Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000

Cool Yule rating: 5 stars

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Cool Yule rating: 5 stars

Price: $74.18 (Amazon.com), $99.99 (logitech.com)

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Description: The Logitech QuickCam Pro9000 is one of the best Webcams I've tried. With an easy setup, good video quality and advanced features, this is an advanced Webcam that isn't as complicated as it appears to be.

The Webcam includes Logitech's LiteRight technology, which adjusts to the existing light in the room to create the best picture available. With other Webcams we'd have to switch on every light bulb in the room, but the QuickCam Pro 9000 was able to "shine its way through" with just a single dim light bulb in the corner and behind my desktop's monitor.

Like other Webcams, the Pro 9000 lets you take still pictures and record videos. The camera snaps photos with a noticeable "shutter drop" sound, and if you have your speakers turned up high, it can easily distract your subjects. Video quality is pretty good, and the built-in microphone could capture the sound of the TV in the living room upstairs. The camera can also upload videos to YouTube as soon as you shoot them, so you can provide instant commentary to things if you want (no editing and separate upload needed).

An advanced feature is the Video Effects function, which lets you choose "face accessories" to overlay your face in the Webcam window. This requires brighter lighting, but once enabled it's a lot of fun. I also liked the privacy shade feature, which blocks images broadcast by the Webcam, using a still image (you can choose from a list or pick your own from photos on your computer). This saves the trouble of re-establishing a video connection if you have to leave midway during a video conversation.

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