I tested 5 webcams so you don’t have to do it anymore – The winner costs 60 euros

If you want to make a video call in everyday life, you either need a device with a built-in camera or use a webcam. MeinMMO editor Benedikt Schlotmann bought half a dozen and reveals which camera he liked best.

How did the list come about? Since I work in the home office and regularly sit together with colleagues on calls or telephone calls, I need a webcam. After all, people expect me to be seen in the talks.

For this reason I bought several webcams. Because I wanted to find out which webcam is best suited for my setup and can accompany me in my calls. This list was created from these webcams, where I present my test devices to you in detail.

What criteria did I use to rate?

• Furnishings: How easy is it to set up the camera? Do I need additional software?
  Picture quality: How do I look on the camera picture?
• Accesories: What is included with the device and do I need anything else for the camera to work?

How did I test? Basically, I have not installed any additional software on any camera or made any additional settings. “Plug and Play” was therefore used for all webcams: the camera was plugged in and then recordings were made with OBS Studio or comparable software. I recorded the microphone with Audacity.

In the article you will find both a picture and a sound recording of the microphone for each tested camera.

The 6-euro webcam from the supermarket didn’t convince me at all

What does the device cost? I was able to buy the Trust Exis for around 6 euros at a discounter around the corner. For the price, you really can’t go wrong, I thought. And I was wrong.

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what is my impression The camera has a maximum resolution of 640 x 480 pixels. This is very little and the displayed image is correspondingly tiny. Programs like Teams scale my image up, but then I look very pixelated and very blurry. Every halfway decent mobile phone offers a better resolution.

The connection option is particularly interesting. The camera itself is connected to your computer via USB-A. If you want to use the internal microphone, you have to plug in a jack. But it’s so damn short that the USB output and jack socket on your computer have to be right next to each other.

how is the microphone I couldn’t get the microphone to work on my test system. That’s why you won’t find a test recording here.

Logitech’s entry-level cam delivers a mediocre image in combination with a usable microphone

What does the device cost? With the Logitech C270, the manufacturer Logitech has a camera in its portfolio that you can get on Amazon for around 15 euros.

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what is my impression The mounting bracket for the camera is okay and can also be attached to very bulky monitors. The setup works very quickly and the device is only connected via USB. The cable is also long enough.

The image quality is a maximum of 720p, so you don’t get a full HD cam. However, the image quality is sufficient for quick calls. In particular, the device cannot cope with changing lighting conditions. The noise reduction works more poorly than right. The white balance and the exposure correction are not always optimal either.

how is the microphone The microphone is really good compared to the picture quality. My voice is clearly recognizable, but the recording has a slight hiss.

A webcam from China for 25 euros offers decent quality in full HD

What does the device cost? With the wansview webcam, the Asian manufacturer of the same name offers a camera with full HD resolution. The price for the webcam is 25 euros.

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what is my impression The assembly is very easy to do and the camera sits extremely firmly, even on very bulky monitors, thanks to the small adhesive surfaces. In addition, the camera sits in a ball-and-socket hinge, which makes it easy to readjust if something doesn’t fit.

Although the picture quality is Full HD, I am not completely convinced. The colors are very pale and the white balance does not work properly. However, the autofocus works well and focuses quickly.

how is the microphone The wansview webcam’s microphone is very quiet. I’m understandable, but would have to increase the output level a lot. What you can hear here is the default setting:

Logitech’s middle class can convince me with good image quality

What does the device cost? Like the C270, the C920s also comes from the manufacturer Logitech. The price is between 60 and 70 euros. The camera officially offers Full HD resolution.

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what is my impression Installation is also not a problem here. With a small, additional foot on the mount, the camera does not slip off smooth surfaces and is additionally stabilized. The cable is also long enough that I can also run the cable behind my setup.

With the official camera program from Microsoft and also with Discord, I look razor-sharp and the autofocus does its job perfectly. However, some colleagues criticize that I am not always portrayed in a sharp light on teams. So I suspect it’s the software and not the hardware.

The white balance works better than on previous models. Overall, the image is much more detailed than the camera from the manufacturer wansview or Logitech’s C270.

how is the microphone With the microphone I am clearly understandable, albeit a bit artificial. The recording is also quite noisy, especially compared to the cheaper C270.

C920s vs C920: Logitech offers two different variants, but the technology is identical. With the C920s you get a privacy screen for the camera lens. Otherwise, the same hardware is in the camera.

My most expensive webcam is bulky and offers a decent picture

What does the device cost? Logitech’s Streamcam officially costs 160 euros, but is now also available for 90 euros. The camera uses Full HD and also uses a USB-C connection. An adapter from USB-C to USB-A was not included with me. So if you don’t have a USB-C port on your computer, you’ll need an adapter.

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what is my impression Similar to the C920s, the Streamcam also uses a small foot on the bracket. The camera urgently needs this, because the model is very bulky. The camera didn’t want to hold onto a filigree gaming monitor from HP and kept slipping down due to the weight.

The picture quality convinces me. I look consistently sharp and the autofocus finds me quickly, even with brisk movements. The white balance generally works well. In bright light, however, the camera darkens the rest of the image. Then the window in the background is sharp and displayed with high contrast, while I blur in the dark.

Compared to the C920s, the image appears brighter and paler. Unlike the C920s, the Streamcam lacks depth of field. This means that details are lost in the background, which is not so important for me since I use the camera in conversations with colleagues.

how is the microphone The microphone is really good, I sound natural and the recording is almost without annoying noise. Especially in comparison to the C920s you notice the clear difference in sound.

My conclusion: winners, losers and the surprise

Who is my winner? I had to think a long time about the winner, because both the C920s and the Streamcam from Logitech both offer a good picture. Overall, the colors of the C920s look a bit stronger and the depth of field is significantly better. However, the Streamcam’s microphone is the best in the test among all cameras.

Since the Streamcam didn’t fit on all of my monitors either, I finally decided on the C920s, which are 20 euros cheaper.

*Affiliate links. We receive a small commission from Amazon if you make a purchase. Thanks for your support!

Who is the loser? By far the most affordable Trust Exis. The camera is absolutely not worth the six euros and you should not consider buying it. Technically, it is outdated and there are significantly better alternatives for a few more euros.

Is there a surprise? The wansview webcam actually surprised me. Reasonable full HD quality is already available for 25 euros. If you are “only” looking for a webcam for irregular calls, then I can definitely recommend this device. If you can sacrifice image quality and would rather have a better microphone, then the Logitech C270 is actually a viable option.

What do you think? Do you have a webcam that you can recommend or even own one from my list? Did you like my overview? Tell us in the comments!

Other products for the eyes: If you find normal webcams boring, then you should take a look at the following example. Because this creepy device, which looks like a human eye, watches you when you are gaming or sitting at your desk. This may not please everyone:

Creepy webcam is watching you all the time when you are gambling