Microsoft’s 1080p LifeCam Studio Webcam [Webcam]

The $100 Microsoft LifeCam Studio webcam has a 1080p sensor that’s 2.2 times larger than a 720p webcam. It also has TrueColor, a tech that optimizes the image so your video stream look better to the opposite person. It’s pretty good!

Some quick factoids:
• It’s a widescreen 1080p image, so you will get more people into the shot instantly, for group webcamming
• There’s a ultra-wideband microphone that captures audio from everywhere in the place
• 360-degree swivel for the camera itself
• A tripod mountable base so they can stand it up to your desk or somewhere on a tripod

Right now the maximum video stream quality for both Logitech Vid and Skype and Windows Live Messenger beta is 720p, so you may only do video calls at 720p. The LifeCam Studio doesn’t currently work with Skype’s beta, but it surely does with Windows Live Messenger. Some of these video suites have to be upgrading to 1080p somewhere along the line though, once processing power and internet connections get to some degree where they’ll handle it. It’ll be a number of years, so for now, you should use this camera as a 1080p local recording device.

I had a possibility to check out the cam with a Microsoft engineer, and from what I saw, the quality is pretty darn good. The LifeCam studio readjusts for sub-optimal lighting situations so that your face is exposed correctly and not blown-out or underlit. Considering most folks don’t light their faces properly when on video chats-lights behind the webcam pointing at you-it’s good to have something that takes care of it for you.

As for the look of the webcam, it hasn’t changed from the previous LifeCam Cinama, aside from the shield to block direct light falling onto the lens, so while you like those, you’ll like this. [ Microsoft ]

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This post is tagged: internet connections, lighting situations, microsoft engineer, windows live messenger, windows live messenger beta