Personal computing discussed

Moderators: renee, Dposcorp, SpotTheCat

 
Convert
Grand Gerbil Poohbah
Topic Author
Posts: 3452
Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2003 6:47 am

Best Webcam/Camera For Still Images?

Tue Nov 27, 2018 2:57 pm

Yeah I know you'd usually read that as "Best Webcam For Twitch" or something, but some of us have work to do. /get off my lawn

I'm working on a project that will use a webcam/usb camera/whatever the heck will work to take still images of paper documents using Microsoft's Lens application. If you ever used camscanner on your mobile phone to "scan" in documents with your camera, it's the same thing.

I am testing with different webcams and started out with the second highest end offering from Logitech, the C922. According to programs that report the MP, this thing can only do 3.5 (and at that it's SUPER laggy unless you bump it down to 2.0MP). The 3.5MP images are also not very good.

The Microsoft Surface Go is another device I'm testing with and the built in 8MP camera really does shoot at 8MP and it looks great and produces perfect "scans". All good there, but I need a solution for the desktop users.

Looking at the market there's not a lot of mainstream options for anything in the 4MP range, let alone higher. I guess there's just no market for 8+MP?

At any rate, is there any USB camera devices, webcam specific or not, that have a better sensor? I was looking at the 4k webcam from Logitech but thought I'd ask around before I randomly go off and buy things. Especially since the more I read on this the less I understand how there can be so many different ways to report the megapixels (or as my uncle says, magic pickles) and apparently a lot of the reported numbers are after the built in software automagically turns a 2MP image into a higher one without actually having the necessary hardware.
Tachyonic Karma: Future decisions traveling backwards in time to smite you now.
 
drfish
Gerbil Elder
Posts: 5546
Joined: Wed Jan 22, 2003 7:53 pm
Location: Zeeland, MI

Re: Best Webcam/Camera For Still Images?

Tue Nov 27, 2018 3:05 pm

The gadget that just popped up in today's news might help. If it can turn a GoPro into a webcam, you could be in business.
 
Usacomp2k3
Gerbil God
Posts: 23043
Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2004 4:53 pm
Location: Orlando, FL
Contact:

Re: Best Webcam/Camera For Still Images?

Tue Nov 27, 2018 3:23 pm

How about a used dSLR and install the software to interface like a webcam?
 
Convert
Grand Gerbil Poohbah
Topic Author
Posts: 3452
Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2003 6:47 am

Re: Best Webcam/Camera For Still Images?

Tue Nov 27, 2018 5:40 pm

Thank you both for the suggestions!

I thought about a dSLR, the biggest issue is space, though it would definitely be more than sufficient for the quality I'm after. A webcam really is perfect for the size requirements and there will be rare cases where it will service dual purpose as a teleconferencing camera, though I can always have two devices if I have to.

A GoPro you say? I hadn't seen the usb dongle doohickey posted on the site so thanks for the heads up. Doing a quick search it seems it can indeed be done. I never got around to buying a gopro myself, but I do know they are battery powered which concerned me as a logistical issue but it appears you can remove the battery, at least on some models, and it will still function while plugged in. I think you are on to something!
Tachyonic Karma: Future decisions traveling backwards in time to smite you now.
 
Dposcorp
Minister of Gerbil Affairs
Posts: 2771
Joined: Thu Dec 27, 2001 7:00 pm
Location: Detroit, Michigan

Re: Best Webcam/Camera For Still Images?

Tue Nov 27, 2018 7:11 pm

I went and read about these two cams:

Razer Kiyo (Still Image Resolution: 2688x1520)
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product. ... 6826153262

and

Microsoft LifeCam Studio for Business (according to PC world, " camera's 5MP still images were also crisp and balanced.")
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product. ... 6826105465
https://www.pcworld.com/article/3125666 ... asure.html

I like following line in the below review, which drfish mentioned already.
I should probably mention that the best webcam solution for streamers is, in my humble opinion, an Elgato Cam Link hooked up to a decent SLR that allows HDMI out.


https://www.finder.com.au/razer-kiyo-vs ... 920-review

Depending on your budget, you might want to try these two out before moving in another direction........you can probably return them too if they fail to live up to your expectations.
 
videobits
Gerbil
Posts: 61
Joined: Fri Jun 17, 2005 10:18 pm
Location: Olathe, KS

Re: Best Webcam/Camera For Still Images?

Tue Nov 27, 2018 9:06 pm

I think what you likely are looking for is a "USB Document Camera" based on your need to scan papers.

These guys have been building them for many years, but don't have quite the resolution you are looking for I don't think.
http://ken-a-vision.com/document-camera

I also saw this model mentioned several times:
https://www.ipevo.com/prods/V4K_Ultra_High_Definition_USB_Document_Camera

I don't know anything about it. But, for a hundred bucks it is probably worth a shot.

If you get that one, I'd be interested in your feedback on how well it works. That would probably be good enough resolution for quickly scanning business docs rather than running them through a sheet fed scanner.

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest
GZIP: On