Logitech 720p Webcam Pro 9000
by Logitech
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Logitech 720p Webcam Pro 9000
Customer Review: Top of the line
Summary: 5 Stars
The Quickcam Pro 9000 is probably the best webcam on the market, and Logitech has done a great job making it both high-quality, and easy to use. Granted, the camera is one of more expensive out there, but you'll be getting your money's worth.
Unboxing:
When you first get the box home you'll be able to see the camera sitting at the very top of the box encased in plastic. The box opens from the bottom, and all of the packaging slides easily out. Inside you'll find: the camera, installation Disc, a quick start guide, and an "Important Information" slip. The quick start guide will walk you through the installation in 12 easy steps in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese, as well as providing support numbers should anything go wrong. The Information slip has some FCC warnings, and Warranty Information inside. No true "manual" but I hardly read those anyway. The camera itself was still inside it's plastic enclosure, and once that was removed, the camera easily came out.
Craftsmanship:
The camera itself seems very sturdy. All of the hinges seems strong, and have a very stiff rotation, something thats nice considering that this will be sitting on top of my monitor. On one half you have the camera, with a small button which takes pictures automatically, on the other side you have a microphone. Everything seems to be of the highest build quality, and I would fully expect this thing to last for a very long time.
In terms of setup, I messed around with a few different configurations to see what was the best way to actually set the camera up. Logitech has made a nice system to use the camera on top of monitors. A small catch sits on the front of the monitor, while the hinged leg props it up to the proper angle. Even with my hefty 2" thick monitor, I found that the camera sat stably. I also tried to use the camera as a stand, and attempted to use it sitting on my desk, this did not go so well. A combination of the single leg, and the bulging camera made almost every setup on my desk unstable. The leg does not have enough width to keep the camera from falling over, and even when I tried using the camera to stabilize against the desk, the bulging camera caused it to still tilt slightly. In the end I had to resort back to the standard top of the monitor setup, a tad bit disappointing, but absolutely nothing deal breaking.
Software:
Just as a test, I plugged the camera right into my system, just to see how well it works as a Plug and Play. At the time, I am running Windows 7, and found that within a moment, my camera was up and ready to use. Starting up Skype to double check, the camera was indeed working. I then unplugged it and decided to run the instalation disc to see what it included. The disc came with drivers, Logitech Webcam Software, and a program called Logitech Vid (essentially Logitech's version of Skype). The included software was excellent, far exceeding my expectations. The Webcam Software will be your main way to access anything to do with you camera. That includes settings, camera, video, video effects, as well as links to programs (like Skype, GMail video, video editing software, and even YouTube). I was overall impressed with the ease of use of the software, as well as the many settings that can be changed. Also a fun side note is just how fantastic the video effects are.
Logitech included effects that change the way the video outputs. The video filters will pinch, twist and warp the video like a fun house mirror, as well as invert colors, or posterize the image, something Mac's have done for a while with photobooth. However Logitech has also included filters that go a bit further then that. The first one adds props to the image, such as add glasses, hats, eye patches, and other fun things to whomever is in the frame. Also added are Avatars, which tracks your facial movements and transfers those movements to a 3D character, such as a shark or a stick figure, then overlays that character over the video, making it seem like the avatar is the one making the video. And the last filter Logitech added is one that cuts your eyes and mouth out of the video and places them on a still image, such as the Mona Lisa. The result is a talking, blinking Mona Lisa. I should mention that some of these filters worked best with one person, centered in the shot, with good lighting. They did work with multiple people, but the camera had a little bit of a hard time deciding who to put the props on, or where the face actually was. However in the end, It still worked fantastically well. These are great little toys, and I enjoyed messing around with all of them, especially with friends around.
Image Quality:
This is where Logitech really hit the nail on the head. The image quality is astounding. You can take up to 8MP images, and 720p video captures. The images were sharp and clear, and the video was excellent. Color-wise, Logitech also exceeds expectations. Colors were clear and vibrant, and thanks to some clever software, lighting was always just right. The images were also always in focus. I really couldn't ask for anything more from a webcam. Logitech also allows you to manually adjust the color levels, brightness, and focus on your own, but the software did such a great job, I found it wasn't really necessary.
