If you are a gamer and love to live stream and share your fights with friends, and of course, when live streaming, viewers will want to see your face or hands playing the game.
But for viewers to be able to observe you, a webcam is a must-have. Then a webcam will be an indispensable and essential device.
Below I will share the knowledge and experience in buying the most suitable Webcam for you and the must-know criteria when considering buying them.
Using a webcam when live streaming
Live streaming or live streaming is a term that refers to content that is transmitted directly over the Internet, which requires a specified communication device (e.g., such as video cameras, audio interchange systems, screen capture software), an encoder to digitize the content, a media publisher. A content distribution network to distribute and deliver the content.
You are using a webcam when live streaming will bring a lot of benefits. The first can be mentioned the convenience; you need to sit back in the chair and focus on working or playing games without using devices such as phones or camcorders to record.
Best of all, it’s also much easier to connect directly to a PC during recording. At the same time, the front-facing camera can record face close-ups at different angles that you can flexibly adjust to suit your sitting position.
How Do you choose the right Livestream camera
- Check the Resolution and frame rate
- Video compression capabilities
- Webcam viewing angle
- Autofocus and light correction
- Is there a microphone or not?
- Mobility
- Price
1. Resolution and frame rate
This is a pretty important criterion when you choose to buy a webcam. Usually, you will have to Livestream continuously for many hours.
Therefore, you should select webcams with fast recording speed. The higher the recording speed, the smoother the Livestream process will be, limiting lag.
In addition, webcams with a recording rate of 30 frames on the wire and a wide viewing angle will also be one of the perfect choices because they will possess high resolution, supporting viewers. You can see a precise and more realistic picture.
2. Video compression capabilities
The following criterion you need to pay attention to is the video compression capability of the Webcam.
It can be understood simply that in the file encryption process, compared to the original file, the space consumed will be less. This makes the process of transferring data over the Internet faster and simpler.
Currently, the webcams on the market are equipped with the advanced technology with advanced encryption standards.
As a result, the quality of the Livestream is also more effective. So, when choosing a webcam, you should carefully consider this feature so that your videos will have better quality!
3. Webcam viewing angle
The webcam viewing angle will determine the clarity and whether the displayed image is good. You should carefully calculate the sitting position and space you want to record to choose a suitable webcam. Especially when during the Livestream, having a good view will attract more viewers.
You can rely on a few of the following specifications to choose a suitable webcam:
- 60 degrees only captures images of people sitting in front of the computer
- 78 degrees wider viewing angle can grasp the idea of two people sitting in front of the computer
- 90 degrees allows recording of a whiteboard or a group of people
Thus, if you are mainly live streaming alone, you should consider choosing a webcam with a 60-degree viewing angle. If the viewing angle is too broad, it is unnecessary, wasting money.
4. Autofocus and light correction
Light and sharpness will also be essential factors. If you have to Livestream in insufficient light, you must pay attention to this criterion.
The Webcam automatically aligns and focuses on making your videos more transparent and free of noise when in use.
You should choose designed webcams equipped with professional settings and distinguish objects in a static state. Or webcams with built-in ring lights placed around the lens to provide adjustable brightness levels.
5. Is there a microphone or not?
The majority of webcams include a microphone. A webcam with two microphones on either side of the lens provides listeners with a more natural audio feed. The dual-microphone webcam device is ideal for video calls and live streams.
You can also consider choosing a webcam with an integrated omnidirectional microphone for the best voice recognition.
With a microphone and Webcam, your Livestream will be more exciting; you don’t have to use any other recording equipment.
Which Webcam Should You Buy For Streaming?? (Best Webcam)👇🏿👇🏿
6. Mobility
Mobility is also a criterion worth considering. Currently, most webcams have a relatively compact design, and you can take them anywhere.
This makes your Livestream more flexible. You can choose a new live-stream space without worrying about moving or assembling the Webcam.
You can choose webcams like the Rapoo C280, which is highly compact and can rotate 360 degrees to make it easy to record Full HD videos anywhere. Asus C3 will also be another reasonable and perfect choice you can consider owning.
7. Price
You will make the right choice depending on your needs and economic conditions. Webcams with good image quality, high resolution, and beautiful design will cost quite a lot. Determining which features you value most would be beneficial.
However, you also do not need to choose a too expensive webcam because there will be features you feel are unnecessary; not using all the parts will be pretty wasteful. But do not choose too cheap because quality often goes hand in hand with price.
How to improve the quality of the webcam Livestream simply and effectively.
If you often have to turn on the Webcam for meetings, live streams, or online learning but encounter blurred, unclear images. Here are a few ways to improve webcam quality.
Improve webcam quality
- Notice the light in the workspace.
- Take advantage of the sunlight.
- Placement of light
- Manual Recording Settings
- Exposure is the time the Webcam receives light before creating an image.
- Add LUTs for color grading.
