Logitech QuickCam Pro 4000
February 2003, $99
While the 4000 is still a very good camera, it has now been replaced in ranking by several of the newer webcams. See the camera review index for current best cameras.
This is one of the best consumer cameras, and was at the top of the chart for several years. This is one of the recommended cameras for all features except portability. While this camera is easy to move around, some of the notebook cameras have better portability.
I have been very impressed with this camera. While its image quality doesn't come up to that of the Intel Pro, it nevertheless is quite good. Its low light sensitivity is extremely good. I was getting recognizable pictures with nothing but bright full moonlight with snow on the ground.
Product Specifications
- Image sensor: VGA CCD 640x480
- Video capture: Up to 640 x 480 pixels
- Still image capture: Up to 1280 x 960 pixels, 1.3 megapixels
- Frame rate: Up to 30 frames per second (with recommended system)
- 3x digital zoom in all applications
- Snapshot button on camera
- built-in microphone
- Included Software
- FREE Logitech® IM Video Companion™
- Live video-enabled MSN/Yahoo! Messenger
- One-click video e-mail software
- Video broadcasting software
- Web album creator software
- Web camera software
- Motion detection software
- Animation software
Minimum System Requirements (PC)
- Windows® 98, Windows® 2000, Windows® Me, Windows® XP
- Pentium® II 400, Celeron™, AMD Athlon® processor, or higher (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
Camera Controls
Zoom
Pluses
- Very good image quality
1.3 megapixel photos and high-quality videos
- Good under very low light conditions, including sensitivity and sharpness
- 3x digital zoom and face tracking
- Drivers work well and have numerous features
- Driver has face centered feature worked well at 320x240
- Microphone is extremely clear and sensitive
- Base is removable and will fit a standard tripod mount (Pull the camera off the base with a snap, unscrew the plastic pin, don't lose the plastic pin)
- Auto modes work well
- Flate table base and heavy bendable rubber base for monitors.
- Long 10 foot USB cable
Minuses
- More costly than many of the other cameras, but worth the price
- Camera seems to loose its auto settings when computer is turned off
- Drivers are quite large, many files required, over 40 meg download
- Color is washed out in bright daylight
- No sharpness or hue color control in driver settings
- Swivel base tends to move around some
|
