 60 fps webcam, so make sure you know what you want when you’re purchasing a webcam. Make sure you conduct a thorough webcam test before buying one.
Another important part of the webcam is the lens, this is because the amount of light that reaches the camera’s sensor is decided by the lens that is being used in the camera and that is very crucial as the amount of light that reaches the lens determines how good or bad the video will look. This is referred to as the aperture size, which is measured as “f/(number)”. When the number is lower, the aperture tends to be wider which allows more light to get it.
Webcam lenses usually range from f/2.0 to f/2.8.
You will also find that quite a lot of webcam do not mention the aperture they possess, in that case, you should assume that the aperture is small.
The lens is also a determinant of the camera’s field view which is extremely important when you consider the framing. You may require a narrow view, where you only film the face and cut out the background (another way to do is to have a high-resolution webcam which you can use to cut the frame out.). Or you may require a wider field view in situations where you want to have the whole conference room in view.
The field view of a webcam usually ranges from 65 degrees to 90 degrees, where 78 degrees serves as the middle ground.
Webcams that are not very expensive usually have a fixed focus, meaning the lenses in the camera will not move or adjust the frame instead they are set to capture videos within a range that is wide enough to film you and your surroundings.
These fixed focus cameras work well pretty well if you’re right in front of it or just a few feet away, but also remember that it is quite easy for you to get out of that spot which may render the video blurry.
Pricier webcams usually have auto-focus, this means the lens will adjust themselves to make sure the subject of the video is shown clearly from any distance. With these webcams, you do not have to worry about maintaining a good distance from the webcam to show you clearly.
Apart from a good video, you should also make sure that the webcam has a decent in-built mic to capture good quality audio. Good webcams usually have good microphones in-built in them which capture and deliver good quality audio. Make sure you conduct a mic test as well before buying a webcam.
In the event, that webcam does not have a good enough in-built microphone, you should opt for an external microphone (or a USB microphone). With this, you are bound to get better quality audio.
There are other options as well, you can always use a headset meant for gaming or any other sort of headset with a mic. Even with these headsets, you will get good quality audio.
These are some of the things you have keep in mind when you’re buying a webcam. Remember, if your current work revolves around online conferences and meetings then investing in a good quality webcam is not a bad idea, it will only help you with your work. Furthermore, it will also be of use after the Covid-19 pandemic is over.
There are several places both offline and online where you can purchase webcams, moreover, you will find a lot of websites where you can find comparisons between different webcams, you can use those websites to gain a better understanding of what you’re looking for and make an informed decision.
There are several online sites through which you can place an order for the webcam you want (this option is much more preferred than going out and buying one in the given situation). So make sure you make use of all the available information and buy a decent webcam with a decent microphone.