If you’ve ever tried to use a cheap and nasty webcam over the internet before, you’ll probably notice your time isn't worth all the hassles of dealing with poor lighting and dull images.
The rule of thumb with webcams these days is to buy a cam with a quality lens. The S7500 is the third best quality webcam that Logitech currently offers in to consumers.
Performance and specsThe Logitech QuickCam S7500 feels light years ahead of most webcams on the market. For starters, it contains a handy feature known as
‘Rightlight 2 technology’, which is basically marketing speak for better lighting conditions. In dimly lit areas, the S7500 compensates for poorly backlit spaces with ease. We tested it in a range of lighting conditions and found the lens delivered on its Rightlight tech promise with no problems.
The image captured by the 1.3MP glass sensor is made by Carl Zeuss optics, one of Europe’s leading lens manufacturers and leaders in digital photographic equipment.
It will even handle 5MP photos, but uses software to perform this feat, so don’t expect overly good quality snaps.
An
‘Ultra wide angle’ lens enables greater depth of vision in the room, and a built-in mic with noise cancellation is a handy sound alternative, even though we wouldn’t recommend you throw out your microphone. It’s probably a better backup than replacement.
Though there’s no automated focus, but the manual fine tuning wheel on the side of the webcam does the job well. The lack of a motorised lens following your every move is fine whilst you're not moving and swaying your head around in silly circles.
The
Build quality is excellent. It clings onto monitors with ease, thanks to a brilliantly designed rubber pivot that feels solidly constructed.
How much?$99
Any Clever tricks?The supplied software CD allows you to turn webcam images into fun filters, face filters and wild cartoony avatars, software that works by sampling the lines and contours of your face to produce your very own animated alter ego. The kids should go nuts over this feature.
How does it fare with the competiton?The S7500 lacks two of the more advanced features that currently exist within the more expensive models available acorss the Logitech webcam family tree: Mechanised tracking (Quickcam Sphere AF)and the very useful autofocus lens system (Quickcam Pro 9000), two features that could of made the S7500 a solid winner.
OverallAs an upgrade from $20 webcam cheapies, the S7500 will give you much improved image quality. It's not the most advanced Webcam on the market, but it's certainly no slouch in the quality department.
