Microsoft LifeCam Cinema HD Webcam
High Definition Webcam Takes Video at Full 720p Resolution
Aug 30, 2009
Billed as the world's first true high definition webcam the new Microsoft LifeCam HD boasts the ability to record in full 720p high definition video at 30 frames per second. At this level Microsoft obviously hopes to corner the market on improved image quality for a consumer webcam, but they are not without competition.
Other companies have released hd webcam products but the new LifeCam HD is the first to go up to a full 1280x720 resolution, the standard for true 720p HD video. Selling for around $80 in the US, what exactly does a buyer get for such a hefty investment in a webcam?
Main Features of the Microsoft LifeCam Cinema HD Webcam
Although this webcam looks much like other flexible mount webcams (the LifeCam Cinema HD can fit either on an LCD monitor or on thinner laptop monitors), the main improvement over most consumer webcams is the use of a glass lens. This improvement was probably necessary to give the 720p sensor access to a clear field of view, but it also allows for the LifeCam Cinema HD to automatically focus on images much more crisply than cheaper plastic lenses.
In addition to the higher quality lens the webcam also features a larger microphone that is mounted in a small bubble on top of the camera. Larger microphones tend to have better sound but until a reviewer actually takes the lid off of the enclosure it can only be assumed that the pinhead size microphones that are used on most webcams. Microsoft also touts the microphone as incorporating noise cancelling technology.
Potentially Negative Aspects of the Microsoft LifeCam Cinema HD Webcam
Among the things that come up a bit short in this model is the incorporation of a 4x digital zoom. Having zoom capability is a nice feature, but doing it digitally always degrades the image quality. Granted, the 720p high definition signal coming from the webcam can be zoomed in on quite a bit before the image becomes distorted, but an optical zoom would have been a nice feature to accompany such a powerful CCD sensor.
The other downside to the LifeCam HD is that it has some fairly hefty system requirements. For best results Microsoft recommends a 3 gigahertz Core 2 processor or equivalent and at least 2 gigs of RAM. For most users that will not be a problem, but some low end netbooks and older computers will likely have difficulty keeping up with the 720p image data.
For the amateur or even semi-professional video blogger or director the ability to record in full 720p high definition is a big plus, but is the Internet really ready to handle full 720p videos streaming over YouTube? Only time will tell, but the Microsoft LifeCam Cinema will definitely be pushing the envelope.
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