Six years ago, in anticipation of my first son’s birth, I decided to invest some money in a good camcorder.  After carefully researching all of the available models, I finally settled on and purchased a Sony camcorder.  One of the main attractions of the Sony camcorder was the top-of-the-line Carl Zeiss lens.  Carl Zeiss has been world renowned for the amazing quality of their lenses for over 100 years.  Today, the Carl Zeiss Tessar lens is well known among professional photographers for its image definition and brilliance. 

On an unrelated note, people frequently ask me which webcam I recommend for their computers.  Most of these people want to be able to do quick video conferencing and let the grandparents wave crazily from 1000 miles away.  Typically, I give them all the same answer: unless you plan to spend hundreds of dollars on a camera, then any cheap webcam is just as good as another.  So, just buy the cheapest one you can find.

Well, I recently had a peanut butter in my chocolate moment.  While surfing the Logitech site looking for information about the Harmony remote, I stumbled upon (what was then) their upcoming line of web cameras.  These were unusual in that they would include Carl Zeiss lenses.  I was completely stunned by this discovery.  Never before had I found a consumer priced web camera with such a high quality lens.  I looked closer and found that the high quality Carl Zeiss lens was not the only advanced feature included.  Read past the break to find out how this camera fared. 

What’s In the Box:  In addition to the ultra-portable QuickCam Pro camera, you will also receive:

• eye level desktop stand 
• travel case
• software CD
• quick start guide

Quick Look: Before we get into the full review, let’s just take a quick look at the camera.  Looking at the camera, of course, the first thing you see on the face is that amazing Carl Zeiss lens with autofocus glass.  Just above the camera, you will notice a small slit.  That is the microphone, which I must say is extremely sensitive.  Above the Logitech logo is a small light which indicates whether the camera has been activated.  The button on top of the camera is the snapshot button, which we will take a closer look at later.   Finally, the notebook clip is on the back.  With this clip, the camera can be mounted on the top of your notebook screen or on the included stand. 

Setup and Installation: Setup and Installation of the camera is pretty easy.  First, just install the included software from the CD-ROM.  Do NOT plug in the camera until you are prompted to do so.  I will admit that I had a few problems with the drivers in Windows Vista.  Then again, I have problems with every piece of hardware I have installed in Windows Vista.  This was nothing a quick trip to the device manager could not resolve, and certainly was nothing to do with Logitech or their software.

Once you are prompted to do so, plug the camera into your USB slot.  You will then be walked through a wizard which will help you set up your speakers, microphone, and camera.  Once you have made it through this three-step wizard, then your camera should be optimized and ready for use.

Optics:  Any discussion of a camera simply must start and end at the lens.  This is, by far, the most important part of the camera, as it determines the resolution and quality of the pictures.  Frankly, everything else on a camera is just fluff and excess compared to the lens. 

As I mentioned, Logitech went straight for the best here with the Carl Zeiss optics.  This lens incorporates five elements ((1) aspheric lens, (2) aspheric lens, (3) doublet dens, (4) doublet dens, (5) Aspheric Lens), two of which are made from glass, to ensure the highest quality of sharpness and greatly reduced distortion.  Note that the two doublet lenses are fused together, enabling them to better focus light into the lens for maximum detail and minimal aberrations.

The Carl Zeiss lens also features autofocus and auto face tracking systems, which ensure that the camera is always directed where it needs to be, and focused accordingly (not on the wall behind you).  This will also help fight the generally hazy and out of focus videos which can often result from other web cameras.  This system works by initially focusing on the object in the center of the screen and continuously tracking their movements to keep them centered.

So, how does this autofocus/face tracking system work?  I have no freaking clue.  None whatsoever.  As far as I am concerned, it works by magic or tiny elves living inside the camera. 

Fortunately for all of us, Logitech shared their secrets with me.  Apparently, the autofocus system is based upon a voice coil motor and lens driver, both of which were specially designed for this camera.  Essentially, this is the same low power, but highly durable system that is used in cellphone cameras.  Without going into too much detail, this is considerably different from the Stepper system which is used in most digital cameras. 

