Customer Reviews

Logitech C260 Webcam

5 star:		(83)
4 star:		(40)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Length:: 3:07 Mins

This is my 3 minute review of the Logitech C260 web cam (taken with the web cam of course!). This will let you see how well it records while I discuss the features of the product. Have fun!

The main specifications for the Logitech Webcam C260 are:

*Fluid video calling and recording in 16:9 widescreen
*3 MP photos
*Auto light correction for dim lighting conditions
*Noise-cancelling mic for clear conversations
*Easy video calling with included Logitech Vid or any IM application
*Quick webcam setup using the enclosed Logitech Webcam Software CD

I am happy to share that I found that this webcam is Linux friendly. I have tested it on Crunch Bang Linux (which is built over Ubuntu 9.04, so the results I found should work for any Linux operating system that has an Ubuntu base, like Linux Mint and Xubuntu, it will most likely work with any Debian base as well, but I am less certain about this). When I plugged in the webcam, Crunch Bang Linux recognized it immediately without needing to use the drivers on the CD-ROM. The picture was very clear, in fact the clearest of any of the webcams I have used so far (I have a lot of experience with about 5 others). The webcam adjusts to low light conditions (even without the software that helps to adjust to low light!). This is important to me, because many of the older webcams handle only a small range of lighting conditions, and make people look shadowy even with enough illumination coming from light bulbs. It seems that the older webcams were not sensitive to the frequency bands of many light bulbs. I concluded it was worth the extra money to get the webcams that were optimized for low light conditions (like this one).

I tried Skype on Crunch Bang Linux and Windows XP, this camera delivered good video in both environments. The Linux version of Skype is less advanced than the Windows XP version. It seems that the condenser mike needs to be adjusted manually on Linux for more optimal sound, but sounds good on Windows with the Skype auto-adjustment feature.

Update: I tested the webcam on PC Linux 2010 Open Box edition. Unlike Crunch Bang Linux, PC Linux did not automatically install a video application to test the webcam on. But I found the "Cheese" software application in their repository and downloaded it (the software, as usual for Linux, is open source and did not cost anything to download and use). The software automatically detected the webcam and presented a very high quality and high resolution image, and the webcam also adjusted for the low light conditions automatically. On PC Linux, running on an old generic Pentium 4 1.6 ghz processor, the webcam was able to track motion without going fuzzy. It seems, too, that PC Linux loaded some superior video drivers into the old computer that brought out the high resolution quality that the webcam is capable of.

The webcam also has a kind of folding arm that allows a lot of different set ups. It seems mainly designed to hang on top of a notebook computer screen or a desktop LCD screen. It has some range of tilting to angle down to where you are sitting. I also found that the arm can also act as a stand when simply placed on a table and the tilting range can also work to angle to where a person is sitting. When used this way, there is enough of a base so that the webcam is not wobbly. Another webcam that I had I eventually glued to a block of wood so that it would not fall over. This webcam does not need this and therefore can be used free standing (provided there is no pull from the cable).

I had a chance to upload the Windows software that came with the webcam. It has taken me some time to do this, because I prefer working in a Linux environment over the Windows environment. The software was of a good quality and worked without glitch. It also had a feature where it showed some free software available on online and where to download it, including Windows Movie Maker, which I felt was the best of those it presented and which I made a few videos that I uploaded to my youtube channel. All in all, the software was good and comparable to many other video software packages that are available online. The software did not stand shoulders above the free options online, but was professionally done, glitch free, loaded easily, and reliable.

I sent my brother Bob, who has built some computers and repairs some computers in his spare time. We both used the camera to do a Skype call to each other. We agree it was the best camera we both have tried and enjoyed the great picture we were sending back and forth. We are both happy that it is Linux compatible. My brother Bob tested it on both Windows and Linux Mint 9 and it worked well on both of these operating systems. Out of the three Linux OS that were tested, PC Linux, Mint, and Crunch Bang, all of them were built on top of an Ubuntu OS foundation and on Ubuntu OS is built on top of a Debian OS foundation. Since the webcam worked 3 for 3 on Ubuntu and Debian Linux systems, it is highly likely that any similar Linux system should be able to also use this webcam. I tested the webcam on two different Windows XP systems. One was the Acer Revo, Windows automatically deteched and loaded the exact driver without the aid of the driver CD. The same with the other Windows system. Bob tested it on Windows 7 and found the same thing. I just finished also testing the webcam on Windows Vista and it also played well at high resolution, even on a 22 inch widescreen, and did install the proper drivers without needing the software driver CD.

