Our Verdict
Whereas it actually has its limitations, the Logitech C920 HD Professional remains to be among the finest webcams in the marketplace, regardless of its age. If you happen to’re in search of an reasonably priced digicam that you need to use for on a regular basis actions or as a starter streaming digicam, you possibly can’t go mistaken with the C920 HD Professional.
- Reasonably priced
- Respectable HD video high quality
- Dependable autofocus
- Tinny microphone
- Low framerate
- Outpaced by newer fashions
If you happen to’re available in the market for a brand new webcam, you’ve in all probability been bamboozled by the variety of merchandise on provide – with 4K resolutions, built-in mics, and USPs designed to alter the sport. Combined in amongst these choices, although, is a ten-year-old digicam that’s nonetheless going toe to toe with the most recent know-how.
The Logitech C920 HD Professional is an reasonably priced HD digicam that deserves its declare as one of many finest webcams out there proper now. Though it got here out in 2013, Logitech’s potential to mix efficiency with value has meant it’s turn into a staple buy for anybody seeking to enhance their video convention and streaming expertise.
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Specs
The Logitech C920 Professional specs aren’t precisely one thing you’d shout from the rooftop as of late, however they’re value speaking about. The digicam is able to recording full HD video, albeit at 30fps. It’s also able to recording in 720p at 30fps, however let’s be trustworthy – most of us will go for the complete HD model given the selection.
It additionally comes with a 78° area of view, which is large sufficient to suit every thing into body, and for video conferencing and the occasional stream, it’s greater than sufficient. The place I’ve had the occasional downside is with the autofocus – if I’m not centered in body when the video begins, the autofocus can typically battle for just a few seconds. It’s solely a minor factor although, and, for essentially the most half, the autofocus works effectively.
Listed below are the Logitech C920 Professional HD specs:
| Max decision | 1080p/30 fps – 720p/30fps |
| Focus | Autofocus |
| Lens kind | Glass |
| Constructed-in mic | Stereo (as much as 1m in vary) |
| Discipline of view | 78° |
| Connection kind | USB-A |
| Dimensions | 43 x 94 x 71 mm (H x W x D) |
The opposite factor to say within the specs checklist is the built-in omnidirectional microphone. It’s fairly tinny however higher than most in-built stereo microphones in laptops. Whereas it data speech clearly, it may’t beat the finest gaming microphone for high quality.
Design
In comparison with a few of its main rivals, the C920 isn’t precisely essentially the most placing of webcams. It’s easy, with the digicam being housed inside an oblong body that’s connected to a claw-style grip.
The grip can both be hooked onto the again of your monitor or laptop computer display screen and adjusted or connected to a tripod of your alternative. I’ve had mine connected to numerous issues through the years and the claw has been in a position to adapt to just about every thing I’ve thrown at it. At present, it’s sitting on a mounted monitor, with the claw hooked over a fairly chunky VESA mount on the again.
Its glossy, all-black design signifies that it doesn’t look too misplaced in my workplace and the lengthy 1.5m wire signifies that I’m in a position to proceed utilizing the digicam with my standing desk with out a lot adjustment. That being mentioned, my standing setup stretches the cable to its absolute restrict, so I’d measure out your setup in case your laptop is on the ground.
One in every of my favourite options of the C920 HD Professional is the blue LED mild, which turns when the digicam is recording video or audio. Given this specific mannequin doesn’t include a privateness display screen, it’s a pleasant approach to be sure you’re not going to say, see, or hear one thing you’ll remorse.
Efficiency
The most effective issues about this Logitech digicam is that it’s plug-and-play – you don’t must spend hours putting in applications and desperately attempting to tweak settings earlier than its first use. If you happen to go away the default settings, you’ll discover that the picture will look somewhat uninteresting, however for an out-of-the-box efficiency, you possibly can’t complain.
In fact, to get the most effective out of this little digicam, you’ll must mess around with the settings somewhat bit. Logitech has a few applications you possibly can set up to do that, however my favourite is personally the Logitech G Hub just because it permits me to tinker with my different Logitech merchandise on the similar time.
Since my laptop faces a window, I needed to tinker with the C920 to work with the sunshine in my workplace. Whereas it took me a short time to seek out the candy spot, I used to be in a position to save my settings as a brand new filter, permitting me to modify it on and off each time I wanted it.
You possibly can see the distinction within the photos under, however for essentially the most half, the one factor I wanted to tweak was the brightness as within the default mode, the image seemed somewhat overexposed for my liking.
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It’s a unique image altogether although in low mild. With my curtains closed and my foremost workplace lights on, the C920 dulled just about every thing. Nevertheless, with just a few tweaks within the G Hub – significantly to the white steadiness, which is about to auto by default – I used to be in a position to deliver extra pure coloration into the shot.
These settings translate naturally into no matter video conferencing platform I exploit too. Google Meet, Zoom, and Microsoft Groups cater to full HD decision as of late, so I’m all the time assured that I’ll look my finest heading into conferences. Throughout testing, I’ve discovered that the digicam can typically flicker or the body charge dips in Google Meet and Groups, but it surely tends to solely occur in low mild settings. As already talked about, the identical may very well be mentioned for the digicam’s autofocus, however it’s, on the entire, a constant performer.
For a 5-megapixel digicam, I’ve been genuinely impressed by what it may do. I’ve owned the C920 for over 5 years and whereas I’ve largely solely used it for video conferencing functions, I’ve additionally used it to stream. Positive, it’s not essentially the most spectacular little bit of equipment – particularly because it’s capped at 30fps – however if you happen to’re seeking to get began on platforms like Twitch or YouTube, you possibly can’t go mistaken with the C920.
The digicam’s area of view is kind of large, and whereas that’s superb for video conferencing functions, I ended up cropping the view in OBS for my Twitch stream. I discover the broader view somewhat distracting in reside streams, but it surely has worth for video conferencing.
The place the C920 does fall flat, although, is with its in-built microphone. In my checks, I used to be in a position to file audio clearly with none distortion, however the total high quality wasn’t nice. My voice sounds fairly tinny and flat when performed again and doesn’t do justice to my dulcet tones.
Whereas it’s uncommon to seek out an in-built microphone that doesn’t distort your voice, I’d suggest pairing the C920 with one of many finest USB microphones or one of many finest gaming headsets as an alternative. The microphone high quality on any of those merchandise will far outweigh something the C920 is able to. I run the Rode NT USB Mic, which has served me effectively for over two years.
Do you have to purchase the Logitech C920 HD Professional?
Sure: If you happen to’re in search of an reasonably priced webcam that’ll remember to enhance your video conferencing choices, I’d suggest the Logitech C920 HD Professional. It’s an reasonably priced digicam that’s completed greater than sufficient to earn its plaudits through the years. It’s additionally an excellent digicam for these seeking to dip their toes into the world of streaming.
No: If you happen to want the best decision potential and an honest built-in microphone, then the C920 isn’t for you.
Options
As an alternative, you would possibly need to take into account the next webcams:
