Logitech Quickcam Communicate STX

First of all, this is probably what you are looking for, unless you want to be able to take photographs above 640 x 420 resolution, zoom, focus, wide angle lenses, but then you are looking for a pro webcam, and there are one or two here, but you are better spending your $100 in a digital photography shop. For the rest of you that just want a plug n' play digital camera that not only looks great but doesn't smash to pieces by the end of the week because it fell off the monitor, at an affordable price, actually very cheap for what it does, then the Logitech Quickcam Communicate WebCam is exactly what you need... and what everyone else owns.

This dark grey orb is a nice upgrade from its black sphere processor (a revolution for its time), just bigger than an egg with a claw grip that you can bend around almost anything but is especially designed for LCD monitors, but has no problem with CRT or desks. In fact it has the same grip as the Quickcam pro model from Logitech and maybe if you look at this products photographs you can see it. Okay, so that is your stand. The original camera looked like HAL from 2001 but now looks like HAL combined with a Transformers look. Pity the central camera lens doesn't glow red, ha aha. Instead of lighting up blue on top there is a small green/yellow light that turns on at the side. There are additionally two new features. The cam comes with a cap that you can open and close and a button on the side that you can press to take pictures. To be honest the button is not good because it's hard to hold the cam steady and when you close the cap you sometimes press the button by mistake. While the cap is good it opens up Logitech cam software automatically so you can select a cap image. This conflicts with some chat software clients and I can't seem to be able to turn it off. All round these new features are very nice but the cam gets docked a star because this design could have been much better. It looks great, fantastic looking technology, but the implementation of the cap plus button is bad. Also the front rim is curved not flat. If you sit it flat on the desk it moves from left to right like a rocking chair!

Instead of the parts coming in two pieces (where you had to click into the stand before) it is all in one. The cable is a direct camera to USB2 that runs about the height of an average person, so if you want it to see further you need a USB2 to USB2 extension. However the cable is adequate for most.

The old model does not work with Vista, but this one does. Do not plug in the webcam. Insert the CD. Install the driver software. Then you are prompted to plug in your webcam and follow what Logitech tell you to do. Okay, now you have the camera set so you can take photographs and camera video with it.

They have updated the lighting quality and image quality dramatically. The boost in image quality is considerable. The autofocus is near perfect for the price. You will not have to adjust this camera except to move it. There is a learning curve with the settings. People who don't know how to use it properly don't use these settings. You need to fix the settings like most cameras. There is a default button if things bleach out. I would still say get this cam for the price and look but Logitech should have done better.

In short, this is what you should have unless you want zoom, focus and high quality photographic images. You can use this for free with Yahoo messenger or MSN. 320 x 240 is a fine resolution to run at. This camera can do 640 x 420.

Just get it, call home, force them to upgrade to broadband and end those $100 transatlantic phone calls. FREE VID-PHONE if you have a microphone! In which case, see into getting yourself a headset from the same people who brought you this great product.

Pros
Maybe the best cheap cam around
Image is very good for the price
It looks amazing

Cons
Button on cam is in a bad place
Software has bugs
Rocking cam on the desk

I have purchased a few of these cameras over the past couple of years for friends and family, including both the previous "ball-shaped" model and this newer design. 3 out of 4 of these all had a similar issue with the microphone/audio. After a random period of time, a horrible, really loud static noise kicks in and eliminates the possibility of communication. "Hanging up" and calling back is the only solution, which will buy you an uncertain amount of time before it happens again. I have seen this issue with these cams on both Dell and HP PCs.
If this issue weren't present, the camera provides an adequate picture for basic video conferencing and (at least used to) provide a good value.
I have also owned/used 2 Quickcam Pro 5000s and now use the Quickcam Ultra Vision, which is a great cam.
Given this "noise" issue, I really don't recommend buying this model, but I do like the Logitech Line overall. Webcams are one of the items where you really do get what you pay for.
One final note for those purchasing their first webcam. Make sure it has a BUILT IN MICROPHONE. Beware some of the Creative models that don't (another lesson learned the hard way).
The reason it gets 2 stars is that the 4th one that I sent my brother works just fine.

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1LXA7QN699U81 This is my experience with the Logitech Quickcam Communicate STX. Maybe I got a bad one, but nothing helps. Settings, lighting, tried all suggestions. Time for a trip back to the store. I've always like Logitech, but this one didn't impress me.

Quickcam works great, ended up getting several for other members of the family--great way to keep in touch when family is far away.

Although the description said it was a USB webcam, it turned out that it is USB 2, and when I plugged it into the USB 1 port on my older computer, both the audio and video were unbelievably and unacceptably jerky and broken-up. I returned it.