Logitech HD Pro C920 1080p Webcam

Ligera, compacta , buena resolución, se conecta sin problemas… Simplemente excelente producto 😀.

I’ve been testing and using the Logitech C920 for a week now. This is really a nice little camera! It takes good, sharp video, and the Logitech Webcam Software (LWS), works fine, though a bit limited in settings.

For those wanting some tech specs, I ran a bunch of tests and analyzed the files with MediaInfo.

LWS provides 4 modes: 360p (640×360 WMV), 480p (864×480 WMV), 720p (1280×720 MP4/AVC), and 1080p (1920×1080 MP4/AVC).

In “Preferences,” under the “Quick Capture” tab, it provides 3 audio and 3 video quality settings:

Audio:
Good (16) — 16kHz at 20kbps (mushy)
Better (32) — 32kHz at 48kbps (fine for voice)
Best (48) — 48kHz at 191kbps (DVD quality)
— These only matter at 360p and 480p.
— In the higher modes, the audio (AAC) is always 48kHz at 99kbps (vbr), no matter where you set the audio quality setting (bug?).

kbps and frame rates : ( 360p WMV / 480p WMV / 720p MP4-AVC / 1080p MP4-AVC )
Standard (small file): 549 at 15 / 1155 at 15 / 2000 at 30 / 3000 at 30
High Q (medium file): 943 at 15 / 2848 at 15 / 3000 at 30 / 4000 at 30
Lossless (large file): 1723 at 15 / 3848 at 15 / 4000 at 30 / 6000 at 30
— In 360 and 480, the video bit rate will vary quite a bit depending on the amount of motion in the video. Frame rate is constant at 15.
— In 720 and 1080, the bit rate is constant, and the frame rate is constant at 30, tho MediaInfo sometimes shows it as variable.

So you can see the highest quality mode is 1080p at 6000kbps at 30fps, which is probably what you wanna use if you’re gonna pull it into an editor, and then spit out the results at say, 2000, which makes a good quality video at a reasonable file size for uploading to YT, etc.

I don’t know what they mean by “lossless,” because what the software calls “lossless” is a mere 4-6 Mbps, highly compressed by the camera. But it’s more than good enough.

For the two AVC modes, the camera is putting out profile Baseline @ L4.0, no CABAC, 1 Reference Frame, CBR, and CFR. The color model is YUV 4:2:0, 8-bits, Progressive, as expected. This profile is widely compatible with many consumer HD video devices and software players.

If you’re gonna simply downsample the bitrate with Handbrake, you should make a profile that matches what the hardware in the camera puts out. Make your Handbrake (v0.9.6+) profile like this: -f mp4 -O –crop 0:0:0:0 –strict-anamorphic -e x264 -b 1500 –vfr -a 1 -E copy:aac -B 0 -6 auto -R Auto -D 0 –gain=0 –audio-copy-mask none -x bframes=0:8x8dct=0:cabac=0:weightp=0:ref=4:psy-rd=1.00,0.15 –verbose=1 (where -b = bitrate and -E copy:aac = audio pass-through). Note that I set RefFrames to 4, as it falls back to L3.1 if the ref is left at 1.

What about other video resolutions and modes? Running other capture software, like BB Flashback or AVS Video Recorder, you can pick all resolutions from 160×90 to 2304×1536 (at 2 fps) and the C920 will switch to any of them — so, yes, it will do all the 4:3 modes like 640×480, but not with LWS. There’s no reason they couldn’t put some common 4:3 modes in it, because the camera will do’em all, and wide-screen isn’t always desirable.

Does the camera put out raw video in the non-AVC modes, like a regular webcam? In LWS my processor (dual 3.06GHz) runs about 25% capturing 1080p, but about 45% capturing 480p. In other capture software, capturing 1080p in mjpeg or mpeg2/xvid maxes out the processor and stutters badly. So it would appear that the camera’s hardware compression only kicks in with 720p and 1080p AVC, and a good thing it does! My computer (and its USB2) won’t handle raw 1080p/30 video.