Regardless of how it works, I was very impressed to find that it did work.  When I activated this setting, it utilized every trick in the photographic book (panning, titling, zooming, and focusing) to keep my smiling face focused and centered, no matter how hard I tried to outmanuever it.

Logitech did not stop with current technology, however.  Instead, they improved upon the voice coil motor used in this camera, optimizing it for a web camera design.

Image Quality: So, by now you are saying, OK.  Enough of the technical mumbo jumbo.  How is the picture quality? 

Let’s take a closer look at how this two megapixel camera actually works. 

The above picture was taken with the Logitech camera, using the optimized 2 Megapixel imaging system. 

This second picture was taken with a standard, mid-range web camera.

Can you see the obvious differences in clarity, and the color quality?  Not to mention the contrast.  I think these pictures pretty much speak for themselves.

In addition to the superb picture quality, the real purpose of the camera is to transmit video over the web.  How does it work there?  Fantastic.  The Logitech camera offers support for 720p HD quality streaming video. 

These screen captures show the obvious differences in quality between the two cameras.

This one was taken with my Logitech camera.

This one was taken with another web camera.

‘Nuff Said.

Rightlight 2 Technology: The amazing optics, however, are not the only feature that makes the images coming out of the Logitech camera so much better than other web cameras.  One of the best and most innovative features is the RightLight 2 Technology.  One thing you may have noticed in the above images, on other cameras, the image can appear silouted or distorted by the harsh and uneven light.  Not so with Logitech’s QuickCam Pro and its RightLight 2 technology.  To demonstrate this technology in use, I set up extremely harsh lighting conditions with low lightbehind me and no light in front of me.  I then set up two cameras side-by-side, the QuickCam Pro and another camera.  The QuickCam Pro is on the right.  The results, which you can see below, are obvious.

RightLight 2 utilizes sensors in the camera, as well as various features in the camera’s firmware to (and this may be an oversimplification) capture any available light, process it in the camera, and then reditribute it to the areas where it is most needed for the video.  As such, in the picture above, the Logitech shows a clear picture of my face with glare in the background, while the other camera (on the left) shows a clear picture of the background where the lightsource was located, but my face is silhouetted.   

RightLight can be activated automatically, or you can manually control the sensors.  Either way, you will end up with rich vibrant colors in some of the best looking videos you have ever produced.

RightSound Technology: Of course, in addition to video and imaging, web cameras much also be able to capture and reproduce sound.  If you have ever tried to conduct a video conference by typing in an instant messenger program, then you already know what I mean here.

Nonetheless, most cameras treat this as an after thought, with little regard for how the image will sound. I mean, hey, it is a camera after all.  The point is to capture video and images.  This has nothing to do with sound.  Right?…WRONG! 

Unlike most webcam manufacturers, Logitech recognizes the importance of sound quality with live video exchanges or other online communications.  Essentially, there are two primary problems associated with the sound in web cameras: feedback and echos.  Feedback occurs when the microphone is placed too close to the speaker, causing extraneous noises and distortion.

Echos occur when your microphone picks up sounds from the speaker and transmits itself again, causing the other party to hear the words they just spoke.  Both are frequent problems withe web cameras.  Both significantly decrease the experience of using a web camera.  And both are resolved with the Logitech RightSound Technology.

RightSound works by constantly analyzing the sound entering the microphone with Logitech’s acoustic echo cancellation algorithm.  This system identifies and eliminates repeated soundwaves.  Additionally, RightSound can be set to suppress unwanted background noises and feedback. These features allow you to carry on a normal and flexible conversation, without being tied to your computer by a headset or earphones.

QuickCam Control Panel and Software: Anytime your camera is in use, the QuickCam control panel will be open and available.  From here, you can control virtually every aspect of the camera.  There are five control buttons in the control panel:

• Launch QuickCapture
• Video Effects
• Privacy Shade
• Change Settings
• Select Video Communications Applications.