On skype I found that I came through great. I was told the video looked great, and there was no choppy image. Also, Microphone quality was up there, they had no problem hearing, or understanding me on the other side of the line.
Conclusion:
Overall Logitech impressed me. With such a high price tag, my expectations were admittedly very high, but they managed to meet every expectation, and in certain areas exceed them. Image quality was top of the line, video capture was excellent, and build quality was impressive. The software was where Logitech really surprised me. rarely do the manufacture's put so much effort into making a satisfying software suite. This will be one of the few that I will use on a day to day basis. In the end, if you can afford the price tag, and really want the best from your webcam, Logitech's Quickcam Pro 9000 is the best choice.
Pros:
+Video/Image Quality
+Build Quality
+Great Software
+Sturdy Stand
+720p Video Output
+Built in Mic
+Looks Nice
Cons:
-Hard to stand up on a desk/table top.
Customer Review: Logitech's QuickCam Pro 9000 - Great All-around Webcam
Summary: 4 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
The Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000 is a great all-around web-cam and perhaps the best value in high end models. While there are certainly more affordable models and a couple of higher end models, this one really hits the sweet spot in combining great value and top of the line features.
I recently got to really test Microsoft's LifeCam VX-5000. It's a good all around webcam at a reasonable price, but it has some weaknesses. As such it provides a good counterpoint from which to compare the Quick Cam Pro 9000. While the VX-5000 is an improvement over older models, it still has some of the weaknesses we typically associate with web-cams. But at least in a few key areas the Quick Cam Pro 9000 overcomes those weaknesses.
Pros
+ Video quality is very good, and can be used for professional (work) video conferencing if you wish
+ The video capture rate performs much better than competing devices I have tried
+ The microphone sensitivity is above average, but demanding users may still want to use a dedicated microphone
+ The highly touted low light performance and auto-adjustment works very well and not as well as the
+ The software includes less unneeded software than the VX-5000
+ The HD video resolution can scale to full screen depending on your video resolution settings
+ The included software is very easy for non-techies to install and configure using simple buttons
+ Ability to zoom, pan and tilt are nice standard extras
+ Nice video effects, though they take some time and experience to use
+ Advanced features are just a click away, allowing customized settings
+ Nice indicator light alerts you to when webcam is capturing
+ The options to take a snapshot, record video or record sound are nice and useful for basic multimedia stuff
Cons
- The price may seem somewhat high for those who only want a basic webcam
- The base is not the best design for working with a variety of monitors
- Still has some software and driver issues for some versions of Windows
- Not as much support for Mac users in terms of Logitech software
Comparing Against The Alternatives
The Logitech's Quick Cam Pro 9000 offers a true 2.0 megapixel sensor, but can create pictures that are the equivalent of 8.0 megapixels via interpolation. This is on the higher end of picture quality captured by the current generation of high end web-cams. The Microsoft LifeCam VX-7000 also offers a true 2.0 megapixel sensor. Conversely, the VX-5000 only gives you 1.3 megapixels, and those are interpolated up from the VGA resolution that is captured by the camera. Interpolation basically means the resolution is not based on the direct sensor but are *enhanced*. The native sensor capacity definitely matter more than the interpolated values, and the Pro 9000 has admirable numbers.
Since the 9000 has a better built-in sensor, one would expect it to capture better video than the VX-5000 and it does. But it also captures better video than the VX7000 despite the similar listed sensor capabilities. Both the 9000 and the Microsoft LifeCam NX-6000 capture high definition video, but once again the 9000 can capture a higher resolution.
Perhaps the difference is in the Zeiss optics. Now I am not your typical consumer when it comes to optics, having worked with optics professionally as well as for academic reasons. Name brand doesn't always tell you that the optics are *good* because all optics manufacturers produce a range of products from low to mid-range to high end. In this case, the visual quality definitely seems to be enhanced by some good quality internal optics. I have read they are real optical glass, but I haven't disassembled my unit to confirm that claim. ;-)
So if you really want a very clear picture and don't mind spending twice as much, then the Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000 is for you. It definitely has a better auto-adjustment feature than the VX-5000 that allow it to adapt more quickly and accurately to changing light conditions. It also has an auto-focus feature that seems to work very well too.
