This excellent computer USB powered web camera works extremely well on video chat programs or other IM programs that offer video and is one of the three web cams by Logitech at the present time that is capable of high quality video chat on Skype. It featured the Carl Zeiss optics lens system that provides excellent autofocus under most conditions. In order to use the high quality video with Skype an extremely powerful computer is necessary along with a real good broadband 4000 Kbps or better connection. Apparently, I don't have either a fast dual core computer or 4000 Kbps broadband. I've did notice this camera was capable of high quality video on Skype using my hyper threading Pentium 4 @ 3.4 GHz computer and 3012 Kbps broadband connection. This camera can also be used for taking snapshots of yourself to save on your computer as well as recording a video for e-mailing as an attachment. This camera works relatively well under relatively dim light condition because it has Logitech's Rightlight 2 Technology. It also utilize Intelligent Face Tracking which has to be enable each time by going into the user interface, otherwise it defaults to a fixed position. The face tracking ability of this camera is quite good considering it's not a motorized panning camera. You could be off center from directly in front of the camera by 30° and still be capture in the image. The Intelligent Face Tracking also controls auto zoom. Since this is not a motorized webcam the face tracking ability is limited to the field of view and this camera has a fairly wide angle. It does this by adjusting the zoom and then pan to capture a face in front of the camera. Also if you have an another microphone plugged in to the computer, it is best to go to the user interface to check to make sure that the built-in microphone on the camera is selected. This is especially true if you just ran a speech to text word processor program using a headset. Speaking of the microphone, this system utilized its own electronics in other words a built-in sound card powered by the USB bus which utilize Right Sound Technology. This system is totally independent from the computer's microphone sound system. It does an extremely good job of providing excellent sound quality as well as reducing echoing and sound feedback between the speakers and the microphone. The sound level is also adjustable in the user interface.
The included CD already contains the up to date driver which is version 11.5 at the present time. This version or later and Skype version 3.6 are necessary for Skype high quality video. After you install the driver, it will prompt you to check for updates for the latest drivers. Worthy of note: there are included explicit instructions in the package "to install the software before plugging in the camera", or else the camera won’t be recognized by your computer and you’ll likely be in for some headaches. You would then have to uninstall the program and reinstall it over again the proper way before plugging in the camera. The software pack includes some fun stuff for the camera such as avatars, face accessories and disguises. After you install the camera and programs, you can also look for new disguises and face accessories that you can download from Logitech from the user interface. This camera utilizes a CMOS sensor with a true 1600 x 1200 pixels and for still images it is capable of up to 8 megapixels utilizing software enhancement. This camera has auto-focus by default and the camera's focus remains crystal clear from about 6 inchs to infinity. You can also use manual focus by going into the user interface. Typical of practically all web cams and this one is no exception, the lens system is very small from the appearance in front of it on the outside. This camera is really nothing more than a pinhole camera utilizing high amplification in order to provide high-performance under low light condition. The Logitech RightLight Technology works extremely well under most conditions The rigid base utilize a double hinged system to mount on top of LCD or CRT monitor instead of a flexible mount of many webcams. It could only swivel up or down not side to side when mounted on the monitor. To swivel side to side the monitor had to be moved as well. The camera base works extremely well on the table.
Here are my final thoughts about this camera: The picture quality is excellent and will serve my purpose for years to come. I used my camera for video chat on Skype and Windows Live Messenger as well as taking snapshots and making video messages for e-mailing to friends and family. The picture quality is among the best for a webcam. In other words, this is more camera than anyone would need for e-mailing or IM use. This is my second Logitech web cam that I written a review on recently and my best one by far. The video was also very fluid and sharper as compared with my previous webcam. This webcam also use a unconventional sideway keyhole shape, departed from typical eyeball shaped of most web cams. This camera also appears to draw less power from the USB bus then my other camera because it doesn't feel warm even after it's been on for awhile. Also, be careful not to accidentally unplug the camera during an IM session. It happened to me when I try to show someone at other end something other than the area around the computer workstation and accidentally pull the plug. When I plug back the camera, the video portion refuse to reconnect. The only remedy was to hang up and call again. two . It is possible for this camera to work with one 16 foot active USB extension cord. I've tried connecting the camera with two active extension cords and the result was fair. It sometimes doesn't work because the computer no longer recognize that a webcam is connected to the USB bus. And the time when it does work the video is rather slow. I think the problem, is actually the amount of 5V power being provided over such a long extension cable. I've also noticed under such condition the activity LED on top of the camera is much dimmer than when the camera was connected directly. Because of this, it appears that this camera consumes more than a couple watts of power. One way around this, is to either provide an external power source for the camera or if possible get heavier gauge active USB extension cable. With USB, any time when cable length extend more than 16 feet an active cable system is required. A standard USB 2.0 cable of 16 foot length would work also in conjunction of a USB hub that provides its own supplementary 5V DC power source on the last leg. By this I mean, using perhaps hypothetically connecting 2 active cables followed by perhaps a standard cable ending at 48 feet with a powered USB hub before connecting the camera. On the active cable packaging, it indicated that up to five lengths of cables is supported with minimal signal degradation as long as power is provided at the end to run power-hungry more than 2 W hardware. According to the USB standard, a signal amplifier is required every 16 feet in length to restore signal degradation. I paid only $75 with free shipping for this camera.
System Requirements
Windows® XP
o Pentium® P4 (or compatible) processor, 1.4 GHz (2.4 GHz recommended)
o Dual-core 2 GHz or better for Skype high quality video recommended also Skype version 3.6 for Windows or higher
o 128 MB RAM (256 MB recommended)
o 200 MB available hard disk space
o 16-bit color display adapter
o Windows®-compatible sound card and speakers (full-duplex sound card recommended)
o USB port (USB 2 recommended for high-quality video)
o CD-ROM drive
Windows Vista™
o Pentium® P4 (or compatible) processor, 2.4 GHz (2.8 GHz recommended)
o Dual-core 2 GHz or better for Skype high quality video recommended also Skype version 3.6 for Windows or higher
o 512 MB RAM (1 GB recommended)
o 200 MB available hard disk space
o 16-bit color display adapter
o Windows®-compatible sound card and speakers (full-duplex sound card recommended)
o USB port (USB 2 recommended for high-quality video)
o CD-ROM drive
Technical Specifications
o Carl Zeiss® lens
o Autofocus system
o Ultra-high resolution 2-megapixel sensor with RightLight Technology
o Color depth: 24-bit true color
o Video capture: Up to 1600 x 1200 pixels (HD quality) (HD Video 960 x 720 pixels)
o Frame rate: Up to 30 frames per second
o Still image capture: 8 million pixels (with software enhancement)
o Built-in microphone with RightSound™ Technology
o Two megapixel CMOS optical sensor
o Sunplus SPCA527A controller chip
o Two years limited warranty
Update May 18, 2007: The web cam works extremely well under both Windows Vista or XP with the latest Logitech software Version 11.5 .0 .1169 and Skype Version 3.8. Sometimes, when using the web cam it might be better to turn off face tracking to keep the web cam from wondering and zooming in and out. Using this setting is less annoying to the other party on the receiving end. The way this camera works apparently is by tracking facial movement so if you stop talking it starts to wonder. From my experience it seems to work better when set to "follow two or more of us" because it seemed to zoom in and out less. Other than this minor glitch, it works extremely well. Here are some video reviews that I made on You Tube using this Logitech Pro 9000 webcam. Here are the URL for the first one ( http://youtube.com/watch?v=I5qNjUJAc0Y) and for the second one ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXyaxgS01LY). Please copy and paste to your browser to view these.
