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Cowboy Frank's Webcam Reviews

First posted Nov 2002
Last update May 9, 2009
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All content, except as otherwise noted, is © Frank Harrell. Text may be reposted only if credit is given and a link is provided to CowboyFrank.net
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
Nov-28-2008
Dec-19-2008
Apr-17-2008
Apr-17-2008
Apr-17-2008
Apr-17-2008
Jan-04-2009
 
Instructional Pages
Apr-24-2009
Aug-07-2008
Apr-17-2008
Dec-25-2008
Apr-17-2008
Apr-17-2008
Apr-17-2008
Apr-17-2008
 
Related Reference Information
Jul-26-2008
Apr-17-2008
Apr-17-2008
Apr-17-2008
Apr-17-2008
Apr-17-2008
Jan-08-2009
Apr-24-2009
Apr-17-2008
Apr-17-2008
Apr-13-2008
Apr-24-2009
Apr-17-2008
Apr-17-2008
 


Live webcams and cowboy music are currently unavailable. I am investigating the problem and will post an update when we know what is happening
Mobile cameras. See my Travels page for information
Some cameras here may only be on during certain times

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

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

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.

If you cannot see any images at all on my site click here for an explanation
Currently Available Models Includes newest cameras
 
USB Video Class (UVC) USB Video Class (UVC) camera, works without special drivers, works on MAC computers
Certified for Windows Vista Certified for Windows Vista
Creative
Common comments on Creative cameras
 
Feb-05-2008 Live! Notebook Pro
Purchased October 9, 2007
USB Video Class (UVC) Certified for Windows Vista   $49.99
Feb-05-2008 Live! Video IM Pro
Received September 10, 2007
USB Video Class (UVC) Certified for Windows Vista   $54.99
Feb-05-2008 Live! Video IM
Received September 10, 2007
Certified for Windows Vista   $29.99
Feb-05-2008 Live! Cam Optia Pro
Received September 20, 2007
USB Video Class (UVC) Certified for Windows Vista Best Creative Camera $79.99
Feb-05-2008 Live! Cam Optia AF
Received July 29, 2007
USB Video Class (UVC) Certified for Windows Vista   $129.99
Feb-05-2008 Live! Cam Optia
Purchased February 27, 2007
USB Video Class (UVC) Certified for Windows Vista   $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
USB Video Class (UVC) Certified for Windows Vista   $62.99

Jan-26-2009
Dynex 1.3mp
Purchased December 18, 2008
Camera made by Creative, distributed by Best Buy
USB Video Class (UVC) Certified for Windows Vista   $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
USB Video Class (UVC) Certified for Windows Vista Best HP camera $79.99
Jan-12-2009 Premium Autofocus Webcam
Purchased December 18, 2008
USB Video Class (UVC)Certified for Windows Vista   $59.99
Jan-15-2009 Deluxe Webcam
Purchased December 18, 2008
USB Video Class (UVC) Certified for Windows Vista   $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
USB Video Class (UVC) Certified for Windows Vista Best manual focus camera $79.99
Feb-05-2008 QuickCam Orbit AF
Purchased Oct 9, 2007
USB Video Class (UVC) Certified for Windows Vista   $129.99
Feb-05-2008 QuickCam Deluxe for Notebooks
Purchased Oct 9, 2007
Certified for Windows Vista   $79.99
Dec-07-2008 QuickCam Pro 9000
Purchased July 27, 2007
USB Video Class (UVC) Certified for Windows Vista Best Overall
Mac version available
$99.99
Nov-28-2008 QuickCam Pro for Notebooks
Purchased July 8, 2007
USB Video Class (UVC) Certified for Windows Vista Best Portable $99.99
Jan-21-2009 QuickCam Ultra Vision
Received October 1, 2006
USB Video Class (UVC) Certified for Windows Vista 2nd best image, see focus problem with 9000 $129.99
Feb-05-2008 QuickCam Communicate STX
Purchased December 18, 2006
USB Video Class (UVC)Certified for Windows Vista 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
USB Video Class (UVC) Redesigned USB 2 version $59.99
Feb-05-2008 QuickCam Orbit MP
Purchased October 6, 2005
USB Video Class (UVC) Certified for Windows Vista   $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
USB Video Class (UVC) Best Low Light $99.99
Feb-05-2008 QuickCam Fusion (2nd Gen)
Purchased March 25, 2007
USB Video Class (UVC) Certified for Windows Vista 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
Certified for Windows Vista   $39.99
Dec-19-2008 LifeCam Show
Purchased December 8, 2008
USB Video Class (UVC) Certified for Windows Vista Best Microsoft Camera $99.99
Mar-13-2008 LifeCam VX-7000
Received November 5, 2007
Certified for Windows Vista   $99.99
Feb-05-2008 LifeCam NX-3000
Received November 5, 2007
Certified for Windows Vista   $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
Certified for Windows Vista   $99.99
Feb-05-2008 LifeCam NX-6000
Purchased December 15, 2006
Certified for Windows Vista   $99.99
Gigaware (Radio Shack)
 
Dec-08-2008 VGA
Purchased June 4, 2008
Certified for Windows Vista   $19.99
Dec-08-2008 1.3 MP
Purchased June 4, 2008
Certified for Windows Vista   $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
USB Video Class (UVC) 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
Certified for Windows Vista 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

Older Models Most discontinued, some still available in stores, if you want it, and can find one, grab it.
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

 


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May 9, 2009