Comparison Logitech Rally Ultra HD PTZ ConferenceCam vs Logitech Brio

The purpose of the webcam is indicated by the type of equipment for which it is designed.

— For a computer. The classic, most common variety — in fact, webcams as a type of technology were originally created specifically for use with a PC. Usually, they have compact dimensions and a mount for fixing on the monitor, although other design options are also found.

— For conferences. A separate subtype of cameras, which are more applicable for conference rooms or other large rooms, when more than one person should be present in the frame. Such models stand out for their large size and connect to a TV, they may have a remote control and other functions for use at a remote distance (specifically depends on the model).

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.

Further, after HD 720p, the development of high definition standards. Provides a standard frame size of 1920x1080; in addition, this category includes webcams that support 1600x1200 video — this resolution does not formally apply to Full HD (1080p), but is comparable to it in detail. Anyway, cameras of this standard are quite advanced — in particular, they already allow showing documents and other objects with small details in the frame.

The most advanced format found in today's webcams: approximately double the frame size of Full HD on each side and four times the number of pixels. The most popular Ultra HD (4K) options for webcams are 3840x2160 and 4096x2160. Note that such models are not cheap, and the video itself puts forward rather high demands on the graphic part of the computer, not to mention the speed of communication when transferring to the Internet. Therefore, you should pay attention to this option only in cases where the maximum detail is crucial for you, and the computer and the communication channel are able to cope with it normally.

— 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.

Ways to connect a webcam to a computer.

– USB-A. A camera connection option that involves transmitting video and audio via a classic full-size USB-A connector. Note that such ports may belong to different versions (2.0, 3.2 gen1, 3.2 gen2), but they are quite compatible with each other. The higher the USB version, the faster the data is transferred, which provides an excellent quality picture in high frame resolution.

– USB type C. A noticeable advantage of USB type C over the classic USB-A connector is its double-sided design, which allows you to connect the plug to either side. In addition, this connector usually uses a USB 3.1 gen1 or 3.1 gen2 connection, thereby providing high data transfer speeds. This is important when conducting video conferences in Full HD resolutions and higher.

— USB + Mini-jack 3.5. In this option, a connection via a USB port is used to transmit the video stream from the webcam, and a 3.5 mm audio jack (a round socket with a diameter of 3.5 mm, also called Mini-jack) is used to transmit audio.

– HDMI. A universal, comprehensive interface for transmitting high-resolution video and multi-channel audio in digital format from a webcam. Data exchange is carried out over a single cable, which simplifies connecting the camera to a computer.

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.