Customer Reviews

Logitech 720p Webcam C510

5 star:		(113)
4 star:		(52)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

My wife's family lives in Europe so we spend lots of time on Skype - especially since we have a 4 month old baby. Our Acer laptop has an OK webcam built in, but I wanted my mother-in-law to feel "almost there" when she was seeing her granddaughter. So I researched HD webcams looking for the sweet spot between price, portability and quality. The C510 hits the mark. It is reasonable in price and is very compact with a nifty storage case for when we are just using the built in webcam.

Initially, I was dissapointed when there was no noticable increase in video quality while Skyping. I soon learned that the problem was not with the webcam itself, but with my research (and Skype). Currently, this camera will not work as an HD Skype camera. If you want that, you need to buy a webcam with a built in HD encoder, which are more expensive. Otherwise, Skype will be a low-def experience. I don't understand why Skype has this requirement when so few webcams have an encoder. I suspect that as more and more HD cams hit the market, we will see Skype change its restrictive policy.

Fortunately, the solution is easy. If you want full 720p HD video chats, look no farther than the Logitech C510 installation disc. Logitech was smart enough to create a very simple, yet high quality video chat program called HD Vid. Once you install it, you send an invite through the program to anyone who you want to chat with. They simply accept and auto intall the software on their computer and you are in business. They don't even need to have a HD webcam. They will still see you in HD, while you will see them in standard-def. And if they don't have a webcam, they can still see you in HD, while you will hear them - so this program is very compatible and much easier than anything else I have used. My 80 year old dad even installed it when he accepted my invite, not that he knew at the time. And he was thrilled to see us in HD the next time I called.

So all in all, this is a good buy and the software is heads above Skype in regards to video quality and simplicity. In fairness, Skype does much more beyond video chats, but if you don't need the added features, the included HD Vid software is a huge value added feature that comes with this camera. Sweet!

I recommend this webcam, especially with the bundled software. It's a great set up for a great price.

Logitech HD Webcam C510 with 720p Video and Swivel Design ...
Logitech has really done something amazing with this webcam. running on a windows 7 machine I had this webcam installed in 5 minutes and was able to use skype and all my other applications with no hiccup. the lighting adjuster on the webcam works great not matter what kind of light you are in and the built in microphone is great with auto adjusting the volume, had no problems with feedback from my surround sound speakers also. This is a great buy no matter what you are in the market for. The HD video on this web cam lives up to the promises. Quick auto focusing, good image quality in low light, very good frame rates at 720P and below, works out of the box in Ubuntu 10.04 LTS (64-bit) without installing anything else, clever stand that works on the desk or on a monitor or lap top, decent cable length too. Not like the Logitech C910 USB 2.0 1080p HD Pro Webcam, that has Poor frame rates at 1080P resolution, base is not heavy enough so it moves easily, software takes a long time to install in Windows, software is annoying in Windows (pop-up, starting at boot, registration prompts, etc.), audio quality is not very good. Stay with the Logitech HD Webcam C510 with 720p.

I have had logitech webcams for the past 8 years. In fact I've pretty much been using the same camera for the last 8 years. At one point I tried a Microsoft camera and was disappointed and always went back to my logitech. That being said, my logitech I had was really old, but it still works. So when I got the chance to try this camera out I jumped at it.

I have 2 computers at home that I use. One is a mac, this camera is NOT compatible with the mac initially. If you are technically inclined you can get the basic features of the camera to work, but this isn't supported or for the everyday user to try to do.

On the windows PC which is a supported system installing the camera and software is a breeze. I had the camera up and running in about 15 minutes.

I played with many of the features and wow has logitech come a long way in the webcam development. The software works great with Microsoft messenger; it says Skype although I haven't tried it there yet. The video quality while isn't true HD at 1080p, it is a 720p HD cam and you can really tell the difference in quality from this model versus one of the logitech cameras from the past.

Overall I am very happy with this camera. It is really easy to use, really easy to install and the quality of the camera and built-in microphone are phenomenal.

I am thinking of ordering a few more of these for my family to use so we can all keep in communication with eachother via video chats. With the simplicity of this thing I think even those in my family who have issues with basic computer functions can get this running with no trouble at all.

***UPDATE**** 6/25/2010

Since I use a windows computer at work I decided to bring this webcam in and hook it up to my work computer. I found in the list of app's this camera supports is a software app called "FastAccess." I had never heard of FastAccess before but downloaded the app through the Webcam's software interface and tried it out. Basically it allows facial recognition login to your computer. At work our computers have to be locked if we are not at our desks and I tend to forget to do this at times. Also, everytime you come back the "auto lock" feature they put on requires you to enter your password. With FastAccess and this camera you can now literally sit down at your computer and have your computer automatically log you in. I have it on "continuous security mode" so that if the camera doesn't see my face for 10 seconds in a row the computer will lock itself. Then as soon as my face is seen it unlocks automatically. No more keying in the 8+ character long passwords. This thing is making my life so much easier!! I will add the FastAccess is a free trial, as of the day I'm writing this you can buy a license for it for $25, something I will be doing since it works so well with this camera and is even integrated into the main software menu. Another thing FastAccess will do is auto log you into websites via facial recognition. So if you go to Gmail or eBay you can have the camera software detect the login form and automatically log you in without you having to push a button. Very nice especially for the internal web apps I use at work!

After exploring what all I can do with this camera at work I highly recommend it. Like I said I'm using the continious security mode where my face has to stay in the picture of the webcam, I was worried that the camera would not always recognize me, however it hasn't missed a beat yet. I can see the company implementing this technology as it will help secure everyone's computers.

This is a great quality camera and the software that it comes with and it supports is outstanding!!

