Logitech is arguably one of the longest standing juggernauts in the PC space, pumping out peripherals into the market at all levels. When it comes to webcams, they have been a solid go-to from the very beginning. Now, more than ever, with the boom of online content creation, users are looking for high performance out of their gear to elevate the standards of quality. Into this arena, Logitech released the StreamCam – a full HD offering promising capture rates of 60 frames per second at its highest resolution.
Thanks to our friends over at Logitech, we got our hands on one and can’t wait to put it through its paces. But first, let’s get an overview of what we’re looking at.
Specifications:
- MSRP: $169.99
- Maximum Resolution: 1080p at 60 frames per second
- Supported Resolutions: 1920×1080, 1280×720, 960×540, 848×480, 640×360, 320×240
- Video Formats: MJPEG, YUY2, NV12
- Supported Frame Rates: 60 (MJPEG only), 30, 24, 20, 15, 10, 7.5, 5
- Lens: full HD glass lens
- Aperture: f/2.0
- Field of View: 78 degrees
- Audio: dual omnidirectional mics with noise reduction
- Connection Type: USB-C, 3.1
- Cable Length: 5ft/1.5m
- System Compatibility: Windows 10, macOS 10.14
- Available in White and Graphite
Out of the box, the StreamCam is a noticeably different animal from its predecessor, the C922 Pro. It has a larger footprint overall with a variety of options for mounting. While the C922 Pro is designed for both monitor and tripod mounting like the StreamCam, the StreamCam itself can detach from its base. This allows users to clip the camera into its tripod mount or to be flipped 90 degrees to enable portrait mode for TikTok or Facebook videos.
That’s not all that is different between these two; the StreamCam has a slightly larger aperture (f/2.0) than the C922 Pro (f/2.8). This means that more light will find its way into your shot, reducing some of the visual noise found in low lit recording situations. It is no replacement for good lighting, but the change does help. The trade off of a larger aperture is a lower depth of field, but let’s be honest: if you are looking for depth of field, a modern webcam is not going to give that to you.
The StreamCam also has built in image stabilization. This may seems like an odd feature for a stationary webcam, but if you are in the moment, feverishly clicking keys, you may not see the subtle camera shake. While this feature does not fully remove all of the jittering from a shaking desk, it does help stabilize the image – specifically around your face.
The StreamCam is optimized for use with OBS, Streamlabs, and XSplit, but when it is paired with the Logitech Capture software, more features and customization options become available. One such example is AI-enabled facial tracking. Using this feature the camera will zoom in closer to your face and track your movement. It’s a niché feature, but pretty neat to see in action. Logitech Capture is available on Windows and, for the first time, on macOS – at least in beta form for now.
To illustrate the features found within Logitech Capture for the StreamCam, along with a comparison between the StreamCam and the C922 Pro, the video below will give you a visual tour of the software.
Observations, Critiques, and Insights:
The StreamCam is a positive step forward for Logitech. Offering a product to fill in the gaps better the Brio 4K and the C922 Pro, the StreamCam captures full HD at 60 frames per second with extra features to offer a variety of content creators. It has a ton of features that set it apart as its own entity as a content creator’s webcam.
But here within lies the hitch:
From a price point perspective, the StreamCam retails $169.99, whereas the C922 Pro (and competitor, the Razer Kiyo) retails for $99.99. If a fledgling content creator is spending money on gear, both the Kiyo and the C922 Pro offer 60 frames per second running 720p. That is not a bad place to start if you are only using the camera for a picture-in-picture in the lower-third portion of the screen.
Now, there are arguable features that the StreamCam has that these cameras do not, but this price differential seems a bit vast. This does raise some questions for me of value versus investment for the user’s purposes. Are these extra features that the StreamCam offers worth the extra $70? Will a first time content creator benefit from things like face tracking and AI-drive autofocus or is the StreamCam (and all of its features) more of an aspirational piece of gear for a good quality bump later on down the road?
I do want to talk for a moment about the microphone quality. It is not the worst quality in build in microphones, but it is not great either. It feels a bit tinny – which you can hear in the video recording above. I would not recommend using it as a main audio source unless you are using it for a video call, such as FaceTime or Discord.
I feel that the StreamCam is a bit of a missed opportunity on the audio front. Think about it like this: Logitech and Blue Design have recently joined forces and we are already seeing Blue’s touches in the form of Blue VO!CE within recent Logitech products. It would be an understatement to say that the Blue Yeti has been the go-to USB-based streaming mic since the inception of streaming. With Blue Design’s powerhouse pro audio work in both design and function merging with Logitech’s supremacy in the webcam market, bringing together the DNA of these legendary partners could have made the StreamCam a truly peerless product – an all-in-one solution for streamers.
Perhaps, that will be the next iteration.
From a design standpoint, the overall design of the StreamCam makes it stand out from the pack as a whole new breed unto itself. While it is a little chunkier, it has a friendly aesthetic with its softer edges and cloth facing. This camera looks intentionally designed to both take the shots and be in them. After all, it does come in both white and graphite; it is made to be seen. Since aesthetics are a bit subjective, we’ll dive into the functional aspects.
The StreamCam has a thick USB Type-C cable that has a quality feel to the cable design and a generous length at five feet. The monitor mount articulates well to fit your shooting needs and both the plastic casing and clips have a sturdy fit together. These all keep the camera snug, no matter your mounting orientation.
Speaking of the mounting, it is good to see that the StreamCam has an extra clip, but it seems a bit superfluous outside of the aesthetic taste. The C922 Pro has a threaded mount on the underside of the monitor mount, however, using it like this leaves you with a larger footprint. If the StreamCam itself is going to be in any shot, the smaller mounting option is more pleasing to the eye… but does not change anything when it comes to function.
Final Thoughts:
Logitech’s StreamCam offers a new product within its line up of webcams that fills a gap that needed filling. While each camera before was created largely for the video conference and chatting space, the StreamCam was solely created with digital content creators in mind.
The picture of the StreamCam is smooth thanks to the marriage of all of the features together. Offering full HD capture at 60 frames per second, AI-controlled auto focus, and facial tracking, this camera is as versatile as it is fetching. Whether you are shooting in portrait or landscaped mode, the internal sensors and mounting options can help you shoot in either orientation, focusing on what matters in the shot: you.
If you are looking to pump up the frames to kick out some killer content, the Logitech StreamCam might just be the upgrade you are looking for.
The product discussed in this article was provided by the manufacturer for the purposes of review.
