HD Webcams have been slow coming out to consumers. While in the past year some have had the HD moniker attached to them, most never reached full 720p. Well the Microsoft LifeCam Cinema finally hits those heady heights.
Share every detail with friends and family in HD. This full featured webcam, with true 720p HD video, delivers smooth, detailed video and crystal clear audio.
- 720p HD widescreen
720p sensor captures true HD quality video at up to 30 fps. - Auto Focus
Images stay sharp and detailed even during close-ups. - High-precision glass element lens
High quality lens delivers more accurate colors and sharper video. - ClearFrame Technology
ClearFrame image-processing technology delivers smooth, detailed video, even in low light conditions. - Digital Microphone
Digital microphone with noise cancelling technology helps improve speech quality for crystal clear audio. - Aluminum Body
Aluminum body reduces weight and improves the durability of the webcam body. - Windows Live Movie Maker
Start a movie project with one click, then upload widescreen video to social networking sites. - Windows Live Photo Gallery
Easily upload a photo that you can edit, tag, and share with friends and family. - LifeCam Dashboard
Add special effects and control your webcam—all from the Windows Live Messenger window. - Windows Live™ Call Button
It’s simple to start video calls. One touch of the Windows Live Call Button lets you see who’s online, and you’re on your way to making a video call. - Flexible Stand
Bend, fold and shape the flexible base for the best angle on laptop screens, flat panels and traditional monitors. - Video Effects
Discover a fun way to express yourself with these entertaining video effects built into the LifeCam dashboard. - Works with*
+ Windows Live™
+ Yahoo! Messenger
+ AOL Instant Messenger
+ Skype
I have to admit that I haven’t used a webcam for many years, I used to do a lot of video conferencing when I was setting up my first website, but over the years I can’t say I’ve had any need to use one. Now that broadband speeds have reached both high upload and download speeds I can see why people would like to make use of them and with the improving quality of webcam hardware, you no longer see blocky, jerky, slow moving images.
A lot of technology enthusiasts now use webcams to post reviews, new product unboxing as well as images and more via you tube, so I was looking forward to trying out the new LifeCam Cinema and I wasn’t disappointed.
The image quality is far above other webcams right now, especially when you enable 720p in the LifeCam dashboard. You need a pretty meaty machine to get the best out of the camera though, even Microsoft recommend at least a 3ghz PC with 2GB of memory especially when recording in 720p.
I’ve tried the camera over Windows Live! Messenger and I’m told that the quality looked great on the other end of the line with very little slow down on show. The autofocus works well, though it can sometimes do focusing when there seems like there is no need to do so. Most of the time though it is perfect, as long as you don’t have a house full of clutter behind you.
The design of the camera is great too, it reminds me a little of the original iSight released by Apple quite a few years ago, it is made in aluminium, small, very light and the base fits really well on top of most, if not all LCD monitors and desks. The camera also has an integrated mic which picks up voices well. In voice enabled games or even with Games for Windows Live! the light on the front of the camera comes on to indicate that the mic is up and running for you to use.
The LifeCam software does the job it needs to. It allows you to take photos with the camera as well as record audio and video. The program also lets you upload your media to MSN Spaces and YouTube easily without any hassle. The software also has a number of filters that can add various visual effects to your pictures and video. They can be things like making your nose or mouth look bigger to having cats ears and noses placed over yours. It’s all good fun if you want to allow your children to play around with it, but if you want to just use the camera for conferencing then there isn’t much point to it.
If you have the money and are in the market for one of the best webcams on the market right now with very easy to use software, then you can’t go wrong with the Microsoft LifeCam Cinema.
| Microsoft LifeCam Cinema Review | |
|---|---|
| Hardware |   |
| The hardware is great, well designed and compact enough to fit on most monitors. | |
| Performance |  |
| Most of the time the quality is great, but as you bump it up to 720p the picture quality can look a little bit paste like. Most of the time it looks very good though, especially when video conferencing with someone who has a decent broadband connection. | |
| Sound | |
| The mic works really well, not just when recording video but also when playing games that can make use of voice chat. | |
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Very good webcam with 720p support, only let down by a few focusing problems that I'm sure can be rectified in the future | |
What type of broadband connection do you have when you conference with it? I guess given netflicks streaming its not that surprising good quality can flow over the tubes, but they have the forethought of some good compression in the data stream.. I would imagine this webcam has to struggle to compress.
Does it work ok if you are connected to the net over 802.1g-wireless?
Yeah it has worked fine with me over wireless and via 200mb powerline connections.
I use the system for a video call via internet the person on the other side was surprise how clear the picture he recieving. I love the other feature specially recording video and getting clear picture even at a very dim light. The system was so clear they even see the clock further away from my back. Every time i used video call i always used the web cam.
Very good article, I’m glad to be a follower.