USB Video Camera

A USB video camera, or web cam, is an important piece of making the most out of your internet experience. By using a USB video camera, you can turn your computer into a videophone, allowing you to call—and see—your friends and colleagues as you speak with them, even going so far as to set up a video conference.

There is a large variety of web cam designs for users to choose from. Some are no larger

than a pen, while others are mounted with a clip to a desired location. Most web cams come with a built-in microphone, allowing users to speak without the hassle of having to set up more machinery. Webcams take a digital video feed through their lens and translate it into

images the computer can play back at high speeds, and in very high-resolution, giving you better quality than you would be able to get out of a traditional video camera.

They also offer you the option to save your video files instantly, and safely. No more will

you have to worry about losing a videotape, or the kids accidentally unwinding it and

ruining the film. It is stored electronically, and can be backed up as many times as you want, in as many places as you choose, so that your video stream is always safe and accessible.

When shopping for a web cam, there are several things to keep in mind. Primarily, is it a USB 1.0 or 2.0? PCs now are beginning to shift over to USB 2.0, a power-saving and superior feature to the aging USB 1.0. If your computer doesn’t have a USB 2.0 slot, and the product you buy is a USB 2.0 product, they will be incompatible. At what resolution can it record? The higher the resolution the clearer the film will be. High-definition web cams will be explicitly labeled, and usually more expensive, but if you want to record the highest quality, high-def is the way to go. Next, consider the size of the camera. Most web cams are small, and can be clipped or perched onto the top of a monitor, but larger ones will need somewhere to sit or stand.

Always keep in mind the kind of work you want to do with your camera. If you are merely looking to video chat with friends, a lower resolution is acceptable. For anything more  complex, you’ll want to buy a high-resolution USB Video camera.