Computer Camera Recommendations: I have two old Logitech webcams, and I thought I'd connect one to my Windows machine so I wouldn't always be limited to my Mac. The round white one...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I have two old Logitech webcams, and I thought I'd connect one to my Windows machine so I wouldn't always be limited to my Mac. The round white one doesn't work on Win10, and the horizontal black one is connected, but I'm not getting any life from it.

Aside from that my son and a friend want webcams. What's a decent one to get, considering that these people will not be doing anything more than Zoom and conversing with friends?

Joexx

I suggest some more analysis before you decide the cameras you have don't work. I have a 7 year old Logitech and it works fine on a 10 year old windows 10 laptop.(not my primary pc). Do either cameras show up in device manager?

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Does the black one require its own driver to be loaded before you plug it in?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

gvarner wrote:

Does the black one require its own driver to be loaded before you plug it in?

Yes, it does require software to be installed first, but I don't have the software. When I plug/unplug, the computer dings, so it is being connected.

This is the black one - Logitech QuickCam Ultra Vision. It's supposed to show a blue light ring when it's turned on, but it's not lighting up - plugged directly into computer. Device Manager shows that it's there and working and has drivers. It shows that it was installed at 8:29 AM. Still, it doesn't light up, and there are no drivers available for it online. Searching online for drivers, I'm invited to download other apps.
https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-QuickCam-Ultra-Vision-Webcam/dp/B000ME393O

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Joexx wrote:

I suggest some more analysis before you decide the cameras you have don't work. I have a 7 year old Logitech and it works fine on a 10 year old windows 10 laptop.(not my primary pc). Do either cameras show up in device manager?

I think this round white Logitech dates from about 2006. I tried to install the software from the disk, but it said it's not compatible with this OS (Win10).

The newer black one shows up, but not the white one. Both of them ding when plugged/unplugged.

I bet lots of people are buying webcams now with Zoom being so popular.

I found an online manual for the Ultravision, and it doesn't say anything about an on/off switch, so it should be turned on by software.

rond-photography Loc: Connecticut

jerryc41 wrote:

I have two old Logitech webcams, and I thought I'd connect one to my Windows machine so I wouldn't always be limited to my Mac. The round white one doesn't work on Win10, and the horizontal black one is connected, but I'm not getting any life from it.

Aside from that my son and a friend want webcams. What's a decent one to get, considering that these people will not be doing anything more than Zoom and conversing with friends?

I bought a Logitech C270 webcam at Staples when I tried to do a video job interview and found that the built in webcam on my laptop was trash. The Logitech only cost about $40 and is excellent.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Decision made. I wanted the Logitech C920S, but no one has them. Well, a seller on Amazon has them for $300 instead of $80. Instead, I ordered the Logitech C270 3MP for just $39. Even at that low price, it gets good reviews, and I'm not using this for business.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I'll probably get a Logitech - C920S HD Webcam.
AFTER they become available again (nothing within 250 miles of me right now).
No particular reason, it'll work.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Apparently, I got the last two C270 webcams that Adorama had. A friend tried to order one, but they're sold out. I asked them to send one to her, but I don't know if that will work. Manufacturers and dealers must hate having a demand for a product when they don't have any available.

EDIT: Yeah, I got lucky. No one else has the C270, except maybe the local Staples for pickup only.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

jerryc41 wrote:

Apparently, I got the last two C270 webcams that Adorama had. A friend tried to order one, but they're sold out. I asked them to send one to her, but I don't know if that will work. Manufacturers and dealers must hate having a demand for a product when they don't have any available.

EDIT: Yeah, I got lucky. No one else has the C270, except maybe the local Staples for pickup only.

Yes, they think of all the revenue they are missing out on.

I guess all the "remote classes at home" people bought up the cameras.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

It seems that webcams are the TP of the computer world - all sold out.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

jerryc41 wrote:

It seems that webcams are the TP of the computer world - all sold out.

Milk, eggs, bread, TP, web cams,...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

rond-photography wrote:

I bought a Logitech C270 webcam at Staples when I tried to do a video job interview and found that the built in webcam on my laptop was trash. The Logitech only cost about $40 and is excellent.

Glad to hear it.

chrissybabe Loc: New Zealand

Not to rain on any ones parade but check out Zoom on Wikipedia especially under privacy.

RLSeipleSr Loc: North of Boston

jerryc41 wrote:

... Aside from that my son and a friend want webcams ... considering that these people will not be doing anything more than Zoom and conversing with friends...

My son-in-law got us a "Portal TV" for Christmas ... we use it for a weekly video conference call between us and our kids/grandkids in Massachusetts and kids/grandkids/great-grandkids in Indiana ... always a good time ...

It may be more than they want!

Bob S