Snapshots, using LWS (all JPG, Q unknown and not settable):
Low: 1920×1080 (2MP, 472kB), a bit blurry in the details
Med: 2304×1536 (3MP, 649kB), the native resolution of the image sensor
Lrg: 3280×1845 (6MP, 1047kB), interpolated
Max: 5168×2907 (15MP, 1984kB), interpolated
— I can see no detail difference in medium, large, and max, so interpolation is useless (as expected).
— I took the sharpest snapshot at 2304×1536 (its native res.) in another capture program that will save a BMP (uncompressed). Indeed, I took that and up-scaled it to 15MP in IrfanView, then saved it as 80% jpeg, and it’s half the file size and better quality than what LWSs “Max” setting provided. IrfanView took the 45 meg BMP down to a 1 meg JPG (at 80% Q) and I can’t see any difference in details.

Now for the little complaints: None for the camera, but the LWS software could use some 4:3 resolutions and finer-grained controls, like setting the bit-rate of the audio and tweaking some AVC profile settings, more video containers like AVI and MOV, and an uncompressed (BMP) option for snapshots.

RightLight: Doesn’t seem to do anything. Either the Exposure and Gain are in Auto or not, and you have to uncheck RightLight to uncheck Auto. In auto, the exposure slider usually stays at 9 (of 14) clicks, and the gain varies. Fast motion is nice and smooth, though blurry. With ample lighting, you can improve the video a little by going to manual and putting the exposure at about 5 clicks and then up the gain for a normal picture, and there will be much less motion blur, just like setting a faster exposure on any camera.

I found one little bug in LWS: When you put the Gain in manual, it will slowly creep down, about 1% per second. It’s annoying.

Auto White Balance: Makes you look cold and dead. Set your lights, hold a white card about a foot in front of it, then turn off AWB, and you’ll look about right. Also, reducing the Color Intensity a bit makes faces look more natural. YMMV, so don’t be afraid to put it all in manual and set it just right for your lighting. And remember, no “auto” stuff will completely fix every lighting situation. I’m using a 45-watt, 5500K, CRI-91 full-spectrum Alzo CFL, and still need manual tweaking.

RightSound: A simple auto-volume that cuts the volume to about half if you get too loud. Seems to take about 1-2 seconds to respond. LWS has no VU bars or mic test, so you have to run something else to see what it’s doing. There is a mic level slider in Preferences and I found it to be too loud at the default mid-point; putting it at about 35% made the audio better. There are no audio equalization settings, and it’s just a bit “boomy” for my ears. A simple bass and treble filter would be nice.

Stereo: If you’re right in front of the camera, it sounds mono, but if you move around, you sure can hear the difference! But the software should have a mono setting, for those times when it’s pointed at something besides your face (like, your hobby on the table), and you’re talking beside the camera.

Autofocus: The range is from about 1.4 to 14 inches, and everything beyond that is infinity. To get it to macro-focus, you have to move in slowly, and the object needs some detail, or it just loses it and goes back to infinity. Better turning it off and setting manually for the task at hand. But if you’re talking within the 14 inches, the AF tracks pretty well and is reasonably fast.

Face following: Because it’s just moving the image around on the sensor, you have to be zoomed in some for it to work, and it only works in 360 and 480 modes. At most, it only “follows” for a few degrees of angle.

Didn’t try any of the “Effects” — not my cup of tea. You cannot use them at 720 and 1080, only 360 and 480. Didn’t try video phone or chat, so can’t comment on that.

Overall, I’m very impressed with the C920, and happy I made the purchase. And glad I didn’t get the C910, because my computer won’t handle raw 1080p.

–kv5r

As the owner of a multifaceted creative business that spans from the delicate work of jewelry making to the cutting-edge realm of 3D design and beyond, maintaining a high-quality online presence is paramount. This necessity became all the more apparent as I ventured into the world of vlogging and live streaming to showcase my work and connect with my audience. The Logitech C920 HD Pro Webcam has been a revelation in this journey, transforming how I share my craft with the world.

From the moment I integrated the C920 into my setup, the difference was night and day. The camera delivers stunning 1080p video quality that captures the intricate details of my creations, from the subtle textures in a piece of hand-carved wax to the vibrant colors of a sublimation print. This level of clarity has allowed me to share my work with unparalleled precision, providing my audience with a true-to-life view that’s as close to holding the pieces in their hands as possible.

