Selecting a webcam: what to look for

The right choice of webcam is simple and does not take much time. You have to clearly understand their characteristics.

To begin with, you can choose the type of attachment the webcam: they are desktop and clip-on. With desktop cameras everything is clear, clip-on can be attached to flat-panel monitors or laptops.

Next, decide whether you need a built-inmicrophone. This, of course, is convenient, but if you use a separate microphone, then you do not need to overpay for an unnecessary function. Another detail that requires attention is the length of the cord. For laptops, enough webcams with a cord is not more than a meter, for a desktop PC it should be at least 1.5 meters.

Almost all video devices are compatible withcomputers running Windows. Very often the system independently determines and installs the programs necessary for the work when the webcam is first used. The choice of the device for users of other operating systems will be more difficult: it is necessary to check the compatibility of the driver of the new device with the OS.

The main technical parameters that affect the choice of webcam:

• Resolution. This parameter determines how good the

  transmitted picture.When studying the characteristics, pay attention to the working resolution, and not to the maximum, which is most often indicated in the description of the model. It is the working resolution that determines the size of the transmitted picture. Optimum for today is the resolution of 0.3 Mpix, and the spread of this parameter is from 0.1 Mpix to 2 Mpix.

• Framing (fps) is the number of frames,which is transmitted from the camera in one second. For a normal, stable picture, this value should be at least 30. Some expensive models offer cameras that produce 90 frames per second. For our channels, this is too much: too broad a band needs a channel to transmit such a signal. So 30 frames per second - the best choice.

• Webcams also differ in matrices: CMOS and CCD. Cameras on CCD-matrices give a better picture and less interference, but are more expensive.

These are all characteristics that determine the quality of the transmitted picture.

It remains to choose the price that you agreepay for this device. Determine the price last. First, select the cameras that suit you for all technical specifications, and then pay attention to the prices. Keep in mind that high cost does not mean the best quality: you can buy an excellent webcam for little money or get a bad image, and spend a decent amount at the same time.

The choice of webcam can be influenced bypresence of various additional functions: automatic adjustment to illumination - very useful function which will allow to transfer the most accurate picture at any light. There are still functions such as the ability to take photos, control the brightness and contrast, shoot movies, adjust the white balance, change the frame rate, etc. All these settings are needed by advanced users, there is no sense in using them for simple communication, and they increase the cost considerably.

The choice of webcam for Skype is no different from the above process. Skype is just one of the programs that transmits a picture to another user of the network and does not present any special requirements.