Choosing the right webcam is simple and does not take much time. You just need to clearly imagine their characteristics.
To begin with, you can choose the type of webcam mount: they are desktop and clip-on. With desktop cameras, everything is clear; clip-on cameras can be attached to flat monitors or laptops.
Then decide if you need a built-in microphone. This, of course, is convenient, but if you use a separate microphone, then you should not overpay for an unnecessary function. Another detail requiring attention is the length of the cord. For laptops, a webcam with a cord no more than a meter is enough, for a desktop PC it should be at least 1.5 meters.
Almost all video devices are compatible with computers running Windows. Very often, the system independently determines and installs the necessary programs for the first use of the webcam. Choosing a device for users of other operating systems will be more difficult: you need to check the compatibility of the driver of the new device with the OS.
The main technical parameters that affect the choice of webcam:
Resolution. This parameter determines how high quality it will be.
transmitted picture. When studying the characteristics, pay attention to the working resolution, and not to the maximum, which is most often indicated in the model descriptions. It is the working resolution that determines the size of the transmitted picture. The optimal resolution for today is 0.3 megapixels, and the spread of this parameter is from 0.1 megapixels to 2 megapixels.Crop (fps) is the number of frames that are transmitted from the camera in one second. For a normal, stable picture, this value should be at least 30. Some expensive models offer cameras that produce 90 frames per second. For our channels, this is a bust: a too wide band needs a channel to transmit such a signal. So 30 frames per second is the best choice.
Webcams also differ in matrices: CMOS and CCD. Cameras on CCD-matrices give a better picture and less interference, but they cost more.
These are all characteristics that determine the quality of the transmitted picture.
It remains to choose the price that you agree to pay for this device. Decide on the price last. First, select the cameras that suit you for all the technical specifications, and then pay attention to the prices. Keep in mind that high cost does not mean better quality: it’s quite possible to buy a great webcam for little money or to get a bad image, and spend a decent amount on it.
The presence of various additional functions can influence the choice of a webcam: automatic adjustment to lighting is a very useful function that will allow you to transmit the most clear picture in any light. There are also functions such as the ability to take photos, control brightness and contrast, shoot videos, adjust white balance , change the frame rate, etc. Advanced users need all these settings, it makes no sense to use them for simple communication, and they increase the cost significantly.
Choosing a webcam for Skype is no different from the above process. Skype is just one of the programs that transfers the picture to another network user and does not present any special requirements.