We can take a closer look at each of these options.  First, however, I should point out the two buttons on the bottom of the panel.  These will toggle your audio mute and video privacy shade at any time.

QuickCapture: QuickCapture is your main interface with the camera.  From here, you can take a photograph or film a video, and then review them in the gallery (which is the area below the main screen).  You can even choose to print or email photos directly from the QuickCapture gallery by selecting the buttons in the bottom right.

Video Effects: One of the most important things in a web camera (aside from the optics) is that it is fun to use.  Let’s face it.  Most of us are not out to make professional quality movies with our web cameras (though the quality on the Logitech is good enough that you probably could if you wanted to).  Instead, most of us are looking for a tool that will help us communicate with others.  And a big part of communication is just having fun. There are three really cool video effects you can use with this camera: filters, face accessories, and avatars.

Filters will apply a digital photographic filter to your images or video.  There are ten different filters built into the camera, so you can turn yourself into a neon image, a cartoon, or even a 1980’s era rock video.

Face Accessories are also pretty self explanatory.  These will place one of five built in accessories on top of the live video.  Choose from a goatee, arrow in your head, crown, pig’s nose, and cyborg head.  Face tracking software ensures that the accessory remains planted firmly in position, even if you move around while filming.  And if the five included accessories are not enough, head on over to Logitech’s website and choose from their library of hundreds of accessories.

By far, however, the fan favorite around here were the avatars.  Unlike face accessories, avatars do not place an image on top of the video of your face.  Instead, they completely replace the image on your camera with the avatar.  The camera includes five avatars (shark, cat, alien, Tyrannosaurus Rex, and pencil sketch).  For more, however, you can visit the Logitech download page where you will find dozens of additional avatars.

Of course, it would be no fun if avatars just sat on the screen, this would completely defeat the purpose of using video in the first place.  And Logitech is completely aware of that fact.  So, they included face tracking software which tracks 22 points on your face to ensure the avatar’s movements completely follow your own movements.  You open your mouth, the T-Rex opens its mouth.  You blink, the shark blinks. 

I did find that the face tracking software was a bit finicky.  You had to be positioned just right and have the correct light for it to work, but when it works it is one of the coolest features available for web cams.  It beats the pants off of my old web cam whose only features were the addition of background or foreground images.  I have never seen anything like this in a webcam before, and I loved it.

Privacy Shade:  The privacy shade is a handy accessory for those times when you need to take a break during the middle of a video.  Unlike most cameras which simply lower a piece of  black plastic in front of the lens, the Logitech creates a true privacy shade by transmitting a still photographic image rather than the video source from the camera.  There are three high resolution photos included which can be used as privacy shades, or you can select any photo on your computer to upload.

 Change Settings: This is the main control panel for your camera.  From here you can control virtually every aspect of the pictures, video, and audio being captured by the camera.  The settings are divided into five tabs:

• The first tab controls the webcam settings.  From here, you can control the zoom, pan and tilt, autofocus, and other camera settings.
• Next is the audio settings.  This tab allows you to control the microphone and speakers.  You can also run the autosetup wizard from here.
• Third is the Rightlight Settings.  This tab controls how your camera adjusts to the light in the room, utilizing the Rightlight technology.
• Fourth is an advanced settings tab.  I pretty much set this one to automatic and left it alone.
• Finally there is a tab for application preferences.  From here, you can tell your camera which video messaging tool you prefer, which email program you use, and where you prefer to store your photos and videos after you create them.

Choose Applications: This button allows you to download additional applications to use with your camera.  From here, you can find messaging applications, video calling, blogging/podcasting, editing tools, and more.  A lot of this feels like ads to me, but then again, I already have many of the programs included.  It would be a nice feature for someone who is new to video imaging to have access to these resources.  Additionally, once you have downloaded any of the programs listed, you can launch them straight from the QuickCam Control Panel. 

