Webcam Suggestions?

[jyl]

I’m the guy who tapes over the webcam on my laptop so others can’t spy on me.

But I need to start doing video meetings. It’s a thing, I guess. These will be mostly me one on one with clients, some talking “face to face” and some showing my screen presentation style.

So I need to equip my desktop computer with camera and mic. It already has speakers.

The problem is, I have a lot of screens and can’t figure out a natural space to place the camera. Here’s my setup, would you put the camera at the center of the four main screens (very limited space), or in the space between those and the two secondary screens on the right (more room for a camera there), or to the left of the four main screens (even more room), or elsewhere?

What canera would you use? I’d like good picture quality, sharp and focused, doesn’t distort face, etc. i’m willing to use a standalone camera if the results with be better than with a webcam.

For sound, I’d like a noise cancelling mic, if there is such a thing. There is significant traffic noise outside my office, sort of a continuous noise (a freeway). I play music and don’t notice the traffic noise, but I think it would be distracting for a video conference.

I’d be willing to have a microphone on a deskstand, the mic doesn’t have to be integral to the webcam. I’m also willing to wear a Lavalier mic, use a shotgun mic, whatever.

In fact - just thought of this - I have an old Canon XH1A (or is it XA1H? can’t recall) camcorder with nice glass and shotgun mic on a tripod, that is just sitting around. I wonder if I could connect that to the computer.

[GH85Carrera]

Heck, just get any laptop, or an iPad or even your phone and a way to mount it to face you. Done.

[jyl]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

Heck, just get any laptop, or an iPad or even your phone and a way to mount it to face you. Done.

How would I easily switch between showing my face and showing screens?

[John Rogers]

I have the newest Logitech webcam with built in microphone which works great. My wife is in a rehab facility getting her strength back from kidney failure and web do a webex every day. She can hear me fine (nearly deaf she is) and when we she wanted to see our dogs and the cats the long USB cord made moving the camera around easy so in your case you could point it at a screen to show information and hide the rest. There are two lights that show when the camera is on and since it is USB you can unplug it when not needed.

[stomachmonkey]

Logitech C920 series or Logitech BRIO if you wanna go 4k.

You are a bit late to the game though, stuff is sold out everywhere and I'm seeing 4-5x's MSRP on them online. You may have to hit a brick n mortar.

Even with a quality webcam I'd still recommend a good headset with built in mic.

Screen sharing is a function of the conferencing suite you are using and nothing to do with the webcam itself.

Or if you have a spare PI floating around order a camera module for $25.00 and roll your own.

Oh and, remember to mute when you are not talking.

[jyl]

Yeah, I’ve been using my laptop’s webcam but only now realized it would be better to have a webcam or camera/mic to use with the desktop.

I don’t need this stuff right away (will keep using laptop for now) and will take my time - not paying big markups.

[widebody911]

I'm in the same boat - my wife wants a webcam so she can do online yoga with her friends, but the only ones available are from the gougers on FleaBay and Amazon. For example, the C920 is (was) $30 at WalMart but $200 from private sellers on Amazon.

[Aurel]

Jyl, is seven monitors the lucky number for trading/investing these days ?

[Cajundaddy]

Wow that is a lot of screens!

Any USB camera should work and you could mount it or clip it on at eye level. For best S/N ratio get your mic close to you. The closer it is, the less traffic noise will be picked up so a lav or headset would work better than a shotgun mic.

[Eric Coffey]

Originally Posted by jyl

The problem is, I have a lot of screens and can’t figure out a natural space to place the camera. Here’s my setup, would you put the camera at the center of the four main screens (very limited space), or in the space between those and the two secondary screens on the right (more room for a camera there), or to the left of the four main screens (even more room), or elsewhere?

Cam on tripod facing the screens so you can look busy/important when video-chatting.

Originally Posted by jyl

What canera would you use? I’d like good picture quality, sharp and focused, doesn’t distort face, etc. i’m willing to use a standalone camera if the results with be better than with a webcam.

Any halfway-decent DSLR should do the trick. Most should have USB and external mic ports. Plenty with Wi-Fi and 4k+ video capability as well. You get a good digi still/video cam as a bonus going that route too.

[stomachmonkey]

Well this is an option.

I have a few in my office as well as at home.

Due to the run on webcams Wyze put out a firmware update that will let you flash these to function as standard webcams. They even have mic and speaker.

I admit I use mine to check in on and speak to my cats when i’m away.

https://www.amazon.com/Wyze-Indoor-Wireless-Detection-Assistant/dp/B076H3SRXG/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=wyze&qid=1586042882&sr=8-3

[Bill Douglas]

These are very popular. Especially with the SC crowd Web Cam Racing Cams Inc. / Porsche 911 SOHC 12v

I'm also a black tape over the camera guy - so I wouldn't have a clue in hell.

[jyl]

I tried getting the only DSLR I have (old Nikon) to be a webcam using various software (Sparkocam, Nikon Connect). Suppose to work, doesn’t. Windows sees the camera fine and it is in PTP mode, but doesn’t work.

So I ordered a Wyze camera - thanks!

No way am I paying $300 for a $80 Logitech webcam. I’d rather pay $300 for a newer DSLR and try my luck.

I also set up my laptop and tested doing a Zoom meeting using the laptop for the webcam and my desktop for the screen shares. Worked pretty well. The laptop’s webcam is crappy but playing around with lighting and background helped.

[jyl]

And now I’m wondering about Zoom. I’ve used it a little bit, it seems slick and easy. But repris alot its security are nagging. Here’s one https://www.wired.com/story/zoom-bug-webcam-hackers/

What do you think? Would you avoid this service?

[Paul_Heery]

In this video, Tom Lawrence walks through the question.

[jyl]

Thanks for suggesting the Wyze. $28 for the webcam plus $20 for micro SD card and USB A male to male cable (necessary). Image vastly better than my laptop's webcam and more flexible positioning.

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by jyl

Thanks for suggesting the Wyze. $28 for the webcam plus $20 for micro SD card and USB A male to male cable (necessary). Image vastly better than my laptop's webcam and more flexible positioning.

All that high tech crap and you still slouch, come on, fix yo back!

[KFC911]

Dang John....who cuts yer hair...Stevie Wonder ?

I keed....the tape will never come off my camera...Stevie's good

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

All that high tech crap and you still slouch, come on, fix yo back!

That's just the W/A lens. I know jyl, he's got the ramrod-straight posture of a drill sergeant.