Here is my take on the webcam.
The pros are
1.Excellent low light imaging particularly indoor.
2.Decent face tracking similar to Logitech orbit cam.
3.Easy plug and play compatibility with Win7 x64
4.Decent build quality
5.Portable and foldable.

Keep in mind that my point of reference/comparison is a Logitech orbit AF and an old Logitech quickcam and a pedestrian bestbuy inhouse branded webcam

The cons are minor quibbles and not really dealbreakers
The monitor stand contruction might need improvement. It is essentially a plastic hinge.I certainly would not mind if this had some sort of a spring/ clamp which could be tightened /placed firmly . While this makes it adequate for a desktop monitor, for a laptop screen particularly one with a narrow bezel, this might present issues with placement.

I purchased this item (Logitech C510) Logitech HD Webcam C510 with 720p Video and Swivel Design here on Amazon to replace a similar product from a different manufacturer.
I am a Linux user and I actively use Skype, empathy, ekiga Google Talk. I have many friends and family who are abroad.
Pros...
There was one reviewer that gave a positive review for Ubuntu. I can confirm it works equally well in Fedora 14 using the UVC driver. It is truly plug and play!
So far I have tested it with Skype, Empathy, Ekiga and Google Talk Plugin.
For Skype, Empathy and Ekiga it works flawlessly with the best video quality I have ever seen! Clarity, color balance and brightness were also as good as it gets for Linux.
The built in mic is recognized by Pulseaudio and have used it for both personal and conference calls.
It too is excellent. It is best to use an app like Skype or Ekiga with the mic portion as they offer echo cancellation.
The Mic portion worked well with Google Talk but video kept crashing, this is likely an issue with Google Talk (especially since I am using 64 bit Fedora and even 64 bit Windows users seem to be having issues with Google Talk.) No biggie! 3 out of 4 major video conferencing apps are not bad!

Cons...
As always in Linux if there are any specific features the driver offered does not usually allow for the same level of features but that is as much an application thing as well.

Other Considerations
I used Cheese to test the video resolutions and you can scale through a myriad of video resolutions including HD ones.

UPDATE!
Google updated its Gtalk plugin for Linux and I can confirm that Gtalk works great with this Camera as well, so now 4 for 4 major linux video conferencing apps confirmed (Ekiga, Empathy, Skype and Gtalk!)

I purchased this webcam so I could skype with my family, I'm currently in Afghanistan. My computer at home is running Ubuntu 10.4 Linux and this device was working by the time I got back to the keyboard after plugging it in. The sound quality is phenomenal. I can hear clearly the person sitting at the desk when they talk in a conversational tone. There have been a few times where the camera or the mic hasn't come up right away, but my wife has been able to figure it out, and she's not a computer person.

This camera is NOT SkypeHD compatible, despite what the box on it says and what Skype says on its site. This revelation is now obvious once you read the Logitech website, which clearly shows the c510 is NOT SKYPE HD COMPATIBLE. Logitech has now released the upgraded c525 model, which IS TRULY Skype HD compatible. So now that the c525 has come out, Logitech has quietly changed its documentation on its website to state that this c510 is NOT SKYPE HD COMPATIBLE, but the new c525 is.

Very, very frustrated because I purchased two of these cameras for Skype HD coversations. I feel as if I have wasted my money, and will attempt to take them back to Wal-Mart.

My new toshiba came with a built in piece of junk web cam. No matter what light I was in it was horrible. I decided to buy an external after receiving a $50.00 gift card. I searched and found this camera. It arrived and installed via the included disc - perfectly.

The camera is exceptional. It works in the harshest of lights - and is still clear and bright. I closed all the curtains, turned off the lights - and my dad's words were "WOW! Still bright and clear"

The full 360 swivel is very easy - and has great distance detail. The 8mp camera is also fantastic - taking wonderful pictures. If you are looking to shell down money for a cam - and want one you can depend on go with the Logitech C510 - you won't be disappointed

Length:: 1:54 Mins


5 month update (late January 2011): How much did I end up liking this webcam? Enough to buy two more..to supplement the built-in webcams for two laptops..even though they had integrated cameras.

Our family is currently adding Skype to all of our mobile computers (two laptops and a netbook) because of an imminent need to add VOIP to our long distance communications options. Unlike the mobile computers, my primary computer, a desktop, obviously did not have an integrated video capture capability.

The Logitech C510 was a surprisingly easy solution. Installation on a Windows 7 machine took approximately five minutes. It immediately recognized and became integrated with the existing Skype software (which can then be lauched either via the Skype program or from a Skype button on the webcam user interface). The folding base sits steadily in the edge of a flat panel monitor. In addition to readily capturing video, it has some other fine features:
-"face follow"; if your head moves within the camera's field of view, it will automatically adjust the tilt and pan settings to try and keep the subject framed in the picture.
-an integrated microphone.
-it works well in a variety of lighting conditions and even in relatively low indoor light.
-in addition to enabling online multimedia communications, it can capture video for editing, emailing or one-click posting to Facebook and YouTube.
-captures still images (8 megapixel resolution).
-motion activated recording (with our without included audio).

The user software is very intuitive, and also includes bundled masks and avatars. Although they don't add to the basic functionality, they are both silly and fun.

You can spend much less or much more on a webcam; this one is priced right considering its ease of use and wide array of features.

My wife needed a new webcam for her Sony VAIO which had to be compatible with Skype and YIM. I checked around for a compatible camera and found this one.

First, the picture is stunning. At 720P, you can see almost every facial detail in video calls. Throw away your old webcam if you have one that's not HD. Its pretty much worthless.

Second, it's very compact and easy to put away. No pointy nubs after folding away and the lens is well protected.

For the pricepoint, it is well worth the money!