Videophones are even in 2006 largely a no-show due to both phone line limitations and a little bit of vanity. However, with the widespread availability of high speed Internet via DSL or cable, webcams have their second Spring. Afterall, finally the video can be transmitted in good quality without choking. Last but not least, instant messaging has grown to include good video transmission and free offers like
Skype are responsible for a renaissance.
IN A NUTSHELL
"Raunchy" applications aside, webcams like the QuickCam Fusion are a great way for families and friends to stay in touch. In my case, the free service
Skype helps to bridge the 5000 miles to my family and the 1000 miles to my wife's family nicely. Sure, it's not a substitute for face time but nice nevertheless -- at least for those with high-speed Internet access and of course a computer. (That excludes often the older generations.)
The QuickCam Fusion is a great camera for LCD screens and mounts very easily and connects just as easy to the computer via USB (both video and sound). Special features like the low light boost help improve quality significantly but limits of digital cameras are still apparent. This is mostly due to two things, typically "dark" rooms and high compression rate to reduce bandwidth. With enough light, the QuickCam Fusion transmits an excellent picture for a webcam.
Sound quality is great, and with the right speaker configuration virtually free of feedback and echo. The lighted Logitech logo signalizes that the camera is broadcasting. The included QuickCam Assistant with the digital avatar is a neat demonstration of face tracking and a fun way to maintaining your privacy (i.e bad hair day). However, especially the face tracking requires enough light to recognize facial expressions.
At $99.- the QuickCam Fusion is not cheap, but innovative mounting and overall excellent features make the upgrade from lower-priced Logitech cameras worth the extra bucks. After all, it can currently be had for under $80 (Amazon.com) and that's a good price for that much camera.
DETAILS
Installation: [****-] As with most USB devices, the software (driver) needs to be installed first before connecting the camera. From there full usability is only a reboot and a short configuration away. (Afterall, the driver needs to know how you want it to work.) The included setup guides are almost not necessary, since the installation procedure walks you through the same steps. The camera can be placed on the table or preferably on top of an LCD screen to prevent the evil look up the nostrils. The flexible "stand" molds around pretty much any LCD screen, while the camera sits on a up-down pivot for optimum orientation.
Overall Picture quality: [*****] Despite the camera's "high native resolution" of 1.3 MPx, the transmitted video is limited to a maximum of 640x480 pixels. Still pictures taken on the desk, can be the full 1.3 MPx and even software interpolated to 4 MPx. The compression cannot be adjusted and is high enough to even let the native 1.3 MPx appear like an interpolated 640x480. The only argument against this theory is the relatively large file the QuickCam generates at the native resolution in JPEG (900kB for 1.3 MPx). The automatic white balance does a good job with consistant lighting (all light sources of the same type (i.e. fluorecent). Mixed spot lighting makes it impossible for the camera to decide which is right. However, if you tried webcams a few years ago, the QuickCam Fusion will surprise you with a sharp picture in bright light and a reasonable picture in relatively low light (i.e. Monitor as the only light source). Everything is relative, and it's no match for full-blown digital cameras, but a good fit for the application.
Low light performance: [****-] Insufficient light is the death for most digital cameras, or in fact a problem for all cameras (other than IR). The typical computer environment is dark and the resulting image often far from perfect. Logitech tries to address this issue with low light boost technology and does a good job. The difference to pictures taken under bright light is still big, but workable nevertheless. Many camera phones are worse! Compression artifacts and amplified noise degrade sharpness visibly, though the 1.3 MPx sensor allows to compensate for that and still return a very respectable 320x240 and even a good 640x480 picture under low light. (You will have to adjust white balance as under extreme conditions, the QuickCam has a tendency to render blueish tones especially when a incadecent light source is somewhere in the picture.)
Video performance: [****-] Most important for video conferences is the ability to generate a smooth video with no hesitation and compression level to minimize artifacts. The QuickCam Fusion does a good job in generating relatively smooth video if the object isn't moving too fast. Quick motions cause blur. That's most likely due to sensitivity restrictions (needed exposure time) and the chosen compression. If differences are too big between screens the picture degrades in those areas. Overall, it feels more like 20 fps under good lighting, but in most cases it's hardly noticeable since my family doesn't tend to jump a lot in front of the camera. The QuickCam supports AVI and WMV only, and does not take advantage of MPEG encoders as found in modern graphics cards. (Additional software is needed to convert into MPEG.)
Sound quality: [*****] The QuickCam Fusion provides an integrated microphone which is sensitive enough to allow for normal conversation without distortion. The feedback (or echo) is extremely low in the proposed configuration: Place camera (microphone) on top of monitor and have satellite speakers behind that (vertical) plane somewhere on the table. Obviously that works best with LCD screens and stereo speakers (i.e. JBL Creature 2.1). For audio systems with background speakers as most 5.1 would be, make sure to disable the rear speakers to minimize feedback. The included "wizzard" helps setting up proper audio volumes for both microphone and speakers. If that fails, the included headset (w/ microphone) allows to isolate input and output, but works only for one user. Another advantage of the headset is the use of the audio in- and outputs of your soundcard like the Soundblaster to increase quality and reduce CPU activity.
Tracking: [***--] Despite the lack of optical swivel or zoom in this camera, the QuickCam Fusion still allows to track faces by the "oversized" sensor to selectively show the portion that contains a face. Tracking works pretty good for single users and okay for multiple subjects. The limitations are set by the lens (wide angle) and used zoom level (interpolated), but overall working well for the relatively fixed position in front of a monitor.
Another type of tracking is the facial expression and used to animate virtual characters. This works reasonably well for bright light conditions and stops working once the light source is reduce to ambient light from a desk lamp and the emission from the monitor.
Compatibility: [***--] Logitech enjoys the hard-earned position to be widely established in many homes by virtue of its excellent keyboards, mouses, game pads and of course webcams. Hence the support of many applications is almost a given, especially since the QuickCam easily integrates in Windows (I am using XP). I have tried Y! Messenger, MSN Messenger and Skype. MSN and
Skype worked flawless with the QuickCam Fusion, but that's expected to be honest. Y! Messenger can be stubborn to setup to accept the QuickCam as the video source. In most cases it turned out that another application blocked the QuickCam since only one can access the camera at the same time. Anyway, my favorite application of those is Skype and despite the beta status of the video, it's a strong performer.
Surprise: [n/a] An unexpected problem arose from the driver (v9.5.0) which seemed to disable
EAX and almost all hardware acceleration of the Soundblaster X-Fi. Other sound cards may be affected to, though AC97 sound is typically CPU driven and therefore not affected. The problem shows typically in games only, like "Call of Duty 2" (EAX 3) and "Condemned: Criminal Origins" (EAX 2). Logitech responded that the QuickCam does not affect your PC's hardware in any way despite the fact that disabling the USB device for the QuickCam Fusion appeared to be the "fix". So I enabled it again and checked the only other software using this device. I found an option within
Skype "allow to change your sound settings" and disabled it. To my surprise, EAX is still available despite having the QuickCam Fusion enabled and working. (I guess Logitech had a point.)
© 2006, theuerkorn