A lot of the tools included here were useful, and if you find it to be adware, then it is really pretty easy to avoid.  Then again, I probably did not need a tab allowing me to tell a friend about Logitech.  This tab, which let you purchase a Logitech QuickCam as a gift for someone or send them an email telling them about the QuickCam just seemed kind of silly to me.  I mean, let’s be honest.  I loved this camera, and I would probably recommend it highly to my friends, but I think including a menu item prompting me to email them right away was a bit of overkill.

Mounting: Once you have setup your new camera, you will need a place to mount it, in order to start capturing video.  With a desktop computer, this was always pretty simple.  You just mount the camera on top of your monitor and you are good to go.

With a laptop, this can be trickier.  It is difficult to find a space that is at eye level on which to mount the camera.  Logitech offers two solutions.  First, on the back of the camera is a large clip which fastens to the top of your laptop screen.  This simulates the effect of mounting it on top of your monitor, and ensures that it is right around eye level for perfect pictures.

Additionally, Logitech includes a stand which you can position on your desk for a more permanent solution.  Just clip the camera to the stand and you are ready to start filming.  I do wish the stand was adjustable, as it was a little short for my needs, but still a very nice touch in the package.

Case: When I tore open the packaging on this camera, the first question in my mind was does it include a case.  You see, this camera is designed for laptops, and I take my laptop almost everywhere.  So, in order to be useful to me, it had to be portable.  Nothing is worse than a laptop peripheral that will not travel with your computer. 

I knew, however, that if I just tossed the camera in my gear bag, the Carl Zeiss lens would probably be scratched.  As such, the camera required a case which would allow me to carry it without fear of damage. 

I was extremely pleased to find an extremely nice protective travel case.  The case was soft enough to fold flat when not in use, but firm enough to offer sufficient protection for my camera.  This was exactly what I needed.

While we are on the subject of portability, I do wish the USB cable had been detachable from the camera.  Now, I am sure that there is a reason, having to do with image quality, that the cable had to be hardwired to the camera, rather than a detachable mini-USB.  Nonetheless, it was difficult to pack for travel with the long USB cord dangling off the end.

Price: I do not normally discuss the price of hardware in my reviews, however, I felt I would be remiss if I did not immediately point out the pricetag on this one.  Logitech is practically giving them away for $99.99.  This is one of the most feature rich web cameras I have ever used, and includes the Carl Zeiss optics.  It is probably the best camera Logitech has to offer (let alone any of its competitors’ cameras), and it still costs under $100.  Logitech could probably have charged double that, and this camera would still be a bargain.

Conclusion: It is not often that you come across a product that completely realigns your view of the industry.  That, however, is exactly what the Logitech QuickCam Pro for Notebooks did for me.  Until now, my approach to consumer end web cameras was that one is as good as any other, so just buy the cheapest one you can find.  Not anymore.  The Logitech QuickCam Pro, with its Carl Zeiss lens, and 2 Megapixel imaging, simply shatters the competition.  Of course, that is on top of Logitech’s amazing and innovative features, such as Rightlight, Rightsound, face tracking technology, autofocus, video effects, and more.  So, the next time someone asks me which web camera to purchase with their next computer, don’t be surprised to hear me replace my typical, “go for the cheapest” with, “The Logitech QuickCam Pro is the only camera you need to look at.”  I think Carl Zeiss would be proud.

System Requirements: In order to properly use the camera and all included software and features, you will need a computer which meets the following system requirements:

• Windows 2000, XP, or Vista
• Pentium III 700 Mhz processor (or an equivalent AMD Athlon processor) — a P4 2.4 GHz or better processor is ideal.
• 128 MB RAM (256 MB is ideal)
• Sound card and speakers
• USB 2.0 High Speed port for megapixel image capturing.  USB 1.1 or higher for other activities.

Vital Stats:

Name: Logitech QuickCam Pro for Notebooks

Manufacturer: Logitech

Where to Buy: Logitech

Price: $99.99

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