The C920’s widescreen format has been particularly beneficial for my live demonstrations and tutorials. It offers a broad field of view that easily encompasses my workspace, allowing viewers to follow along with every step of the process without missing a beat. This feature has made my streaming sessions more engaging and informative, fostering a deeper connection with my audience.

Moreover, the webcam’s autofocus and light correction capabilities have proven invaluable. Whether I’m working late into the night or capturing the delicate sparkle of a gemstone under studio lights, the C920 adjusts seamlessly, ensuring my videos always look professional regardless of the lighting conditions. This adaptability has saved me countless hours of setup time, allowing me to focus more on my craft and less on troubleshooting technical issues.

The ease of use and compatibility of the Logitech C920 HD Pro Webcam have also been standout features. Its plug-and-play setup meant I was up and running in no time, compatible with both my desktop and laptop. This versatility has been essential for maintaining the flexibility my work demands, whether I’m streaming from my studio or sharing insights from a craft show.

In conclusion, the Logitech C920 HD Pro Webcam has been more than just a tool; it’s been a catalyst for growth in my business. It has elevated the quality of my online content, enabling me to share my passion for jewelry making, 3D design, and more with a clarity and professionalism that truly reflects the essence of my work. For any creative professional looking to enhance their online presence, the C920 is, without a doubt, a wise investment. It’s not just about showing your work; it’s about sharing your vision with the world, one crystal-clear video at a time.

I’m puzzled when I read the negative reviews, about this camera not working with [x]; this is my 3rd Logitech camera, and I’ve never had a problem getting them to work when I’ve reviewed the system requirements and made sure I was on a compatible machine running appropriate software. I’ve split use of this camera between my Mac Mini and my Macbook Air, and had no problem getting it to work on either machine, nor have I had any issue switching back and forth between them. Picture and sound quality are excellent, and there’s a free Logitech app in the App Store that lets me adjust the zoom, lighting etc that’s also effective and simple to use.

What’s really blown me away is that it’s also just as impressive now as it was almost two years ago, when I first started using it. I bought it in October 2016, to replace another Logitech camera; the cord connected to the back of the camera had frayed over time as a natural consequence of adjusting the angle over and over, making the older camera only work sporadically, and I fully expected something of that nature to happen to any camera I purchased. Not so with this one. The cord has held up, and not because I’ve babied it; it’s just a sturdier design and tougher than the model it replaced. And while we now have Ultra HD/4K cameras and better, this 1080p is still respectable quality; it’s not like the old “high def” TV a friend of mine has that’s 12 years old but whose picture now looks grainy and not at all impressive compared to other newer TVs. I’ve used a projector as a monitor for my Mac Mini and broadcast the video from this camera onto a relatively big screen (bigger than any TV I’ve seen) and the picture quality is still impressive. (I hope I don’t jinx myself!)

I’m not accustomed to peripherals like this maintaining their function over time. Either the gadget breaks or it becomes obsolete because newer versions of it do the job so much better that it becomes a relic. Not so with this camera. I spent more than the current price (not quite double what it’s going for now) and still really feel like I got my money’s worth. If I needed another camera I would consider buying another one, it’s that good. It’s nice to not have One More Thing that needs to be replaced, that just keeps working.

So yeah, take the time to look at the system requirements, and make sure you’re using a Mac running the stated minimum version of MacOS (or better), or a PC running the stated minimum version of Windows (or better), and your processor is fast enough and you’ve got enough room on your hard drive and all that, before you buy it. If you’re planning to use it for a specific app, perhaps you should check with that app’s developers to be sure that it’s compatible with it, but I can vouch for Mac versions of Skype, Zoom, ezTalks, and of course FaceTime and Photo Booth, as well as browser plugins for Firefox, Safari, Vivaldi and Opera: it works with all of them.

I can’t say enough good things about this camera. Unless you just absolutely have to have 4K/Ultra HD quality video, it’s well worth the price it’s currently going for, and I am happy to recommend it.