Webcams

Most laptops and Macbooks come with a webcam built in, but they can leave video-chatters somewhat wanting in terms of performance and image quality. Newcomer Opal Camera has addressed such things with a small-but-powerful model called the Tadpole.

Logitech previewed a versatile "show and tell" take on the webcam a couple of months ago, designed to help content creators cover all the angles. Now the articulating Reach camera is taking the crowdfunding route to production.

Home or hybrid working has become the norm for many over the last few years, which inevitably involves video chatting with colleagues. Ahead of CES 2023, Lenovo has launched an all-in-one modular lamp to help fix some of the pain points.

Insta360 has launched an AI-powered 4K webcam called the Link that's been designed for the hybrid workforce or streaming content creators, particularly those who find it difficult to stay in one place during Zoom calls.

Computer tech giant Dell challenged itself to create a webcam that could deliver "DSLR-like image quality while being intelligent and easy-to-use." The UltraSharp Webcam is the result, a 4K videochat tool that promises to keep users in the frame.

It's easy for us to forget that our computers are equipped with "electronic eyes," potentially watching us at all times. Scientists are now exploring the dynamics of the relationship, with a creepy – but fully functional – human-eye-like webcam.

To make content creation, online meetings or virtual family visits less of a chore, Movo has squeezed a HD or 4K camera into the same unit as a quality microphone and light ring and launched a production bid on Kickstarter.

The current pandemic has seen an uptick in online video chats. You can use smartphones and laptops, but those who prefer quality webcams may find them out of stock. Jeff Geerling built his own using a Raspberry Pi Zero W and a HQ camera module.

Canon launched a beta Windows utility in April that allowed owners of some of its cameras to use them as high quality webcams, and now that software has come out of beta with support for more cameras and compatibility with popular webchat apps.

Sony follows Canon, Fujifilm, Panasonic, GoPro and Nikon to the "use your camera as a webcam" party with the release of the Imaging Edge Webcam utility, which supports 35 of its cameras and looks to be full release rather than beta.

As announced last month when the Z5 launched, Nikon has finally joined Canon, Fujifilm, Panasonic and GoPro in releasing beta webcam utility software that allows certain cameras in its range to be used as high quality webcams.

Chances are good that you've not been getting much use out of your Hero8 Black for the last few months. Now macOS users can put their actioncams to work as a webcam thanks to some beta software launched by GoPro.