SmileCam SU-320T pan/tilt (USB only)
January, 2005, $129
This internet controlled 300° Pan , 60° Tilt motorized webcam with builtin automatic motion tracking can follow objects by moving 90° per second. When in motion the webcam is surprisingly quiet compared to the Logitech Orbit. The viewer can adjust the webcam position in small or large increments just by clicking the mouse on the video near or far from the edge. There are automatic motion limiters when the SmileCam moves to its extreme limits. This prevents the tiny motors from burning out or damaging the gears which the Logitech Orbit suffers from. You actually have to hit the top to unjam the Orbit.
There are several models of SmileCam. The older ones were CCD and used a USB cable for video and a Serial RS232 cable for motor control. The newest models combine both cables into a single 10 foot USB rubberized flexible cable. The design shape of this webcam is an attention-getter. The base reminds me of a SciFi Robot's foot from the movie 'Silent Running' or the MechWarrior game.
SmileCam has a very good webcam Community Page which provides an On-Air Cam Listing for all SmileCam owners.
You can view any SmileCam Live Online which isn't password protected.
Software programs that support full remote control webcams are very specialized. In the case of Logitech's Orbit models you must pay for the option to host
your Orbit on their website to enable visitors to use the full motion mechanical control.
The Smilecam manufacturer provides this Hosting Service Free of Charge which supports the full range of
remote pan / tilt / sound / chat / tracking / still image recording control to all your visitors. Once you initiate a connection
to a SmileCam on the ezWebCam21 On-Air Listing page you need to accept the Directx control plugin. The
plugin installs the graphic overlay for the user interface plus creates a folder for recording still images at one frame per second.
The best online support for this webcam is in the SmileCam UK Forum. A surprising ability for this CMOS webcam is to use it with a 3rd party application minus the motor control features and set the resolution to 640x480 and tweak it for night vision. If you set the brightness to maximum, white balance to auto, exposure to auto and set no flicker to 60Hz the camera can almost see in the dark without grainy video. The key is setting the resolution to 640x480 allowing more light on the sensor.
This page is for those wanting to see the SmileCam completely disassembled revealing the mechanical parts.
SmileCam Specifications
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Classification SmileCam-USB Model SU-320T
- Image sensor CMOS 1/3 inch Effective pixel 320K
- Effective Resolution: VGA(640x480) CIF(352x288)
- Frame Rate: VGA:15fps CIF:30fps
- Minimum Illumination: 5.0 Lux @ F2.0
- Lens: Manual focus F=2.0/4 Glass, 1 Filter/Fl=6.0mm
- Left / Right (Pan): 300°
- Up / Down (Tilt): 60°
- Pan / Tilt Speed: 90° /sec
- Video capture resolutions 640x480, 352x288, 320x240, 176x144, 160x120
- Still image capture up to 640x480
- Video frame rate 30 fps @ 320x240 on recommended machines
- Exposure & color control Automatic or manual
- Lighting 50 or 60 Hz ambient indoor (flicker free video), daylight
- Power supply USB 5V (270mA)
- Dimensions: 110(W) x 112(H) x 106(D)
- Weight: 410g (include cable)
- Cable Length: 10 foot (3.1 m)
System Requirements
- Windows 98, 2000, Me, XP
- Pentium2 - 266 or higher
- 32 MB RAM,
- CD-ROM Drive, 16-bit color display adaptor
- Windows compatible sound card (full duplex card recommended)
- Available USB 1.1 or 2.0 port (SmileCam is USB 1)
Screen shots of camera configuration settings
Camera Controls
Remote Control Setup
Pluses
- Good image quality with brilliant color
- Extremely good under very low light conditions not grainy
- Slider settings for hue sensitivity and sharpness
- 30 fps at 352x288 resolution (perfect for security cam)
- High speed pan/tilt operation (90° per second) at 300° pan and 60° tilt
- Local & Remote Camera Control over the Internet (simply by clicking on the video screen)
- Manual focus from 30cm to infinity
- Drivers work well and have numerous features
- Supported in all 3rd party webcam software applications (without motorized controls)
- Automatic Motion Tracking follows motion quite well, it can even track a car driving by
- Live Video Conferencing & Web Broadcasting or video monitoring
- Real time video monitoring system (home, shop, office, parking lot, school)
- Advertising with live webcasting, Personal web broadcasting, etc.
- Live Video Conferencing & Web Broadcasting or Video Monitoring at no Additional Cost
- Tripod brass mounting hole, can also hang upside down as security cam
- Long 10 foot USB cable
Minuses
- Microphone not included
- No zoom feature
- Software and Drivers for the older USB + RS232 models are easily confused with the newer USB only cams which use version 6.
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