The Logitech QuickCam Orbit AF is another high end camera that also has some auto-focus features at a higher price tag, around $100. Unlike the Pro 9000, it has a telescoping arm that allows you to extend the camera height more easily and as such it doesn't need to be rested on top of your monitor. Do your research depending upon your needs.
If you need an inexpensive webcam and don't need high definition video, look into the VX-5000. If you want a higher quality unit that can be used easily under a variety of lighting conditions, the Pro 9000 is one of the best options.
Enjoy!
Customer Review: Great Webcam, Great Software, Dead-Simple VIdeo Calling
Summary: 5 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
I'm primarily a Mac user, but also run Windows Vista through Boot Camp or VM Fusion.
How does the WP 9000 work on a Mac? Meh. Its meant for Windows. While you can use it on a Mac, the functionality is limited. You don't get any of the lighting, filter or auto-focus effects. It will do basic image capture in most Mac programs that can use the built in iSight, including Photobooth, Quicktime and iChat. Strangely, though, it won't capture video in iMovie. You're better off spending a few extra bucks on the Logitech QuickCam Vision Pro for Mac (Black)
On a Windows machine, though, the Webcam 9000 shines. I've used a lot of webcams. Up till now, my favorite was the Logitech Quickcam Orbit AF. The form factor is neat and the video is pretty good.
While Logitech says the WP 9000 and Orbit AF both have two megapixel sensors, the video from the WP 9000 seems superior. I don't know if its performance is enhanced through a better sensor in the WP 9000 or if its software-based, but the WP's video and still pictures seem crisper, more colorful and more detailed. The autofocus is also improved. I've never found it to work correctly on the Orbit AF, with the new WP 9000, it's spot on.
Best of all, the WP 9000 shoots gorgeous HD widescreen video. According to Logitech's specs, the Orbit AF's video tops out at 960 by 720 pixels, the WP 9000 goes all the way up to 1600 x 1200. That gives you a bigger, sharper and higher-definition picture that sets the standard for modern webcams. It's equivalent to 720 video, which is the lower of the two HD standards (full HD tops out at 1920×1080 pixels; I don't think any webcam comes close to that, though).
The WP 9000 ships with the terrific Logitech software suite that lets you adjust a number of attributes (exposure, white balance, focus), or gives you the choice to use Logitech's proprietary technologies like RightLight to do the work for you. On the WP 9000, these automatic settings work great.
At the moment, Logitech is putting a heavy push on its new Vid video-calling software/service combo. Vid lets you make unlimited free video calls to other Vid users. Set up is extremely simple and it installs when you run the webcam's operating software (although Logitech also politely, and appropriately, gives you the option not to install the Vid software).
During the installation process, you're prompted for your email address and a password. You're also given a chance to take a picture of yourself with your newly installed WP 9000 for your profile. That's it. No account name, no forms to fill out, no credit cards to bill. Vid is the simplest service to sign up for you'll ever use. It's certainly much easier to install than Yahoo, MSN, or Skype, and it asks for a lot less personal information, too.
Logitech says they developed Vid because webcam purchasers were reporting too many "what's next" moments after installing their webcams. They say their users were put off by having to download and install other video calling services.
I bet they're right. I MIGHT be able to talk my mother through installing a webcam, but downloading and setting up Skype and getting it all to work together? Not so much. Vid is a very good solution to those who want the easiest integration of webcam and video chat software. Of course, it doesn't have the ubiquity of Skype, MSN or Yahoo, but it is dead simple.
Vid is free to use if you have a compatible Logitech camera, or if you've received an invitation from someone who owns one. Otherwise, at this time, it's limited to a 30 day trial period. That seems like a pretty generous policy to me. Logitech wants to encourage people to buy their cameras, but if you do, and want to chat with someone who has a built-in or other company's webcam, you can give them a free pass to the service.
BTW: I installed Vid on my Macbook using OS10, and it worked perfectly. Vid found the built-in iSight camera and used that for the video. On a test call, Vid worked perfectly. I couldn't find a setting on the Mac or Windows versions of Vid to increase the resolution, though. It looks like it's limited to SD, probably for bandwidth issues.