Length:: 1:50 Mins

I have zero experience with webcams, let alone purchased one. I had it in the back of my mind that the video would be grainy and they wouldn't be too user friendly, and I thought those little ball-shaped cameras looked stupid, so I never got off my rear to look into them. As more of my friends and family starting using Skype, I spent an hour or so looking at different products, and considering price, features, and reviews, I bought this model. I've only used it a few times since purchase, but it's easy to setup and understand, gets along fine with my Dell Laptop and Desktops, takes great still pictures, and hasn't exhibited any glitches so far. On the other end people say the video looks good and sounds fine, so with my limited experience, I'm a happy camper with this Logitech so far.

I work at Best Buy, so before I went online to search I looked at what my store had to offer. They carried this exact webcam for twenty dollars more. I'm in love with the cam, its amazing and beats out a lot of expensive cams out there. The shipping was fast and so was the installation once I got it. My laptops is kinda slow, I'll admit, so I was expecting the installation process to be an all day thing but it literally took me 10 mins, and then I was chatting with my boyfriend. He sent me a picture of what he could see on his screen and it was better than his brand new cam! Sound quality is outstanding, and the software doesn't take up a lot of room on my hard drive, which is an awesome bonus.! Works great with Skype and Chat Roulette, and as a camera too! I strongly recommend this product to anyone wanting a webcam, even if your price range is huge! The quilty is too good to be true for the rice!

The Logitech C260 is Logitech's entry-level HD Webcam product, and while it's missing the "HD" label, the C260 is capable of rather nice-looking 720p video at 30 FPS. The C260 is a standard USB Video Class device, which means it works under most operating systems such as Windows, OSX, and many Linux distributions without additional drivers. Although the C260 works normally without additional drivers, the Logitech software noticeably improves the color and exposure at the expense of increased CPU utilization.

Overall, the C260 is an unremarkable HD webcam when compared to its HD brethren, but compared to the webcams of old, the Logitech C260 is absolutely stunning. Personally, I think HD is a misnomer, since the advantage HD webcams have over their previous-generation counterparts is not really the maximum resolution. Case in point, the C260 is "only" ~0.9MP @ 1280x720 which is roughly 30% fewer pixels than 1.3MP (1280x1024) webcams which have been available for years! The HD advantage really lies in the improved lenses, sensors, and image calibration techniques employed by these new webcams. Also, you get native support of the wide 16:9 aspect ratio while still preserving support for the traditional 4:3 aspect ratio. I've owned several webcams over the years and the C260 pretty much puts them to shame in terms of smooth framerate, picture quality, and color.

Time doesn't stand still, however, and with HD webcams steadily becoming standard fare in new desktop all-in-one and laptop computers, the Logitech C260s' quirky design doesn't do it any favors. My first foray into HD webcams was the Microsoft LifeCam HD-5000 720p HD Webcam, which performs just as well as the similarly priced C260 in terms of image and video quality, but the HD-5000 has additional features such as auto-focus and an infinitely better stand. For some inexplicable reason, Logitech gave the C260 an off-centered stand that only adjusts up or down (If you mounted the C260 to a monitor, you need to turn the monitor to face you instead of just swiveling the camera!). To make matters worse, the C260's cord comes out of the unstable side of the off-centered stand, so it's very easy to accidentally tip the unit over when it's standing. In the end, I was pleased by the Logitech C260's image quality, color rendition, and low-light performance, but compared to other HD webcams, I was generally unimpressed by the overall value proposition.

I bought this cammara for the the mic, to use it on a laptop. It worked fine out of the box, but had a problem connecting to SKYPE however an e-mail to Logitech and 24 hours for a reply I found the problem I had not configured Skype correctly. We now call family in England with out a problem.

The Logitech Webcam is a really nice piece of hardware. Compact and affordable, and mostly easy to use, they're likely to sell a ton of them. I had a few issues with the software behaving badly, and have been unable to tell the software not to automatically load every time I start Windows, and that's what cost this device that last star.

The hardware itself is great. It's easy to zoom and the resolution is great. I keep it on my office window ledge, zoom it on the field behind the office and turn on the motion detector feature. One of these days I'll catch a deer on screen, or a yeti, but so far its just birds.

A colleague of mine also received one and successfully used it for transcontinental video conferences with her family while she was off on business, and it was so easy even her smallest child was able to use it to keep in touch with travel mom.

Looking for help setting up for Skype. Error Message says: "Can't start video render. Chek that you've got a valid direct installation." Did that Logitech Webcam C260 with 3 MP Photos and Microphonebut can only use Logitech Webcam C260 on google video chat(which is listed in Video Tools on Skype). This is kind of disappointing. My son-in-law worked on their gift for over 3 hours and gave up. Can anyone help?

I am told by viewers of the camera output that it produces a superior picture and sound. I replaced a less sophisticated Logitech model with this camera, and my Skype "viewers" are very enthusiastic about the results.