Cowboy Frank's Webcam Reviews

First posted Nov 2002 Last update May 9, 2009

I am a private citizen, not a professional magazine reviewer. The webcam section of my site now receives more than 50,000 visits a month. These webcams are just a small part of my life. Other portions of this site, along with the numerous other sites I manage, take up most of my time. I post these pages as a service to you, my readers. I no longer have the time to answer requests for which camera is best for your purpose, or for technical help with your webcam problem. You will just have to read my reviews and help pages, then make your own decisions. Many of the webcam related e-mails I receive ask questions that are already answered on these pages. If you ask any of these questions you will not receive a reply. I do appreciate compliments, suggestions and even criticism. I will continue to review new webcams and to update pages as I can. I do appreciate and read all e-mails I receive, but unless your message contains some new and fascinating use of a webcam, you probably will not receive more than a brief reply, if any. I just don't have the time. Some of the above photos by my good friend Adam Kirkpatrick

IgraCowboy@CowboyFrank.net

Camera Reviews & Reference Pages May-09-2009 Camera Reviews what it's all about. Nov-28-2008 Lighting Comparisons for currently available cameras. Dec-19-2008 How Wide an angle will a camera show? USB 2 cameras Apr-17-2008 About My Lighting how it is set up Apr-17-2008 Webcam FAQ look here before e-mailing me. Apr-17-2008 Frames Per Second what to expect Apr-17-2008 Wireless Cameras why I don't review them. Jan-04-2009 USB Video Class and Mac Compatibility   Instructional Pages Apr-24-2009 How To Set Up A WebCam what are the options? Aug-07-2008 Fairly Easy Streaming Camera or Internet radio station Apr-17-2008 Lighting for your WebCam some suggestions Dec-25-2008 Dynamic DNS Service point people to your computer Apr-17-2008 USB 1-2 Questions and info Apr-17-2008 How Fast a computer and connection do you need? Apr-17-2008 How Big will my camera files be? Apr-17-2008 CCD vs. CMOS: Facts and Fiction   Related Reference Information Jul-26-2008 Blog on Circuit City Why the company is dying Apr-17-2008 About my mobile cameras How they work Apr-17-2008 How I Wide Screen my mobile camera Apr-17-2008 About this page Why I do this. Apr-17-2008 Streaming Webcams just a few notes Apr-17-2008 Instant Messengers what to expect from your camera Jan-08-2009 About FTP the basics Apr-24-2009 FTP Servers setting one up Apr-17-2008 Cable Pinouts for old video cameras Apr-17-2008 Camera Drivers where you can find them Apr-13-2008 WebCam Links Quality camera sites Apr-24-2009 Webcam Software A few options Apr-17-2008 Satellite Internet will it work for you? Apr-17-2008 Glossary of computer terms

	Trailer front view	Trailer right view	Trailer rear view	Trailer left view	At my computer

Live Webcams
Home study office	Driveway looking North	Front yard, Looking SE	From dirveway looking west	Driveway looking East	Computer workbench
Side yard looking West	From driveway looking South	My 1st webcam (1997)	Exercise room	Driveway, Looking North	Looking N. Stardot NetCam MP
	Front door	Living room and deck	Front porch looking NE	Side yard, Looking West

My Webcam Reviews

Important: Please take note of the dates on each page. Some reviews mention current best, but those remarks were for date the camera was reviewed and may not still hold true. My partner and I are traveling around the country in our 5th wheel trailer. I am always on the lookout for new models and will purchase them as I find them but can't do the demo shots until we get home. Any new reviews will not get posted until mid to late June 2009. See our Travels page for a blog, live webcams and photos of the places we visit.