- Clean the Webcam regularly
- Buy an external camera.
1. Notice the light in the workspace.
Webcam quality is sometimes affected by lighting. In dark environments, the Webcam is sometimes not explicit and often encounters noise.
You should therefore be mindful of the lighting in your workspace. That will help the Webcam work better, resulting in better image quality.
Additionally, evenly diffused soft light won’t create harsh shadows or hot spots. You can also use specialized lighting devices like the Elgato ring light to improve the lighting of your workplace.
2. Take advantage of the sunlight.
Sunlight will make your webcam record much better. Although you have fully equipped with lights, sometimes the light is not even; the light is only focused on the face, and the surrounding scene may not be bright enough.
Therefore, if you work or meet during the day, you should take advantage of sunlight to get a good light source, helping the Webcam when recording to achieve better quality.
3. Placement of light
You need to pay attention to the location where the light is placed. It would be best if you ensured that the light source is in front of you.
That is, the Webcam can record you and see your face. If the light source is behind or on the sides, it will cause the light to be back and bright.
This will make the image recorded from the Webcam not sharp, sometimes even experiencing blur.
4. Manual Recording Settings
To improve the Webcam, you can manually adjust exposure, white balance, and ISO/gain values. This will help the webcam record a more beautiful, bright, and clear image.
5. Exposure is the time the Webcam receives light before creating an image.
Increasing this number will make your photo look brighter. You can also max exposure without losing frame rate or color drift.
Lower the ISO level as much as possible because the higher the number, the noisier the image will appear.
White balance will determine the white if your photo looks more blue or orange. If you use a temperature lamp for lighting, you should first change the temperature of the light to the temperature you want and then set the white balance.
6. Add LUTs for color grading.
Use the Lookup Table (LUT) to colorize your images. There are many free LUTs on the web, and you can apply them to edit light, color, and temperature.
This will help the image captured from the Webcam be more color correct. You can also easily edit the color of the recorded video whenever you want.
7. Clean the Webcam regularly
Webcams are often dusty, so you should pay attention to cleaning the lens to improve the quality of the displayed image.
It would help if you cleaned the webcam glass with a soft cloth. Check the cleanliness of the camera before starting to shoot.
8. Buy an external camera.
If you want higher-quality images, buy an external camera. There are many types with prices in different segments, from a few hundred to a few million, like Rapoo C280 and Logitech C310.
External webcams often bring clearer, more realistic images. Create professionalism in work as well as meetings.
Why should you clean the Webcam?
When using a PC regularly without cleaning, your Webcam will be blurred or faulty due to dust when used, resulting in poor image quality and not clear.
So when you need to use a webcam in Livestream for work or study, it will significantly affect your user experience.
Cleaning the Webcam brings great benefits, helping your laptop record better-quality images, and avoiding damage due to long-term accumulation of dirt. That allows the laptop’s Webcam has a longer, more durable life.
How to clean webcam
- Use a microfiber cloth to wipe the Webcam.
- Check the image focus ring.
- Use compressed air
- Use a soft brush
- Use a blower
- Use a webcam lens cleaning kit.
- Use water to clean
- Use a damp sponge
- Use a spray bottle
- Avoid using harmful chemicals.
1. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe the Webcam.
Prepare a microfiber cloth to wipe the Webcam. Microfiber fabric will make the towel softer when brushing. Avoid choosing towels with rough, complex materials because they will easily scratch the Webcam when cleaning.
2. Check the image focus ring.
Test the focus area of the Webcam on the computer.
3. Use compressed air
Prepare a can of compressed air with a small hose to help push the dirt accumulated on the laptop’s Webcam. Bring the spray bottle close to the Webcam and squeeze gently to make the air blow the dirt out of the Webcam.
4. Use a soft brush
Next, gently brush the webcam portion with a soft brush. Use a brush to clean the webcam face and dust slot gently. Organize from left to right and from top to bottom.
5. Use a blower
Besides, you can also use the air blower in the laptop cleaning kit to push the dirt by gently squeezing the air away to remove the residue on the Webcam.
6. Use a webcam lens cleaning kit.
A dedicated cleaning kit for webcam lenses will help ensure a much cleaner webcam. The cleaning kit includes:
- A dust blower.
- A webcam cleaning pen.
- Technical paper for cleaning webcam glass.
- A fine cloth.
- A webcam cleaning solution.
- A wet wipe.
7. Use water to clean.
Wet a microfiber cloth with water, then use one hand to hold the laptop screen and the other hand to clean the Webcam thoroughly.
When cleaning, be very gentle, and avoid pressing hard on the net. One note is that you should soak the towel first, do not spray or pour it directly.
8. Use a damp sponge
You can also use a household sponge to clean the Webcam. Choosing a new foam pad or one free of impurities and chemicals should be taken. Then, moisten the sponge with water and wring it out to prevent water from dripping onto the screen and Webcam.
