Customer Reviews

Logitech QuickCam Pro for Notebooks (USB)

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This camera takes excellent pictures (1280x960 stills and 640x480 video) even in low light where my other cameras have had problems.

It hooks over the top of the laptop screen and is held there by its own weight. This is a bit of a problem since mine often doesn't sit level and moves around if the cable (30" USB) gets moved. It says it will work with any laptop but the mounting won't acommodate the thickness of my Toshiba Tablet PC when it is in the tablet configuration. There is no provision for attaching a base or tripod so this is really a notebook (or flat screen) only camera. Overall the mounting system could be improved.

The mount folds into the metal camera shell and a flap covers the lense to protect it in transport. It even comes with a plastic clamshell case that the camera sits in with the cable wound around it. A nice touch.

There is some included software that looks nice but you need to download a third party codec for an additional $15 that you don't learn about until you try to use the software. This needs to be factored into the overall cost of the camera.

This is definately a camera you should consider of you travel with a notebook computer. I would buy it again.

Compatible with Windows XP and iSpQ 6.0.

I have tested about 30 USB cameras for use on PCs running videoconferencing software, because that's what I do for a living.
This camera hits all the hot buttons. And virtually no other camera I have tested had done as well, except a few other Logitechs, and some Firewire cameras that are much more expensive.

I used it on a Windows XP Pro SP1 laptop.

1. Full 30 frames per second live video in normal room light

2. Easy to install, doesn't screw up other installed media software products after you install it.

3. Slim, light, elegant, especially for laptop use because it was designed to hang on the back of a laptop lid. Other people have complained that it's flimsy and awkward to stand up on its own if you aren't using a laptop. I disagree. I've had it for more than a year, and it's as perfect as the day I got it. What's more, our company has used dozens of these on employees' computers, and customers' computers, and not one has failed or broken. The trick to standing it up on its own for a desktop computer is to flip open the little carrying box that comes with it, and sit the camera inside that box like a base. Then, it will happily sit on top of you monitor with no problem. This isn't obvious, nor am I even sure Logitech intended it, but it does work.

4. Picture quality and color balance are excellent, especially for a USB camera.

5. Low CPU load. Maybe a lot of you don't look at this, but it's important. This camera will do a live 352x288 pixel, 30 frame-per-second capture using only about 18% of my 2.4 GHz P4 laptop. Most other cameras, especially the Creative and most USB 2.0 cameras, sap the machine to the tune of 50-70% to do the same job.

6. The built-in mic works very well, but it's a little "hot" for my taste. You'll just need to adjust your mic volume down in the 15%-20% range for this camera.

7. Focus ring is smooth and easy to operate, unlike lots of USB cams where the focus ring is an awkward rubber sticky thing that's impossible to turn (or they have no focus adjustment at all!)

8. Works with every single video capture/editing/conferencing application I have ever tried, bar none, and that would be at least 20 different products from videoconferencing apps, to capture apps like VidCap32 and AMCAP, to video editing tools like MainActor.

In short, for $80, you are not going to find an easier-to-use, more reliable, better-quality camera.
I have some $150 firewire models (like the Orange Micro iBot Firewire Pro) that might have a slight edge on this one, but not much, and they aren't nearly as easy to carry, setup, or use.
The Logitech QuickCam Pro 4000 (desktop model) is also an excellent camera, but I'd actually have to give the notebook model the nod for a bit better video quality.

This little baby is great (and I do mean little)! The picture is clear as a bell and setup was painless. We wanted them so while my wife was in AZ for 5 weeks training for her new job, our kids would be able to see her each night, using the included Yahoo video messenger program. I liked the design so much, we purchased a second one for our home computer, even though it is not a notebook. I just set it up using a picture frame, on top of our monitor. We had read the Logitech 4000 (the desktop version which had been our first choice for the second webcam) had a flimsy design, so rather than fight that issue, we just decided to stick with the notebook version.....no regrets yet!!!!!

I've used this web cam for more than a year when I trave . It's perfect for the task, fitting into a small mesh bag with a boom mike headset. The supplied case protects it well.

In use, the supplied mounting is a bit of genius: it will hang happily and steadily from the several laptops I've used it with. Learning the technique of mounting it correctly may take a few moments to master. You are essentially seeeking the web cam's center of gravity. Judging from some of the reviews here it would seem some did not grasp that essential concept.

Image quality is good. Certainly not less than I would expect - but not anything more either.

For stationary user there are better choices. For the traveller, however, this is the best I've found.

Jerry

I purchased both, the 4000Pro and the Notebook Pro. The Notebook pro has great picture quality (even better than the 4000Pro, the desktop version). The only flimsy design is in the stand. Logitech could have come up with a better design for the stand, perhaps it should include an adaptor to make it work with tablet PCs, and a stand to place the camera on a flat surface. Otherwise it is a great buy.

This camera is wonderfully light and small, yet still has great visual capabilities. The only problem that I am experiencing is the supports used to mount it on the lap top are weak and seldom keep the camera stable/steady...which causes much confusion on the viewers end and frustration on my end of things!

This camera is a wonderful product, taking great quality pics and video. As others have mentioned the mounting system is extreemly clumsy and the camera easiy knocked off the screen if the usb cord is snagged (try using a mouse and not getting the cord tangled with the usb cable).

My solution? Ditch the stupid folding clip and stick a spot of velcro on the back of the cam and on the case of my laptop screen. Now it wont be pulled off so easily. If only Logitech made a bluetooth version, the tangling cord problem would be solved...

I moved from England to America and wanted to keep in contact with my family. The Logitech QuickCam has been great. It is really easy to set up, and the quality is not bad. I love the carry case, and the whole thing is small enough to travel around with me. Definitely a good purchase and at a competative price.

Just the usual complain. Wish it would attach better to the laptop and have some sort of clasp, rather than hanging by those plastic hooks. And needs to have some sort of stable stand as well for flat surfaces.

Otherwise, technically speaking, it's great! Captures images beautifully, doesn't need external power thereby reducing number of cables.

Bought this after much research and looking at reviews on this board. Everything installed easy, no hang-ups and works great with microsft IM. The quality is great - even with just the glow of your monitor.

Some people have mentioned difficulty with getting it to attach on the screen - it's not a problem. I think those people didn't look at the directions (and image) of how to attach it. You don't rest it directly on top - it actually sits back off the screen about an inch while the two legs latch over the top of the monitor....