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Logitech QuickCam Communicate STX

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Click Image to Enlarge Logitech QuickCam Communicate STX,

March 2005, $49.95

In my opinion, this camera has the best image of all the current available lower price desktop cameras. Sharp, good color, and works very well in both bright and dim lighting. Surprising considering it's priced under $50. The camera did have some difficulty when I threw my bright daylight setup at it. The bright side of my face was easily over driven, but in normal room light, the camera does very well.

I should state here that my rating of this camera is partially skewed by the ability to adjust the camera controls easily and getting the desired results without fighting the camera. The Logitech Notebook Deluxe, I believe, has a bit sharper and cleaner image, but when I factor in the poor mounting system of the Notebook Deluxe, this camera comes out with an overall higher score. Keep in mind that this is a desktop camera while the other one is a notebook camera. Neither of them will work well used for the opposite purpose. The mountings don't work.

The STX has 2 mounting systems, one flat bottom round base for desktop use, which stays put when you let go. The camera also comes with a heavy oddly shaped bendable mount which works very well on larger flat panel and CRT monitors. However, it won't work on thin or notebook screens, it won't bend enough.

Normally I don't consider a fixed focus lens as fitting into the great cameras category, but I have to make an exception here because of the other good points of this camera. Its best focus seems to be at about 3 feet, closer or farther, and you can see the drop off in sharpness if you study the large image carefully, but most people will probably use the camera in this position. Very good color control and the device settings have sliders for all adjustments and they work well.

The camera has a neat blue light on the top, assuming you consider this kind of thing neat. Its only purpose is to indicate the camera is in use but, it does work. Most of the earlier cameras' indicator lamps stay lit all the time they are plugged in, whether they are in use or not.

This is a recommended choice for a less expensive range camera.


Product Specifications:

  • Sensor: High quality VGA CMOS
  • Video Capture: Up to 640 x 480 pixels, File Type: AVI
  • Still Image Capture: 1.3 mexapixels (interpolated), File Types: BMP, JPEG
  • Frame Rate: Up to 30 frames per second
  • Field of View: 42 degrees horizontal
  • Optics: Fixed focus
  • USB 1.1
  • Cable length: 6 ft. USB cable
  • Software:
    • Live video calls with free trial of Logitech VideoCall for broadband
    • Live video integrated with MSN® Messenger
    • Live video on AIM®/AOL® Instant Messenger™
    • Works with Yahoo!® Messenger
    • Works with Windows® Messenger (XP only)
    • Includes Logitech QuickCam software for capturing stills and videos
    • Web camming software

Minimum System Requirements

  • Windows® 98, Windows® 2000, Windows® Me, Windows® XP
  • Pentium III 500, Celeron™, AMD Athlon® processor recommended
  • 64 MB RAM
  • 200 MB free hard drive space
  • CD-ROM drive
  • 16-bit color display adapter
  • Windows®-compatible sound card and speakers (full duplex sound card recommended)

Screen shots of camera configuration settings
Advanced         Device

    Pluses
  • Good price
  • Good quality images for the price
  • 2 mounting systems which work well
  • Flexible camera controls that work
  • Works well in regular room lighting
    Minuses
  • Won't mount on a very thin screen such as a notebook
  • Fixed focus lens


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