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Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920 review
Jason Tsay
Most laptops these days come with webcams built in. However, integrated webcams typically don’t provide very good image quality, even if they claim to be “HD.” Desktop users, on the other hand, are completely out of luck when it comes to out of the box video chatting. Logitech’s HD Pro Webcam C920 offers a simple and elegant solution for high definition, full 1080p Skyping. But is it worth the $99 price tag? Read on to find out!
Features
- H.264 HW encoding for faster, smoother HD experiences
- Carl Zeiss optics with premium 20-step AutoFocus
- Full HD 1080p video calling on Skype
- Full HD 1080p recordings and Fast upload to Facebook, Tweeter and YouTube
- High quality dual mic for stereo audio
- Tripod ready base
Our Impressions
The Logitech C920 comes in a relatively large box considering only the webcam and a small stack of manuals are packed inside.
Design
The C920 is pretty slick looking, as far as webcams go. In the center is a wide pane with the camera. Carl Zeiss Tessar HD 1080p and Logitech are embossed on the opposite sides. On the far left and right of the webcam are stereo microphones. Despite its plastic build, the C920 definitely feels like its built to last.
Mount
The C920’s universal mount is cleverly designed to work with most LCD monitors for laptops or desktops, and even CRTs.
The flat stand is adjustable at four axes and has a rubber pad at the end to guarantee stability. We had no issues attaching the C920 in a stable position on one of Asus’s notoriously angular monitors. If you plan on using the C920 to record hilarious viral videos of yourself, the mount is also compatible with standard tripods. This means that technically you can use this webcam as a video camera, as long as you film within range of the fairly lengthy USB cable.
Optics
Image performance on the C920 is simply stunning. Glorious high definition video is recorded by the 15 megapixel sensor and encoded in H.264. It can be streamed in full 1080p using Skype and up to 720p for other services. The 20 step autofocus worked quickly and kept my face in focus at all times. Images, such as the one you see above, capture at 1920 x 1080 resolution.
Low light performance is pretty impressive with the C920. I initiated a Skype call in a pitch black room and the quality was astounding. Lighting of my face was properly balanced with just minimal lighting from my computer monitor. There will be a bit of flare if you angle a lamp in the direction of the webcam, but this isn’t too unusual.
Microphones
The stereo microphones on either side of the C920 provide for a more lifelike sound. When the person on the other end of the call is wearing a headset, sound is clearly louder on one side or the other depending on which side of the webcam I was on. This can be especially interesting when there are multiple people around one computer. In addition, the dual microphone setup aids in automatic noise reduction - we certainly didn’t experience too much unwanted background noise in testing.
Software
Logitech offers a webcam software suite with the C920, including motion detection, a mask maker, and also some general webcam adjustment tools. They can be pretty handy when surrounding conditions aren’t ideal but the automatic adjustment did a pretty great job in most of our testing. There are also several fun filters that can potentially bring much amusement. Face tracking worked pretty well when we put on a cyborg mask or a shark’s head.
Overall
There’s no doubt that the C920 is a killer webcam that is great for just about everyone. Whether you’re simply trying to Skype with family on the other side of the world or are a professional YouTuber who needs a self recording tool, the C920 is one of the most visually capable webcams available right now.
Pro’s
- Great optics
- Easily adjustable
- Tripod compatible
Con’s
- None
Where to buy
Logitech — MSRP: $99.99
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