One of the best webcam software for Windows, Cyberlink YouCam 9 is an amazing way to connect with your family and friends over a video call. Webcams are easy to set up. Most readers can stop here. While these features are overkill for most people, they can be fun additions if your budget permits. If that’s the case, look for webcams with what’s called a “wide-angle lens” (or dig through the specs to get an exact FOV value). How to Buy the Best Webcam for 2021. It seamlessly integrates with live streaming media channels like Twitch, Wirecast, OBS Studio, Facebook Live, Xsplit, and YouTube Live. While we can’t point you directly to the best webcam for streaming, we can narrow your search. The higher the resolution, the better your video will look. Autofocusing is speedy, and its white balance is on point too. Of course, webcams are just one kind of camera you can use to live stream – from camcorders and action cams to DSLRs, mirrorless, and PTZ cameras. What makes Webcam A different from Webcam B? Best budget webcam for streaming, runner-up Logitech C922 Webcam Logitech's C900 series are all-time greats when it comes to webcams, and the C922 is an excellent choice for streaming. It provides tools to beautify your face and use 200+ fun effects while on video chatting. Although many of us have dedicated microphones, the onboard microphone can come in handy too. It may connect to its own hard drive on the network where it stores the video for a certain amount of time. If you’re stuck doing Zoom calls or web conferencing from your home, you’ll need a decent external webcam. Apart from these, there’s a handful of terms you should familiarize yourself with before you start weighing your options. Here are the best webcams for streaming and keeping in touch with the world. The Logitech C922 is the gaming-focused successor to the C920. Check out our popular Pearl Mini and Pearl-2 hardware encoders. The attached ring light adds an extra bit of flexibility, earning it the most versatile webcam. You should pay attention to the image quality, color accuracy, focus speed, and customizable features. Your email address will not be published. The Kiyo's 1080p sensor boasts excellent sharpness and captures plenty of detail. The Best Premium Webcam for Twitch Streaming: Logitech C922. Our own team has used the C920 for various projects and it has always performed well. Out of all the webcams I've tested, the Razer Kiyo has the highest color saturation. Good lighting ensures a consistent webcam feed from your stream that looks professional and helps viewers see what's going on. Warranty and returns | Terms | Privacy | California Privacy, recommended a bunch of cameras across these categories, Microsoft LifeCam Studio for Business ($60), Why SRT, HLS, and MPEG-DASH are the future of streaming, Multistreaming: how to live stream to multiple destinations, https://www.techradar.com/news/where-to-buy-a-webcam, https://gopro.com/en/ca/news/how-to-use-gopro-for-webcam, Purchasing A Webcam? But the best thing about ManyCam is that it comes in two versions: freeware and paid (the PRO version). Compatibility with your operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux) is another important consideration. Resolution: 1080p @ 30fps, 720p @ 60fps | Extra features: Built-in ring light | FOV: 82 degrees | Weight: 10.6 ounces | Mount: Monitor grip | OS: Windows 7 or higher … Streamers should also appreciate C922's excellent compatibility with the background replacement app, ChromaCam. You could have a webcam capable of delivering 1080p yet still end up with poor quality video. Webcam manufacturers often build in additional features to help their products stand out. The light's intensity can be adjusted by turning its dial in its outer circumference, giving you full control over how brightly you want your face to appear. Future US, Inc. 11 West 42nd Street, 15th Floor, Some webcams also have built-in microphones, which we test by recording a short video in our studio or home offices. I host my foster kittens while I stream art and I want to catch more of them than my logitech 920 does. The Holy Grail is a cam that delivers professional-grade quality and the features that matter to you – all at the right price. If you're working on your streaming set-up, it might also be worth checking out our guides for the best capture cards as well as the best microphone for streaming. Display resolution: 1080p | Recording resolution: 1080p 60fps | FOV: 73 degrees | Special features: Portrait / Landscape Rotation. Grabbing the best webcam could help set you up for an illustrious streaming career, or at least confirm to your boss that you are actually getting dressed in the morning while working from home. It’s no longer true that opting for one means you’ll be stuck producing amateurish, low-quality videos. All our recommended cameras are built for live streaming and have earned generally positive reviews from users. Pros: It is rather simple to find webcams under 50 €. As expected, the BRIO's high resolution bumps up the detail to a much higher level than any standard 1080p webcam. Display resolution: 1080p | Recording resolution: 1080p 30fps, 720p 60fps | FOV: 90 degrees | Special features: Built-in ring light. You might not have heard of ClearOne products since they really only see their products in an office conference room. A security webcam uses an Ethernet connection, allowing it to pass the video stream through a very fast network connection. The other crucial aspect is the color of the images. Many available today boast impressive features like digital zoom, autofocus, high frame rates, the ability to output to 1080p – even 4K. Most of the metrics we use to determine camera quality also apply to webcams. With over a decade of diverse professional writing experience, Michael has deep insight into the technology needs of public and private companies