I remember there was a time when laptops didn’t necessarily have built-in webcams. So, at one point, I “invested” in one so that I could take VGA (640×480) photos and QVGA (320×240) videos. I later “upgraded” to a model that supported VGA video. Cutting edge stuff, I know. Now that I participate in video conferences for work on a regular basis, I figured it was time to get a newer webcam for my main desktop PC. That’s the Logitech C270. And it’s less than $20… but is such a cheap webcam “good enough” for my purposes?

Now, I do need to disclose or clarify a couple of things here. First, I didn’t pay for the Logitech C270. It comes courtesy of my main employer (it feels weird to say “employer” after all these years), LoveToKnow Media. I spend most of my time as an editor on YourDictionary, one of LoveToKnow’s main web properties. Second, that sub-$20 price tag is in US dollars. If you hop over to Canadian side of Amazon, the webcam lists for $29.99 Canuck bucks.

Either way, it’s obvious enough at this price that the Logitech C270 isn’t going to blow you away. It’s a budget-minded product that’s meant to be good enough for video calling and recording. That’s why it tops out with 720p and not 1080p. That’s probably still fine for the purposes of Zoom conferences and Skype calls. If you’re a Twitch or YouTube streamer, it’s up to you to decide whether 720p HD widescreen is adequate.

For audio, you get a noise-cancelling microphone. And the automatic light correction promises “to deliver crisp clear video and sound.” Based on my brief time with the webcam thus far, I’d say it’s mostly “good enough” for what it’s meant to be. The USB cable is on the shorter side for desktops, the video quality is just okay, and the mounting base isn’t as robust or as stiff as I had hoped. The microphone leaves something to be desired too. Still, it’ll do for what it needs to do.

I also noticed, at least as far as i can tell, the Logitech C270 doesn’t come with any of its own dedicated software. It’s not a big deal, as i can use the Camera app built into Windows 10. And there’s always OBS too. That, or I just overlooked the Logitech software in the download section altogether; if it’s there, it needs to be more obvious.

Maybe I’ll revive my Twitch ambitions… after I find the time to play video games again, that is. I have yet to get in that one hour a week of gaming that I had aspired to achieve for 2020. Priorities, right?

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