Where the SPC1330 scores particularly well is audio performance. The stereo microphones do an excellent job of relaying speech in a clear, coherent manner and cancel out background noise and echo too.
Picture perfect: Arcsoft's control panel offers plenty of tweaks
The bundled ArcSoft software lets you adjust near enough all the camera's settings, as well as do all the usual webcammy things like capturing still and moving images. You can also set the camera to detect and record motion, launch popular IM applications and perform very basic image editing. Images can be decorated too, with a host of amusing backgrounds, frames and filters.
Visible difference: beats built-in webcams hands down
While Philips makes no mention of Mac or Linux support – the software bundle is Windows only – the SPC1330 worked out of the box with Skype on both a MacBook Pro and an old Advent laptop running Ubuntu. Certainly, the MacBook's iSight camera performed better than the Dell's, but it was still left in the dust by the SPC1330.
Verdict
As a device for video chatting the SPC1330 has a lot going for it. The basic design is extremely adaptable and the twin microphones do a great job. The camera gives a consistently fine performance with good colour balance, excellent light handling properties and a very effective – if sometimes slow - autofocus. Yet, truth be told, recording the advertised 90f/s at a decent resolution, simply won't be in the frame for most users. ®
More Webcam Reviews...
Novo Minoru 3D webcam |
WowWee Rovio Mobile |
Logitech Digital Video Security |
Creative Live! Cam Optia AF |
Philips SPC1330NC
COMMENTS
And a bottle of snake oil
Unless you took still images of a picture of a painting, I don't see the "consistently fine performance." A 75% rating is generous for a product that's ugly, takes bad pictures, and has false specifications all over the front of the box. I would have returned it for a refund.
@Geoff Stevens
Or they could, y'know, go and get a girlfriend instead.
Specifications
So, the specs are 90fps but not, 8mp but not, and HD quality, but not.
Why the hell do they bother with the specs? Here, then - I'm going to sell a camera with 52 megapixels, 10,000 frames per second, and 256 bits per pixel color depth. Except not. What do I win?
Assholes.
A PS3 Eye competitor
Might be good for use with large FTIR touch screen setups.
For example MS surface.
@Next time
I think you're all being a little harsh. I was going to say angry infant.
Clam.