across a broad range of sectors. - InfoDriven, Best live streaming software [Updated for 2019], How to live stream: a beginner’s survival guide, Best cameras for live streaming for any budget (updated for 2021). Image 1 of 4 (Image credit: Razer) Ultimate webcam tips: How to look and sound great online. Thank you for signing up to PC Gamer. Note that webcams don’t perform well in low-light conditions without software assistance. The fact it records at a steady 1080p/60fps means this webcam will help produce some genuinely great looking video. For streamers, the C922 is a versatile webcam that will help make you look you're best when live streaming to your legion of rabid followers. And, to do that, you’ll need a webcam. White balancing was accurate most of the time, although the default saturation can make the scene look a little washed out in bright lighting conditions. More expensive webcams are more adept at replicating the most accurate scene. Bandwidth for streaming: how much do I need? Logitech Webcam Software. External cameras offer superior video quality, which will give your streams a more professional feel. In webcams meant for streaming, FOVs tend to range from 50 to 120 degrees. As its name suggests, the Brio 4K Pro records at 4K ultra HD (UHD) … If you’re a social streamer who’s just starting out, any of these budget webcams might do the trick: This entry from Ausdom boasts some impressive features for its price – namely, the ability to stream in 1080p (at up to 30 fps). Switching from a webcam to a DSLR or mirrorless is a great way to improve your stream’s video quality. It supports 1080p30 streaming and features autofocus as well as light correction technology that adjusts your video on the fly to match the conditions in your room. Glass lenses tend to perform better. The Unite 20 Pro offers a pretty wide 120-degree field of view, which means you can fit a lot more into your frame than most webcams. Alongside the main color, the sensor is infrared, making the BRIO fully compatible with Windows Hello, Microsoft's facial sign-in feature. © Whether you're recording yourself streaming for Twitch, conferencing with friends and/or colleagues on Zoom, or creating cooking videos for your YouTube channel, one the best webcams will have you coming through crystal clear. Best controller for PC gaming | Best gaming PC | Best mechanical keyboard, Display resolution: 1080p | Recording resolution: 1080p 30fps | FOV: 120 degrees | Special features: Privacy cap, microphone. We also used each manufacturer's webcam software to take the highest possible resolution pictures with each and manually adjusted settings like white balance, brightness, auto-focus, and others where applicable. When the lighting is good, it can help add a great deal of vividness to your images. Alternatively, the Razer Kiyo comes with its built-in light, so it's a good option if you don't have the space for mounted key lights. The most popular webcam for Twitch, the Logitech C920 is a good middle ground between high quality and good value. Unless a tuning utility is included, the white balance is usually automatically adjusted by the webcam's processor. For an upgrade pick, the Logitech Brio Ultra HD webcam offers superior video quality and an adjustable FOV up to 90 degrees. If you’re in the U.S., this article from TechRadar might help: https://www.techradar.com/news/where-to-buy-a-webcam. Best Webcams for Xbox One Windows Central 2021. With a 4K UHD resolution and HDR, the Logitech Brio … But some cameras – webcams included – are more low-light capable than others due to sensor size, special features (e.g., low-light modes), and other factors. That’s because the C930 has a wider, 90-degree FOV that’s better suited for capturing these settings. If you are using a Logitech webcam, then it is compulsory to have this software for the proper functioning of the webcam. Are there any webcams with wide FOV? If you’re looking for a cam that’s a cut above the Logitech C920, consider the C922x. OBS is still our choice go-to app for streaming and video recording, while images are captured in the default Windows Camera app. Did you know nearly any USB webcam works on Xbox One? Lowlight performance is great; the noise level didn't shoot through the roof when I turned off a few lights. Logitech is a very famous and the most downloaded best camera apps for PC. Built for business, this webcam delivers 1080p30 live streaming at a low price. Best streaming software in 2018: A breakdown of the main contenders, ePTZ control – electronic pan, tilt, zoom (up to 8x), Built-in microphone array with noise reduction, Wide dynamic range for high performance in various lighting environments, Monitor base with 1/4-20 thread; second 1/4-20 thread underneath bracket, Dual omnidirectional mics with noise reduction, echo cancellation, and voice morphing, Built-in dual stereo mics with noise cancellation. Its f/1.8 lens captures bright, crisp picture and performs remarkably well in low-light conditions. Capture 4K video from DSLRs, mirrorless cameras, and more with the rugged and easy-to-use AV.io 4K frame grabber. Look into the Huddly GO or the GoPro HERO line (e.g., https://gopro.com/en/ca/news/how-to-use-gopro-for-webcam). With unprecedented numbers of people working from home, there’s huge demand for webcams right now – especially popular models like the C920. Standalone cameras also offer more flexibility when it comes to placement, making it easier to shoot better, more evenly lit video. Expressed in degrees, a webcam’s field of view (FOV) is the area its lens will capture. If you're simply looking for the best picture quality at a reasonable price, the Logitech C922 HD Pro is a solid 1080p choice. In darker scenes, however, the saturation boost can make images look pastel-like. As Zoom, Skype and WebEx meetings explode, you need to master these webcam techniques.