Cowboy Frank's Webcam Reviews

First posted Nov 2002
Last update Dec 22, 2011

Camera Index \| Current Cameras \| Older Cameras \| Lighting Comparisons \| How To Set Up \| Live Images \| FAQ
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
(What's New) Creative HP iHome Logitech Microsoft Gigaware Other brands Older Models

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, (I have heard just about every idea there is) you probably will not receive more than a brief reply, if any.
Some of the above photos by my good friend Adam Kirkpatrick

I review webcam hardware, not software. If you are a software developer or represent a software company, please do not bother to ask me to review your product. Any such requests will be ignored. If you are a user of webcam software you think is really good, and inexpensive, I will be glad to take a look at it, but don't ask me to review it. If I feel it is worthy, I may add it to my list of software links.

Camera Reviews & Reference Pages

Dec-22-2011 Camera Reviews what it's all about.

Jan-03-2011 Older Cameras no longer available

Apr-28-2010 Lighting Comparisons for currently available cameras.

Apr-28-2010 How Wide an angle will a camera show? USB 2 cameras

Apr-17-2008 About My Lighting how it is set up

Jun-12-2010 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

Aug-27-2010 How To Set Up A WebCam what are the options?

Apr-01-2011 Fairly Easy Streaming Camera or Internet radio station

Apr-17-2008 Lighting for your WebCam some suggestions

Jun-12-2010 Weatherproof camera housing for about $20

Jun-26-2011 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

Apr-05-2010 What is an HD webcam? a simple explanation

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

Sep-15-2010 WebCam Links Quality camera sites

Jun-12-2010 Webcam Software A few options

Apr-17-2008 Satellite Internet will it work for you?

Apr-17-2008 Glossary of computer terms

Live Webcams From Castle Rock, Colorado

Driveway looking N	Home study office	View of Castle Rock and I25	Front Entry	Back Yard looking SW	Pikes Peak looking S

My Webcam Reviews

An update (Mar 25, 2011) Last August we sold our house in Virginia and moved to Colorado. Between working on projects in our new house and other things I do, I have had trouble finding time to write new webcam reviews. I have also gone through a couple of bouts with various illnesses which put me several months behind on everything. I have been so absorbed in my other projects that I have had difficulty getting the motivation to start reviewing again. It is very hard for me to write, a single camera review page can take me as much as 2 or 3 days to finish, and that doesn't include the time it takes to test the cameras and create the demo shots. I do have some test shots I made at the last minute before leaving Virginia and I will attempt to get those posted and some reviews created in the next several weeks. So I am still here, just involved in other things.

Latest Reviews
IPEVO Point 2 View	Blue Eyeball 2.0	Logitech Webcam C500	Logitech Webcam C200	Logitech Webcam C120	Microsoft LifeCam Cinema

May-18-2010	Dec-31-2009	Dec-30-2009	Dec-12-2009	Dec-12-2009	Dec-12-2009

Currently Available Models
Creative HP iHome Logitech Microsoft Gigaware Other brands Older Models

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

	Creative
	See older Creative cameras here

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
Apr-22-2010		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
Apr-22-2010		Live! Cam Optia Purchased February 27, 2007		$79.99
Feb-05-2008		Live! Cam Voice Purchased December 18, 2006		$99.99
Apr-24-2010		Rockfish 2mp AF Purchased December 18, 2008 Camera made by Creative, distributed by Best Buy		$62.99
Apr-24-2010		Dynex 1.3mp Purchased December 18, 2008 Camera made by Creative, distributed by Best Buy		$39.99

	HP
	See older HP cameras here

Apr-22-2010		Elite Autofocus Webcam Purchased December 17, 2008	Best HP camera	$79.99
Apr-22-2010		Premium Autofocus Webcam Purchased December 18, 2008		$59.99
Apr-22-2010		Deluxe Webcam Purchased December 18, 2008		$29.99

	iHome

Apr-24-2010		Notebook Pro Purchased Apr 26, 2009	$49.99
Apr-24-2010		Webcam Purchased Jun 13, 2009	$39.99

	IP Cameras
	See older IP cameras here

Feb-05-2008		StarDot, NetCam MP Purchased June 1, 2005	Best Image IP Camera	$1,448.00

	Logitech
	See older Logitech cameras here

Feb-15-2010		Webcam Pro 9000 Purchased October 19, 2009	Best Overall	$99.99
Apr-22-2010		Webcam C905 for Notebooks Purchased October 19, 2009	Best Portable	$99.99
Apr-22-2010		Webcam C120 Purchased December 2, 2009	Best camera under $20	$19.99
Apr-22-2010		Webcam C200 Purchased December 2, 2009		$29.99
Apr-22-2010		Webcam C250 Purchased December 2, 2009		$39.99
Apr-22-2010		Webcam C500 Purchased December 2, 2009		$49.99
Apr-22-2010		Webcam C600 Purchased October 19, 2009		$79.99
Dec-07-2008		QuickCam Pro 9000 Purchased July 27, 2007	Mac version available	$99.99
Apr-22-2010		QuickCam Connect Purchased Dec 31, 2008		$29.99
Apr-22-2010		QuickCam Communicate Deluxe Purchased Dec 20, 2007		$79.99
Apr-22-2010		QuickCam Orbit AF Purchased Oct 9, 2007		$129.99
Apr-22-2010		QuickCam Pro for Notebooks Purchased July 8, 2007		$99.99
Jan-21-2009		QuickCam Ultra Vision Received October 1, 2006		$129.99
Feb-05-2008		QuickCam Communicate STX Purchased December 18, 2006	Redesigned USB 2 version Test images available only	$44.99
Feb-05-2008		QuickCam Pro 5000 Purchased November 18, 2005		$99.99
Apr-22-2010		QuickCam Fusion (2nd Gen) Purchased March 25, 2007	New version with Right Light2	$99.99
Apr-22-2010		QuickCam for Notebooks Purchased January, 2008		$59.99

	Microsoft

Apr-24-2010		LifeCam Cinema Purchased December 6, 2009		$79.99
Apr-24-2010		LifeCam VX-5000 Purchased December 8, 2008		$39.99
Apr-24-2010		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
	See older cameras here

		Blue Eyeball 2.0 Purchased Dec 18, 2009		$79.99
Dec-31-2009		aGent V5 Received Sep 17, 2009	Best manual focus camera	$100.00
Apr-24-2010		Trust WB-5400 Purchased Jan 4, 2009		$39.99
Oct-21-2009		WinBook WB-7140 Purchased Jan 4, 2009	Best Camera under $30	$29.99
Mar-12-2011		WinBook WB-6120 Purchased Jan 4, 2009		$11.99
May-18-2010		IPEVO Point 2 View Received Apr 7, 2010	Best Camera for closeup work	$69.00
Apr-24-2010		IPEVO PoV Received June 1, 2008	New camera, older USB 1 connection	$29.99
Oct-21-2009		Micro Inovations, In-Site Motion Purchased December 15, 2008	Motorized tracking	$39.99

Last update Dec 22, 2011