	USB Video Class (UVC) camera, works without special drivers, works on MAC computers
	Certified for Windows Vista

	Creative
	Common comments on Creative cameras
Feb-05-2008		Live! Notebook Pro Purchased October 9, 2007			$49.99
Feb-05-2008		Live! Video IM Pro Received September 10, 2007			$54.99
Feb-05-2008		Live! Video IM Received September 10, 2007			$29.99
Feb-05-2008		Live! Cam Optia Pro Received September 20, 2007		Best Creative Camera	$79.99
Feb-05-2008		Live! Cam Optia AF Received July 29, 2007			$129.99
Feb-05-2008		Live! Cam Optia Purchased February 27, 2007			$79.99
Feb-05-2008		Live! Notebook Pro Purchased December 18, 2006			$49.99
Feb-05-2008		Live! Cam Voice Purchased December 18, 2006			$99.99
Feb-05-2008		Live! Cam Video IM Pro Purchased December 18, 2006			$52.99
Feb-05-2008		Live! Ultra Purchased March 13, 2005			$99.99
Feb-05-2008		Live! Ultra for Notebooks Purchased July 14, 2005			$99.99
Feb-05-2008		Live! Motion Purchased December 9, 2005			$149.99
Jan-27-2009		Rockfish 2mp AF Purchased December 18, 2008 Camera made by Creative, distributed by Best Buy			$62.99
Jan-26-2009		Dynex 1.3mp Purchased December 18, 2008 Camera made by Creative, distributed by Best Buy			$39.99

	HP
Dec-18-2008		Webcam for Notebook PCs Purchased October 9, 2007		Not Reccommended	$69.99
Dec-21-2008		Elite Autofocus Webcam Purchased December 17, 2008		Best HP camera	$79.99
Jan-12-2009		Premium Autofocus Webcam Purchased December 18, 2008			$59.99
Jan-15-2009		Deluxe Webcam Purchased December 18, 2008			$29.99

	IP Cameras (no computer required)
Jan-19-2009		D-Link DCS-910 IP Camera Purchaced Jan 2, 2009		Best IP Camera under $200	$79.99
Feb-05-2008		StarDot, NetCam MP Purchased June 1, 2005		Best Image IP Camera	$1,448.00

	Logitech
	Common comments on Logitech cameras
Jan-20-2009		QuickCam Connect Purchased Dec 31, 2008			$29.99
Dec-08-2008		QuickCam Communicate Deluxe Purchased Dec 20, 2007		Best manual focus camera	$79.99
Feb-05-2008		QuickCam Orbit AF Purchased Oct 9, 2007			$129.99
Feb-05-2008		QuickCam Deluxe for Notebooks Purchased Oct 9, 2007			$79.99
Dec-07-2008		QuickCam Pro 9000 Purchased July 27, 2007		Best Overall Mac version available	$99.99
Nov-28-2008		QuickCam Pro for Notebooks Purchased July 8, 2007		Best Portable	$99.99
Jan-21-2009		QuickCam Ultra Vision Received October 1, 2006		2nd best image, see focus problem with 9000	$129.99
Feb-05-2008		QuickCam Communicate STX Purchased December 18, 2006		Best camera under $50 Redesigned USB 2 version Test images available only	$44.99
Feb-05-2008		QuickCam for Notebooks Deluxe Purchased December 11, 2006		Redesigned USB 2 version	$59.99
Feb-05-2008		QuickCam Orbit MP Purchased October 6, 2005			$129.99
Feb-05-2008		QuickCam for Notebooks Pro Purchased October 27, 2005			$99.99
Feb-05-2008		QuickCam Pro 5000 Purchased November 18, 2005		Best Low Light	$99.99
Feb-05-2008		QuickCam Fusion (2nd Gen) Purchased March 25, 2007		New version with Right Light2	$99.99
Feb-05-2008		QuickCam Fusion Purchased September 13, 2005			$99.99
Feb-05-2008		QuickCam Chat Purchased November 1, 2006			$29.99
Jan-21-2009		QuickCam for Notebooks Purchased January, 2008			$59.99

	Microsoft
Dec-19-2008		LifeCam VX-5000 Purchased December 8, 2008			$39.99
Dec-19-2008		LifeCam Show Purchased December 8, 2008		Best Microsoft Camera	$99.99
Mar-13-2008		LifeCam VX-7000 Received November 5, 2007			$99.99
Feb-05-2008		LifeCam NX-3000 Received November 5, 2007			$59.95
Feb-05-2008		LifeCam VX-1000 Purchased November 19, 2006			$29.99
Feb-05-2008		LifeCam VX-3000 Purchased October 1, 2006			$49.99
Feb-05-2008		LifeCam VX-6000 Purchased October 19, 2006			$99.99
Feb-05-2008		LifeCam NX-6000 Purchased December 15, 2006			$99.99

