Comparison Logitech PTZ Pro Camera vs Logitech BCC950 ConferenceCam

The number of megapixels in the matrix that the camera is equipped with, in other words, the native resolution of the matrix. First of all, the maximum photo size directly depends on this indicator: for example, a 1600x1200 frame requires at least 1600 * 1200 = 1,920,000 pixels ≈ 2 MP. With video, the situation is somewhat different, where the actual resolution of the matrix can be noticeably higher than required for the frame.

There is an opinion that the more megapixels, the better the image is obtained. Formally, this is not the case: the resolution of the sensor only affects the detail, and in itself numerous megapixels can even worsen the picture — especially if the matrix is small. However, in fact, high-resolution sensors are often installed in fairly advanced cameras, in which high image quality is achieved through a number of characteristics.

The viewing angle determines, first of all, how wide the field of view of the camera is, what area of the scene being shot falls into the frame. Accordingly, a wide viewing angle allows you to capture more space and the lower the likelihood that something of what is happening will be behind the scenes. On the other hand, it should be taken into account that a strong increase in viewing angles leads to distortions of the “picture”, especially at the edges, as well as to a decrease in the size of visible objects and a decrease in detail.

— Face scanner (FaceID / Windows Hello). A specialized scanner for facial recognition. Note that this is not just about “recognition from a photograph”, but about a full-fledged three-dimensional scanning using a special IR sensor. This allows very accurate and reliable recognition to be achieved. And thanks to advanced algorithms, accuracy is maintained even when facial hair changes, putting on and taking off glasses, and other similar changes. As for the purpose, the face scanner is mainly used for user authentication — in the case of Windows it is Windows Hello, and for iOS devices it is FaceID.

— Quick capture button. A button similar to the capture button on cameras: when you press it, the webcam takes a picture and saves it to a dedicated folder. Thus, a minimum of effort is required from the user — literally one click on the button is enough to get a digital photo immediately stored on the computer. The quality of such shots is not high and this option is not able to replace a full-fledged digital camera, but it may well come in handy when speed or ease of taking a picture is important.

— Microphone. The presence of a built-in microphone allows you to use the camera not only to work with video, but also to transmit or record voice and other sounds. This is often more convenient and cheaper than buying and using a separate microphone. And the presen...ce of noise reduction allows you to make speech more clear by removing extraneous sounds from the air. Webcams with a noise-canceling microphone are primarily needed for professional use when you need a clear transmission of words — for online lessons, video conferences, etc.

— Speaker. The presence of a speakerphone will allow you to communicate with the interlocutor without the use of additional accessories (headphones, speakers). Actual is in models for conferences. However, the sound quality and volume can be mediocre.

— Motion detector. A feature that allows the camera to respond to movement in the frame. Most often used to automatically start recording or broadcasting if a moving object appears in the field of view. However, this function is not very common — it is convenient mainly for surveillance systems, and webcams are rarely used in such systems (it is more convenient to use specialized cameras in them).

— Night shot. The ability to use the camera at night, in low light. The specific implementation and capabilities of this feature may vary. So, some models use a highly sensitive sensor that can work effectively in low light; in other models, IR illumination is installed, invisible to the human eye, but perfectly perceived by the sensor. These nuances should be clarified in each case separately. However, it is also worth noting that webcams are rarely used in twilight or darkness, and even in such situations it is more reasonable to use regular backlighting (see below): it preserves the colours in the image, while shooting at night usually gives a black and white picture. .

— Backlight. Own lighting system built right into the camera — usually in the form of several LEDs. Designed for shooting in low light conditions; at the same time, in contrast to night shooting (see above), in this case, the illumination is carried out in the visible range. This allows you to keep the image in colour.

— Monitor mount. Mount for fixing a webcam on a computer monitor or laptop display. It is this arrangement that is most often optimal: for example, during a video call, it will give the impression that the user is looking at the interlocutor, although in fact his gaze may be directed not at the camera, but at the screen. In addition, the camera installed on the monitor does not take up space on the table, and the risk of accidentally touching it is minimal.

— Tripod mount(1/4" thread). The presence of a 1/4" threaded socket on the camera body. It is this size that is standard for modern tripods and is used in most of these devices. So this feature allows you to mount the camera on a tripod without using adapters and other additional equipment.

— Protective curtain. A movable shutter with which you can cover the webcam lens. Such a device provides additional security, because your PC or laptop can be hacked and watched through the camera. In addition, the shutter protects the optics from various contaminants.

The presence of a remote control in the configuration of the camera allows you to control it from a distance. First of all, this is true in models for conferences and for TV.

Detachable cable design provides additional options for connecting a WEB-camera: the bundled cord can be changed to a longer or shorter one. Also , the detachable cable is very convenient for storage and transportation.

The built-in cable is always in place - you can lose it only with the WEB-camera itself. On the other hand, a fixed wire cannot be quickly replaced with another one (for example, a longer one); and if it is damaged, you will have to carry the WEB-camera for repair or change it entirely.

Additional connectors provided in the design of the webcam. This category often includes the RJ-45 network interface - this port is standardly used for wired connection of a webcam to computer networks. It can also be an HDMI video output, which provides the ability to connect the webcam to external screens (for example, to display images on a TV), video recording systems, video servers, video switches, etc. The Mini-Jack (3.5 mm) in the camera design is usually used to connect an external microphone - it will come in handy in cases where the capabilities of the built-in solution do not satisfy user requests for speech quality. There may be other connector options - these points need to be clarified separately.