Next, gently wipe the dusty areas on the Webcam and always keep a gentle hand to avoid scratching the Webcam.
9. Use a spray bottle
Another way to clean the Webcam is with the all-purpose cleaning spray. The spray can quickly clean and remove dirt on glass surfaces like webcams.
You need to shake the bottle well, spray it directly on the webcam surface, wipe it with paper, and clean your Webcam.
10. Avoid using harmful chemicals.
Only water and specialized cleaning solutions should be used to clean the Webcam. Do not use solutions containing toxic chemicals or strong detergents to avoid affecting the quality of the Webcam.
Other uses of Webcam
A webcam, short for a Website Camera, is a digital video recording device connected to a computer to directly transmit the images it has recorded to another computer or a website via the Internet.
Webcam is now a mandatory component on all laptops. Depending on the computer segment, the image quality of the Webcam will also vary; usually, the more expensive the computer, the higher the resolution the Webcam will have.
For desktop computers, users can buy a separate webcam to attach to the machine.
Webcams: Catering for online calling needs
Making online video calls is an excellent use of the Webcam on a laptop. With this feature, the Webcam will help capture images and transmit them to a computer, allowing you and another person to chat and see each other’s photos remotely on the Internet, just like two people talking directly.
Moreover, video chat is accessible through tools such as Facebook Messenger, Google Hangout, Skype, etc.
Catering for gaming needs
In some new 3D games, the Webcam is used as a device to help identify the player’s location. To better understand this use, you can experience some games like 3D Target Shooting at Newgrounds.com; this game will use the Webcam on your laptop to locate and help display 3D effects near your location.
In addition, on the website above, several other games also use webcams, such as Night of the Ninja, Bunny Zap, or Dress Up Yourself.
Login to Computer via Webcam
On some new Windows laptops, manufacturers have added a face recognition feature to log in instead of the traditional method of fingerprinting or entering a password.
This feature will use the Webcam you have on your laptop to capture the face image, then transmit it to the processing system to check if it is the correct owner of the device or not; if it is, the machine will automatically log in.
Filming and recording
Another great use of the Webcam on a laptop is to help you record videos and combine it with the microphone available on the computer to record.
This filming and recording are significant for users who often have to submit video assignments to their teachers but do not have smartphones or professional filming equipment.
However, you should also note that recording with a webcam on a laptop will not have the same high quality as on smartphones or specialized cameras.
Besides the indisputable advantages, webcams on laptops still have certain disadvantages, such as webcams that hackers can control to monitor your images.
Hackers can see and hear your every action, even with the built-in microphone. This is also the most significant limitation of webcams on laptops and is one reason that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has to cover the Webcam on his computer and the microphone.
Notes when using Webcam
Besides the convenience that the Webcam brings, it still has certain disadvantages. Because it does not have a security support function, it also looks for hidden threats to users, for example.
Such as Webcam can be hacked and controlled by hackers to monitor your images. Even if your computer is hacked, when combined with the built-in microphone, hackers can both see and hear.
Therefore, please disconnect the device if there is no need to use it to limit being tracked and grade your security information, seriously affecting your privacy and personal and unnecessary troubles.
Live streaming: Is it a fad?
A fad, live streaming is not. According to a Cisco estimate, the video will make up 80% of all internet traffic worldwide by 2019.
The number of video posts per user on the well-known social media platform has increased by 75% globally and 94% in the United States.
Since Facebook’s love affair with all things video in 2015 (take a look at their algorithm’s preference for video content and their staggered release of Facebook Live).
Some standard terms for webcams
- HD Webcam:
- A webcam that supports video calling with 720p HD resolution.
- HP TrueVision Webcam:
- A webcam on HP laptops, fine-tuned to see even in low-light conditions.
- VGA Webcam:
- Webcam with resolution VGA 640 x 480px
Some Network broadcast cameras I can recommend for you.
Image | Name | Price Link |
 | PTZOptics 30X-NDI Network Broadcast Camera | On Amazon, you can see the price right here. |
 | Primal PTZ Camera, 20X-SDI 1080P Live Streaming Camera Runs Wirecast OBS vMix Livestream Studio. | On Amazon, you can see the price right here. |
 | 30x Optical Zoom PTZ Optics Facebook Live Internet Broadcast Conference Camera | On Amazon, you can see the price right here. |
Final thought
Above is the knowledge and experience in choosing the right Webcam for your Livestream and the knowledge about it.
I am sure it will be essential and will significantly assist you if you intend to decide to buy a webcam for yourself or want to learn information about webcams.
In today’s time, there are many webcam models for Livestream work. Webcams today are diverse in terms of quality design, the purpose of use, and price, so choosing to buy is tricky.
I hope the experience and knowledge I bring above will help you somewhat from that; you will have an excellent choice in selecting a live webcam.
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