Bulbs & Fittings Ideas

It is the perfect webcam for me – HD and works with Linux. If you are a windows person, you would need the C910 (c as in consumer versus b as in business). The c910 is the same hardware, but includes software for more money. The webcam works with Ubuntu without the consumer software.

First the good … This webcam has a great picture. The picture rates 5 stars. I bought this webcam for the Carl Zeiss lens, and it did not disappoint.

Second, the bad … The software that shipped doesn’t work at all for Win 7 64 bit. Even though the package and their website and the Windows website all said it would work with Win 7 64 bit, it doesn’t. The picture is filled with random lines of different colors, the Quickcam webcam recording and control software doesn’t install at all, even though the installation says it is succcessful.

I spent a several hours working on this, uninstalled and re-installed the package recomended on the win 7 compatibility site… read all the info on the Logitech site and their user’s forum but nothing worked. Since it was after 5PM PST on Sunday I couldn’t call their customer service so I don’t know how good or bad they are.

Finally, on a whim I went back to the Logitech site and installed the software for their 910C webcam. Guess what? It worked like it was supposed to. The Logitech C910 software incorrectly identified my PC as a 32 bit Win 7 machine even though it is Win 7 64 bit (the Logitech user forum is filled with this complaint) but it didn’t matter. Everything worked when I used their C910 software instead of the B910 software. I give their shipped B910 software, and the information they put out on their web site and to Microsoft zero stars.

Third, the mediocre… I found the mic in the webcam is unusable with computer speakers about 2 ft. away from the webcam on my computer desk. It feeds back at volumes too low to record. Unless I shouted, the quickcam software told me I had no mic. Any louder and the mic would feed back even with the speakers turned too low to hear.

Using sealed headphones instead of a speaker was better but the webcam mic still fed back and echoed like crazy at usable volumes. Setting the mic so it didn’t feed back produced audio that was barely loud enough to hear. I hooked up my own recording mic (through a pre-amp and mixer) on a desk stand and that works fine. The best I could rate the B910 webcam mic is 1 star with speakers and 2 stars with headphones, barely usable.

I don’t know how this webcam works with other operating systems, laptops, etc. My set up is a new HP tower running Win7 64 bit. But Logitech seemed to have abandoned support for this webcam for Win 7. One of the other reviewers claimed they needed to call Logitech but they didn’t mention the issue or how Logitech solved the problem. If you want a really good picture and are willing to supply your own mic and install other software than what is supplied if needed, then this is a good webcam for the money.

I just got it a couple days ago so I will follow up with more info here as I test it later.

I intentionally did NOT install any Logitec software at all.. and strictly wanted to use the Windows 7 64Bit internal drivers so there would be no potential conflicts. I also use a external Headset and Microphone and the combination works superb on Skype.. simply plugging in the webcam’s USB cable auto-loads the installed the internal Windows driver and the image was superb, and it allows for several options in the Skype Advanced setting dialogue box.

I am not 100% sure if it was broadcasting 1080p .. but am sure the Auto-focus feature in the camera works fine since i was able to get very close to Pill Bottles an read the prescriptions .. as well as back out and see the room clearly behind me..even in pretty low light at night. The image that I see of myself is much better that the MS 5000 Webcam I just gave to a friend for in exchange.

I need to call myself on the iPad and see if it is as clear there too.. my brother said it was great.. but what does he know (LoL).

One thing I was disappointed to find out tho is that you (or someone in your group) have to pay Skype in advance for 12 months of group Video Chat …and it can not include mobiles or iPad’s.. aargh. So I am going to try it with Google Plus’s Hangouts next, since it is free, and it does support group video with iPhones and Android devices (as well as PC’s like Skype does) but it does it for free..

By the way the heavy lead? folding clip at the base of the webcam is really easy to clip over the top of a LCD Monitor and is stable as heck..I like that too

Fun stuff.. i like it a lot so far.. hope you do too.. JimS