Another BTW: I installed the WP 9000 on Windows Vista running in VM Fusion. No driver or other problems at all.
So, if you're looking for a compact webcam for Windows that has excellent performance, truly useful and fun utilities (my kids loved using the built-in filters to put cartoon hats and mustaches on each other's videos) and a goof proof bundled video-calling service, just click "Buy Now." In my experience, Logitech makes great hardware and I've had excellent customer service from them. I don't think you can go wrong with the WP 9000.
Scott Sherman, author, Lambda Literary Award Winning Best Mystery, 2009, First You Fall: A Kevin Connor Mystery
Customer Review: Fantastic Webcam!
Summary: 5 Stars
I spent a lot of time deciding which webcam to buy and very glad I chose the Quickcam Pro 9000. I read all the reviews and weighed them against a few things. One being my computer which is a 1 1/2 year old IBM laptop that has had major problems since about 6 months after I bought it. Installing new hardware or software always makes me nervous but I do backup everything on my computer weekly at this point for fear of the blue screen of death (which I've gotten a few times already). Next I was thinking about how this webcam would function for me using Sightspeed. Though there were many good reviews, there were also some negative ones but compared to the other webcams out there I felt it was worth a shot.
Here is what I have experienced....
(I have an IBM Laptop running Windows XP using Sightspeed)
I downloaded the software and had no problems whatsoever. Next I downloaded Sightspeed, again no problems whatsoever. I plug the camera in and made the necessary adjustments for my particular environment (i.e. lighting, sound, etc.) What I found out very early on is the following, although the Rightlight technology is FANTASITC in regards to preserving and providing the perfect amount of light, it also does something else. It will cause ghosting as well as reduced sound quality. So, although it looks nice, it does not work well for me. So, I unchecked the Rightlight box and wow what a difference. ABSOLUTLY NO MORE GHOSTING. My image obviously was darker but by adding in my own light i.e. turning on more lights or opening the blinds, that was quickly alleviated. Sporadically I will get an echo even if I have the echo cancellation on and the background noise suppressed but have found that the echo is directly related to my celing fan being on and or my air conditioner noise - once I turn those off the echo is gone. Obviously if they need to be on, then I just adjust the volume on my computer, the camera recording volume and the volume on sightspeed and it's no longer bothersome. I should say I only use the webcam to have videocalls with family and friends, I don't use it for instant messaging or chatting or any of those other things. My 4 year old loves it and he does video calls with his preschool friends and his Nana and like any 4 year old he's hopping all over the place and still the webcam works great, always following and focusing on his image.
My only complaint about it would be that it doesn't come with a case and they don't make one for it. If they made one, I would be happy to even pay extra for the case. So, I'm trying to find a "gadget" type case to keep this webcam and my card reader in as I don't want the lens getting scratched when it's not on my computer. Other that that, I love it and it works great for us. But if you are expecting perfection, then I would suggest not buying a webcam because you will be dissapointed as nothing is perfect. I do know a lot of people have a problem with this camera with Skype, my recommendation would be to try this camera with Sightspeed, you will be VERY happy you did. Sightspeed is just awesome!! I personally have not used Skype with this camera so I cannot attest to how it functions on Skype. I should say, I have absolutely no affiliation with Sightspeed whatsoever but have had and continue to have such a great experience using this camera with Sightspeed. I would recommend anyone having issues with this camera on Skype to try it with Sightspeed before returning it but be sure to remove Skype from your computer first or you will have a conflict between the two programs and that's a whole other issue.
One other comment...My husband has the Quickcam Pro for Notebooks (running Windows XP using Sightspeed on his IBM laptop) and that too works great though I think this one has better optics. His is MUCH smaller and comes with a case which is nice because he takes it with him on business trips. So if you are decided between these two and you travel a lot for business I would choose the Quickcam Pro for Notebooks, it works exactly the same though as I said a very slightly lower quality to the optics but not something that would deter me from purchasing it - this size and case are much more convenient for travel.
