Logitech QuickCam Messenger WebCam

by Logitech

Product Details

Supplementary Guide [257kb PDF]

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Data Sheet [65kb PDF]

• Item Weight: 1.9 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00006OLCT
• Item model number: 961237-0403
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (76 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: November 12, 2002

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

From the Manufacturer Now you can make instant messages, emails, and websites come alive by adding live video and audio quickly, easily, and affordably. The Logitech QuickCam Messenger offers everything you need in a web camera: ease of use, quality video, a built-in microphone, and all the software you need to transform your home PC into a budget video communication studio.

QuickCam lets you add LIVE video to your instant messenger service. It's fun and easy to show friends and family your smile while instant messaging.

Product Features Add live video to your favorite instant messenger: MSN Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), Yahoo! Messenger, and Windows Messenger Send live video to mobile phones with Logitech Mobile Video Capture sound with the built-in microphone E-mail videos and photos easily Broadcast live video, email video and photos, and create web albums E-mail videos & photos quickly One click lets you send video e-mail and photo as easily as you send text - even with AOL. No camera is required at the other end - whether it's a Mac or PC! Chat face-to-face online Video-chat with your best friend or relative using your instant messenger service. The built-in mic lets you express yourself.

Get closer... instantly Add live video to your favorite instant messenger: MSN Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), Yahoo! Messenger, and Windows Messenger Make live video calls Shoot high-quality videos and photos at up to 640x480 resolution. E-mail video and photos easily Video-chat online using Windows Messenger or Microsoft NetMeeting Speak your mind with the built-in microphone Add video to your eBay auctions with Logitech VideoSnap Create web albums, broadcast live video and audio, and set up a webcam Connect quickly and easily with USB cable 2-year limited hardware warranty Product Specifications Video capture: Up to 640 x 480 pixels Still image capture: Up to 640 x 480 pixels Frame rate: Up to 30 frames per second (with recommended system)

Integrated Software

• One-click video e-mail software
• Video broadcasting software
• Web album creator software
• Web camera software

Extra Software

• Free software updates with news and the latest features
• Add video to your eBay Auctions with SpotLife VideoSnap

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

113 of 117 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great low-cost webcam, July 28, 2003

By 

Gadgester "No Time, No Money" (Mother Earth) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Logitech QuickCam Messenger WebCam (Personal Computers)

The QuickCam Messenger is one little webcam that is totally affordable and works great. The resolution is 640x480, although the native resolution captured by the chip seems lower as at the maximum image quality is not what you'd expect from a true VGA digital camera. But that's ok. I usually run the QuickCam at a lower resolution, to improve framerate over my DSL connection. What's cool about this model is it has a built-in microphone, so you don't need to fumble with an external mic if your PC doesn't already have one built-in. (Tip: wear headset to avoid audio feedback into the mic, which will confuse the heck out of your chat companion!)

The webcam captures decent colors. The key is to have good ambient lighting: place a light behind the camera, not behind yourself! Also don't use a strong light source; something soft works best. The camera provides auto-white balance as well as auto exposure. Focus, however, is not automatic, so you need to manually turn the focus ring to get the sharpest picture of yourself. You can also snap still images of yourself, if that's what you are into.

If you run Windows XP, you don't need to install any driver. Just plug in the QuickCam Messenger, and fire up the latest version of MSN Messenger (version 6), which was compiled to work great with Logitech webcams, thanks to some marketing agreement between Microsoft and Logitech. You can also use Yahoo Messenger, but the new MSN Messenger has better video chat than Yahoo's offering. For AOL's instant messenging program, you'll need to install a utility on the companion CD-ROM. I haven't tried it since I don't use AIM, so can't comment on its quality.

For other flavors of Windows -- Win 2000, ME or 98 -- install the companion software first before you plug in the QuickCam Messenger. The installer will tell you went to plug the webcam into the USB port.

In short, this webcam gives decent image quality (esp. considering the price, before or after rebate) and has the nice touch of a built-in mic. The downside is no auto focus and so-so image quality.

Note: There's no support for Macintosh. If you use a Mac, get a Windows XP PC, or you can probably use Virtual PC 6 to make it work.

71 of 78 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great All-In-One, November 6, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Logitech QuickCam Messenger WebCam (Personal Computers)

I just received this webcam yesterday and in less than ten minutes had it set up on each of my two computers (one with Win2000 Prof- Dell Latitude C610 and the other with XP Home-Dell 4400).

The installation of the software is easy, though I would suggest the custom install for those who know a bit about what programs they want and don't want loaded.

The picture is fantastic, particularly if you have a bright light or window behind you! The focus ring works well to adjust to different preferred distances from the webcam.

The software suite is easy and intuitive to use. Create an .avi movie file with sound by selecting the button and clicking start. To send it to someone simply right-click your resulting file to find the 'email' option. The built in auto-compressor is a nice feature bringing the 2Mb movie to a 60K size for sending that all but the most full email accounts can receive. It took me less than 3 minutes to send a friend a 10sec movie note.

For less than $35 including the mail-in rebate, considering it's ease of use and clear picture, it's probably your best deal on a webcam/mic/camera all-in-one.

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars All right webcam, but, January 24, 2004

By 

my_view "my_view" (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Logitech QuickCam Messenger WebCam (Personal Computers)

Got this webcam today and set it up in office (bright light condition) and I cannot see much differences in video quality vs. QuickCam Pro 4000. But the similarity ends when this webcam gets home, at home's lighting condition, QuickCam Messenger cannot compete with the QuickCam Pro 4000 in video quality, not even close. (by the way, both Messenger and Pro 4000's still picture quality are pretty poor and personally, I don't care for the still picture quality since I can use a digi camera to take a picture). The CCD in QuickCam Pro 4000 really shines in low light condition. (QuickCam Messenger uses CMOS)

So, in bright light condition and all you need is just a little video in IM chatting, you might get away with this QuickCam Messenger, but for all the others, will be better off with the QuickCam Pro 4000.

All after all, this is the first time I can compare side by side with 2 webcam using different technologies (CCD vs. CMOS) and obviously, you get what you paid for. :)

My advice will be go for the QuickCam Pro 4000 or the recently introduced Orbit, but of course, more expansive. Good luck in searching for the new webcam.