LifeCam cinema or other webcams

[Iain Buchanan-2]

Hi,

Has anyone used the Microsoft LifeCam cinema HD webcam?[1]  I know it's
from Microsoft, but in my experience their h/w doesn't seem as bad as
their s/w!

I know this question comes up all the time, but if not the LifeCam, what
webcam would you recommend?  My requirements would be:
      * decent (for webcam) picture - not too grainy / lowres
      * usb
      * preferably not spca drivers, as they seem a bit behind lately
      * no logitech quickcams, due to their problems with skype

If any cheaper LifeCams use the same internals, I'd be happy with that -
I don't need the flashy look.  The cheapest I can find one is AU$89.

[1]
http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/digitalcommunication/productdetails.aspx?pid=008

thanks!
--
Iain Buchanan               R&D
<iain@...>  Phone: 138

[Volker Armin Hemmann]

On Montag 09 November 2009, Iain Buchanan wrote:

>       * preferably not spca drivers, as they seem a bit behind lately
>       * no logitech quickcams, due to their problems with skype

what problems with skype? I am thinking about buying a logitech c600...

[Iain Buchanan]

On Mon, 2009-11-09 at 02:33 +0100, Volker Armin Hemmann wrote:
> On Montag 09 November 2009, Iain Buchanan wrote:
>
> >       * preferably not spca drivers, as they seem a bit behind lately
> >       * no logitech quickcams, due to their problems with skype
>
> what problems with skype? I am thinking about buying a logitech c600...
>

Exactly this issue:
http://forums.logitech.com/t5/Webcams/Quickcam-Pro-9000-Skype-System-hangs/m-p/396119?nobounce

Mostly windows, afair, which I have to use it on occasionally.  I bought
an E5500 for my mum and it took a few months to get it going (admittedly
she is interstate, so I only had a few hours a month to try!)  The
solution was weird, and some "new" windows version of skype seemed to be
immune, but I was already burned!

The same quickcam on my gentoo box didn't have any problems.  Apparently
it was specific to certain quickcams, but this was a while ago, so
details in my brain are sketchy!

Can you get 720p on linux with the C600?
--
Iain Buchanan <iaindb at netspace dot net dot au>

I love dogs, but I hate Chihuahuas.  A Chihuahua isn't a dog.  It's a rat
with a thyroid problem.

[Volker Armin Hemmann]

On Montag 09 November 2009, Iain Buchanan wrote:

> On Mon, 2009-11-09 at 02:33 +0100, Volker Armin Hemmann wrote:
> > On Montag 09 November 2009, Iain Buchanan wrote:
> > >       * preferably not spca drivers, as they seem a bit behind lately
> > >       * no logitech quickcams, due to their problems with skype
> >
> > what problems with skype? I am thinking about buying a logitech c600...
>
> Exactly this issue:
> http://forums.logitech.com/t5/Webcams/Quickcam-Pro-9000-Skype-System-hangs/
> m-p/396119?nobounce

from that thread:

However after lots of playing around, it does seem to be working again now....
I notice the Logitech Communications Manager is no longer running, so this
must have been the cause of the problems.

> Can you get 720p on linux with the C600?
>

http://www.quickcamteam.net/devices/logitech_uvc_frame_format_list.pdf

says it can do 1280x720@30 mjpeg. OS is not mentioned.

and this:

http://www.quickcamteam.net/devices/logitech_uvc_device_feature_list_by_device.pdf
0x0808 9 Logitech Webcam C600
Bayer mode
Supported
Some widescreen resolutions are not supported.
Linux support
Supported
Solaris support
Supported (unconfirmed)