I highly recommend the Quickcam Pro 9000 but again like any technology it depends on your specific computer set up, the service you use and how they function together. I do hope this review is helpful in making your purchasing decision. I think if it's compatible with your system and you expect something fun to use, that works very well but isn't perfect, you will be extremely pleased!
Customer Review: For Mac and OS X
Summary: 3 Stars
This review is for the benefit of Mac users, not Windows. I bought the Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000 and the Logitech QuickCam Ultra Vision to choose a web camera for an iMac G5 2.0GHz, the generation immediately before the G5 iMac with the built-in iSight camera. And I'm running Mac OS X 10.5.1, the most updated (to date) Leopard. There is currently a camera for sale at Apple retail stores that is labeled the Logitech QuickCam Ultra Vision MP, for Macs. It is the same hardware as the Ultra Vision and Ultra Vision SE for Windows; all the Ultra Vision cameras differ only in cosmetics, color--they're all the same hardware.
On a Mac, the cameras both run on the built-in Apple drivers. There are no Logitech drivers, no Logitech software. Therefore none of the Logitech special effects or light and sound management that the box lists work for Mac users. No autofocus, no RightLight2, no RightSound. Kind of a drag. In addition, there is no ability to manage color, light balance, etc., from any operating system software on the Mac or from Logitech. This is pure plug-and-play, and you get only the most basic functionality: The camera and microphone work (not sure about quality of sound on receiving end) to deliver picture and sound, neither tunable with what is in the box.
What the two cameras have in common is that they work for Mac users. According to what I've read, any camera that is labeled as Microsoft Windows Vista-compatible or UVC (USB Video Class) will work just as these do in Mac OS X, with this prereq: You have to have OS X 10.4.9 minimum. Tiger (OS X 10.4) is currently at 10.4.11; Leopard is at 10.5.1. Both will support video and sound on UVC cameras.
That said, the Pro 9000 and Ultra Vision differ in some significant ways. The focus on the Pro 9000 (P9K hereafter) is tighter than on the Ultra Vision (UV hereafter). The focus on the UV is comparatively lower in resolution; you can see jaggies on straight lines on either camera, but they're pretty visible on the UV, and you have to look for them on the P9K. I would say the P9K is definitely superior, and neither is as good as the iSight cameras built into any of the current Mac lines (but then, if you had a Mac with iSight, you wouldn't be reading this). The P9K's resolution is finer than the UV.
As to color I would say that if I could have a compromise between the two cameras, the UV and the Pro 9000, it would be better than either. The Pro 9000 color/exposure is a bit washed out; the UV is a bit dim. E.g., a blue pinpoint oxford shirt looks barely blue on the Pro 9000, and much more saturated on the UV. The entirety of the UV's color tilts heavily toward blue, while the Pro 9000 goes more toward yellow. (I would be curious to know if the color balance varies by model or by individual camera. I'd also love to see if other brands, say, Creative Labs, differ too.) Both cameras adjust to changing light, but in low light the Pro 9000 is not just a little but significantly better; in very low light, the UV nearly blacks out, while screen light is enough for the PK9 to deliver a passable image, albeit with low frame rate and lots and lots of motion blur.
Note that on a G5 or earlier (any non-Intel Mac), the support for iChat and PhotoBooth's effects is limited--specifically, they'll do the first two panels (color effects, including charcoal, Andy Warhol-ish, X-ray, B/W, sepia, and the pinch, swirl, and similar effects), but none of the backdrop effects, either still or moving.
I found both to work with iChat, PhotoBooth, Skype, and several of the shareware camera apps available. So I would say they work, period.
While neither Apple nor Logitech provides much more support for cameras, eCamm.com has a bevy of camera titles that provide extra power for web cameras on non-Intel Mac hardware. iGlasses, PowerBoost, and a couple other titles provide color tuning, restore some of the effects capabilities that PPC Macs don't get in iChat and PhotoBooth, and provide recordability with QuickTime output. They do good work. iGlasses provides some control over brightness, contrast, saturation, hue, gamma, sharpness, gain, white balance. I didn't find these to really improve the images on the P9K, but they did help the UV. Once you get a camera, you may want to get some of eCamm's software.