Webcams had a heyday in the mid-2010s for streaming, applications like Skype, and plenty of other purposes. Nowadays, sta𒊎ndalone webcams are less common as most laptops have a decent-quality camera built in. But there are still plenty of reasons to have an independent webcam, especially for streaming or work-from-home purposes.

Whatever your reason for wanting a webcam, there are countless examples on the market. There are a few brands that are more well-known in the industry, like Logitech, but they're far from the only option you'll have during your search. Here are our picks for the best traditional webcams you can find in 2024.

Our choice for the best overall webcam doesn't come from having the most pristine capture quality or being overloaded with a plethora of features. Instead, we're choosing the Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920 for a variety of excellent perks coming together. The greatest selling point is the price, which starts competitively and becomes more alluring during Logitech's frequent sales.

This webcam captures in 1080P resolution, but frankly, that'll be the case for most modern webcams. However, this microphone also includes a built-in microphone that records in stereo, allowing you to cross a microphone off your shopping list. That said, the microphone isn't professional quality. You may want 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:a dedicated microphone if you'll be using voice features regularly.

If you're getting into streaming or intend to record footage, lighting is an important and often-overlooked factor. There are professional independent lighting options, but if you don't have the room, budget, or desire to fit such things into your setup, the Razer Kiyo is an excellent substitution. With 1080P capture and a good price, it's as good as any other option based on these merits.

The Razer Kiyo's main feature that sets it apart is its included ring light. This ring light is adjustable and can help your video capture pop without needing to bother with the hassle and purchase of standalone lights. Still, this ring light isn't quite as effective as a 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:full lighting setup, so if you already have lights, this feature is🎃 somewhat redundant.

Logitech reigns supreme where most peripherals are being discussed, particularly if you favor slim, streamlined, minimalist aesthetics. Their line of webcams has long led the industry, and with products like the C922x, it's not hard to see why. This webcam's features are streamlined to only be what's necessary, which helps remove redundant features you might not use.

The C922x is solely a webcam, which means you'll miss out on features that other webcams include, like built-in microphones, ring lights, and some other options. However, it also means that you're using a product without any extra bells and whistles, letting you have precisely what you need with no unused traits. Adjustable between 720p and 1080p, this competitively-priced webcam will give you the functionality you need.

What if you want a webcam that's laden with enough features to offer any functionality you could desire? In that case, the Angetube Streaming Webcam is an unbeatable option on the market. With an adjustable built-in ring light, you can replace some or even all of your lighting. Despite its many features, this is also one of the most affordable cameras on the market, especially when its bells and whistles are counted.

The camera lens also has an adjustable zoom, helping you to hone in on the perfect angle for recording or streaming. Additionally, a modifiable field-of-vision setting can help you cut out parts of the background you don't want. The only downside is that many of these features are rendered obsolete with some accessories, like standalone lighting or a backdrop.

If you don't intend to use your webcam often, or if the purposes you're using it for aren't crucial, you may not want to purchase a top-of-the-line webcam. In that case, Logitech's C270 is unbeatable in price. While it's limited in features and functionality, it costs about the same as most professional mousepads, making it unignorable as an option on a budget.

It's also streamlined, working only as a webcam with no other features to bother with. As far as using it goes, simply plug it in and go. But its cost comes with a few downsides, such as a somewhat clunky appearance. It also caps out at a 720p resolution. While a 1080p resolution option is available, it increases the price to the territory of having much better webcams as competition.

Not everyone needs a webcam to be able to handle streaming or to fit into a perfect gaming setup. If you need a webcam that's good for professional applications without the extra features, the EMEET SmartCam C960 is a good professional webcam.

This webcam comes with two microphones to help provide a 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:better audio quality than most webcams with built-in microphones. You should run an audio test to see if it's something you'd like to have replace your mic, but it suffices for most purposes. Otherwise, this webcam provides the standard 1080p quality at a price that's more competitive than most of the webcams on the market.

For an option meant for professional recording, we recommend the Elgato Facecam. E﷽lgato is known for a variety of capture hardware, with capture cards being their most known product. In the webcam industry, their Facecam provides video quality, befitting a recording studio.

The Elgato Facecam is optimized for indoor use regardless of the lighting, so you won't have to worry about external lighting. Using Advanced Light Correction, this traditional webcam has DSLR-like control. With its Advanced Image Engine, it captures video without compression artifacts, keeping your recorded content pristine. Its only true drawback is that it's significantly more expensive than most webcams - and this is Elgato's cheaper option. Consider the Elgato Facecam Pro if budget isn't an issue!

FAQ

Are Standalone Webcams Better Than Built-In Webcams?

Laptops with built-in webcams have come a long way. most new laptops have webcams that provide a studio-like quality that you won't need a standalone webcam to beat. However, these webcams are also generally featureless, making standalone traditional webcams still a worthwhile investment. If there are some features you want, such as a built-in ring light, an external camera is necessary.

Should I Use A Webcam Or A DSLR?

A professional setup may include a Digital Single-Lens Reflex camera, or DSLR. These cameras are much higher quality than the average webcam. But the trade-off is that they're significantly more expensive and often need special software to use as a webcam. If you have a spare DSLR lying around, learning how to use it as a webcam is worth your time. If not, we don't recommend buying one solely for use as a webcam.

How Expensive Are Webcams?

Webcam prices vary dramatically. The cheapest webcams come in for less than most options for a mouse, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:mechanical keyboard, or even a desk pad. The most expensive options will run you a couple of hundred dollars. If you've started touching the $250+ mark, you might be looking at a webcam that's unnecessarily high-quality for a non-professional application.