	Gigaware (Radio Shack)
Dec-08-2008		VGA Purchased June 4, 2008			$19.99
Dec-08-2008		1.3 MP Purchased June 4, 2008			$25.49
Dec-05-2008		2.0 MP Purchased June 4, 2008			$39.99

	Other Brands
Jan-27-2009		Trust WB-5400 Purchaced Jan 4, 2009			$39.99
Jan-19-2009		WinBook WB-7140 Purchaced Jan 4, 2009		Best Camera under $30	$29.99
Jan-19-2009		WinBook WB-6120 Purchaced Jan 4, 2009			$11.99
Jan-01-2009		IPEVO PoV Received June 1, 2008		New camera, older USB 1 connection	$29.99
Dec-22-2008		Vimicro VC0305 Purchased December 8, 2008		Infrared sensitive	$29.99
Dec-21-2008		Micro Inovations, In-Site Motion Purchased December 15, 2008		Motorized tracking	$39.99

	Creative
Feb-05-2008		NX Purchased June 3, 2004		$29.99
Feb-05-2008		NX Pro Purchased June 3, 2004		$49.99
Feb-05-2008		NX Ultra Purchased June 3, 2004		$69.99
Feb-05-2008		Notebook Purchased December 26, 2004		$49.99
Feb-05-2008		Live Purchased February 6, 2006		$49.99
Feb-05-2008		Instant Purchased February 6, 2006		$29.99

 

	Logitech
Feb-05-2008		QuickCam Orbit Purchased February, 2004		$129.95
Feb-05-2008		QuickCam Messenger Purchased January, 2003		$39.95
Feb-05-2008		QuickCam Pro 4000 Purchased February 15, 2003	Very Good In Low Light	$99.99
Feb-05-2008		QuickCam Notebook Pro Purchased February, 2004		$99.99
Feb-05-2008		QuickCam Communicate STX Purchased March, 2005		$49.99
Feb-05-2008		QuickCam Notebook Deluxe Purchased May 1, 2005		$59.99
Feb-05-2008		QuickCam Notebook Purchased May 1, 2005		$39.99

 

	Philips
Feb-05-2008		SPC 200 NC Purchased Apr 18, 2006	Discontinued	$29.99
Feb-05-2008		SPC 600 NC Purchased Apr 18, 2006	Discontinued	$59.99
Feb-05-2008		SPC 610 NC Purchased Apr 2, 2007	Discontinued	$29.99
Feb-05-2008		SPS 900 NC Purchased Mar 31, 2007 (store closeout)	Discontinued	$ 59.99

 

	Veo
Feb-05-2008		Velocity Connect Purchased November, 2003	Note: Veo appears to have gone out of busness, their website is no longer available, June 19, 2007	$79.99
Feb-05-2008		Mobile Connect Purchased July, 2002		$59.99
Feb-05-2008		Advanced Connect Purchased February, 2003		$49.99

 

	Other Brands
Feb-05-2008		Labtec, WebCam Pro Purchased May 5, 2005		$29.99
Feb-05-2008		BTC, PC-380 Purchased February, 2006		$29.99

Network & IP Models No computer needed, not compatible with instant messenger programs
Feb-05-2008		Swann, Max-IP-Cam Purchased September 17, 2006		$250.00
Feb-05-2008		Linksys, WVC11B Purchased April 29, 2004	Discontinued	$159.00

Very Old Models Maybe find one on E-bay. I include them here for reference
Nov-28-2008		Logitech, QuickCamPro VC (old) Purchased 1997		~$99.00
Dec-09-2008		Logitech, QuickCamPro 310 (old) Purchased 1998		$130.00
Feb-05-2008		Intel, Pro CS430 / 431 Purchased Spring, 2002		$160.00
Feb-05-2008		NoteCam, Pro A310 Purchased February 14, 2002		$29.00
Feb-05-2008		IBM, 33L4889 Purchased Summer, 2002		$30.00
Feb-05-2008		Vivitar 3350 Purchased December 15, 2003		$19.99
May-09-2009		JVC, GS-DC1U Purchased 1996	Old Video Camera	~$1,000.00
May-09-2009		RCA, CKC 020 Purchased November 17, 1984	Old Video Camera	$850.00

Last update May 9, 2009