Microsoft Modern Webcam 2019 Modern Webcam,Black

Product Information

Compatibility: Ensure the webcam you choose is compatible with your computer's operating system and software applications. Typically, Windows Hello is associated with depth-camera technology, which recognizes the various contours of your face, identifying you and only you. (A normal webcam doesn’t understand that it’s looking at a 3D image.) The image is then compared with a reference image which is stored during setup. The process itself is fast: It takes just a second or two for a Windows Hello webcam to recognize you, verify your identity to the PC it’s connected to via a USB cable, and log you in. Windows Hello can also read your fingerprint with a separate Windows Hello fingerprint reader, but these webcams are all you need. 1080p Also, despite this camera being made by Microsoft, it does not feature an IR sensor and thus will not work with Windows Hello. That’s not expected for an external webcam in this price range, but it’s another funny omission given how big that feature is for Microsoft. Bottom Line It's impossible to recommend a universally perfect webcam, because there are so many different ways to use webcams these days. It's not as easy as going for ultra high-res 4K and calling it a day — most of the common video conferencing platforms (e.g. Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams) don't support higher than 720p or 1080p resolution, anyway. (Plus, if you've never looked at a close-up of your skin in ultra-high-def 4K, trust me — it's unnecessary.) Superior Audio Quality: If you already have a high-quality external microphone or headset, a webcam without a built-in microphone allows you to take advantage of its exceptional audio performance.

Mount your Microsoft Modern Webcam the way you want—depending on your PC and the set up in your home or office. Here are three different ways to mount your webcam. On your display That said, it's not all perfect. While I came away impressed with the video quality, even in low-light scenarios, the microphone that's built in is just bad. Microsoft ships the webcam with the microphone disabled for this reason, so I recommend you a dedicated microphone instead. Alternatively, we have the Logitech C920, arguably the king of 1080p webcams. It has a wide 78-degree field of view, dual microphones, and a glass lens for extra clarify. Microsoft's Modern Webcam competes very well with this device, but I think the Logitech beats it by a small margin thanks to its slightly better image quality. The resolution of the webcam matters. Most laptops still ship with 720p webcams, and a higher-resolution webcam will make you look better than your colleagues. Fixed-focus versus autofocus Honestly, many of you will probably buy this Windows Hello webcam and simply not miss the more expensive alternatives. About the only feature you may miss in this 1080p, 30fps webcam is autofocus capability, and most fixed-focus webcams are tuned for the average distance (in the HelloCam’s case, between 12.4 and 47.2 inches) that someone sits from their laptop or display. The field of view is a relatively narrow 90 degrees.Of course, it's far too early to comment on the Modern Webcam's quality, but it's about time that Microsoft had a webcam capable of streaming at 1080p. The specs for the Modern Webcam are only on a par with Logitech's most popular model, but maybe that's all that's needed. Those specs match up almost identically with the Logitech C920 and the Logitech C920s, though it looks like Microsoft's webcam has just one microphone, to the C920's two. Microsoft Modern Webcam: Special features Don't want to sound pessimistic, but how is this a great step? Here in the Netherlands the 920 is for sale since January 2012. I know Microsoft is relatively new in the hardware scene and don't want to take a too big chunk away from their customers (pc builders/manufacturers), but coming with a product which is par to a 9 year old product. If Logitech sees this as an actual contestant it will drop it price to the same or below at which both Logitech is again the better option. And fill up the gap between with another product they have laying on the shelf by now. Since Microsoft builds the OS and Windows Hello with that, they shown it off at nearly all their surface devices. Why not come with a decently price windows hello camera? Why go for the standards of 2012?

Oddly enough, though, the microphone on the webcam is turned off by default, and you’d need to enable it in the Microsoft Accessory Center app, which warns you that turning on the webcam impacts its “Certified for Teams” functions. I didn’t see this hurt anything in Teams despite the message. It's also certified for Microsoft Teams, and comes with a 1-year hardware warranty and a 30-day return window. Microsoft Modern Webcam outlook Cost Savings: If you already own a separate microphone, choosing a webcam without a built-in microphone can be a cost-effective solution.

Knocking the Logitech C920 Off Its Throne

Adjustability: Consider a webcam that offers pan, tilt, and zoom features for better positioning and adaptability to various scenarios. Autofocus, auto white balance, and low-light correction: Most webcams look pretty good with a professional lighting setup, a thoughtfully-framed and curated set, and some manual software fine-tuning. But if you don't have the space, equipment, time, or patience to perfect your picture, look for a webcam that works well out of the box. We test webcams using both default and manually-configured settings, in a number of ideal and less-than-ideal lighting scenarios. To physically adjust the camera, hold the base of camera in one hand. With your other hand, hold the top of the camera, and then tilt it up or down until you appear how you want in the Preview window.

Place your Microsoft Modern Webcam on top of your external display or laptop display. Rotate the base of your webcam up, so your camera sits securely on top. And another note. 30 frames per second on this webcam are the basis for video conferencing. For streaming or gaming and 60 fps where every movement on-camera counts, you’d have to look at a more expensive webcam like the Logitech C922 Pro or even the Anker PowerConf C300 and the Razer Kiyo Pro Streaming Webcam. There’s also no Windows Hello support on this webcam, so keep that in mind if you’re planning to buy it. If you’re after a Windows Hello webcam, we suggest looking at the Lenovo 500 Full HD USB Webcam instead. Design Flexibility in Audio Selection: Without an integrated microphone, you are free to choose the microphone of your preference, whether it's a USB microphone, a professional-grade microphone, or a headset.

Small and handy, the Microsoft Modern Webcam can't quite beat the sub-£100 webcam competition.

We were especially impressed with the Brio 500’s auto-white balance, which is something almost all webcams struggle with — it wasn’t perfect, but it was almost as impressive as the auto-white balance seen on much pricier webcams, such as the Insta360 Link. Logitech’s RightLight 4 technology, which is designed to compensate in less-than-ideal lighting situations, did an excellent job of producing flattering, evenly-lit images in both low and overexposed lighting. Most webcams will adjust their exposure for the available lighting, but superior webcams will do so in a way that makes you look well-lit and not a webcam zombie. Noise cancellation

Additional Features: Explore other features such as autofocus, low-light performance, and frame rate, depending on your specific requirements. The Modern Webcam will be compatible with both Windows and MacOS, though it appears that some software functions will only work with PCs. Some of the color temperature settings are a little strong too, and the same effect can randomly differ without anything changing in your frame. Sometimes this makes it seem like the filters you're applying aren't taking effect, because the differences between some of the effects are sometimes incredibly minor or non-existent.Microsoft Modern Webcam is Certified for Microsoft Teams with the default settings, which includes the built-in microphone turned off. If you turn on the built-in microphone in the Microsoft Accessory Center app, that could affect certification. You can still use the microphone and speakers on your PC for audio during Teams meetings and calls. In Microsoft Teams, select Settings and more to the left of your profile picture at the top, then select Settings .