Logitech Webcam C500 with 1.3MP Video and Built-in Microphone

Reviews of Logitech Webcam C500 with 1.3MP Video and Built-in Microphone

1.) 5 Stars By A Hair
Reviewed by: A. D. Lum Honolulu, Hawaii
Rating:
Actually, if I had nothing else in the product line to compare this with, I would give it four stars for less than satisfactory video quality. But that would not be fair. You get what you pay for. There are other models in the Logitech line that have better video quality for a higher price. If video quality is really important to you, shell out more bucks for a better model. Otherwise, you'll be very happy with this one. For communication purposes, this is fine for me. If I were making stuff to post on YouTube, I would go for a model with the highest quality video.

I like the automatic face tracking. When it is on, the camera tracks your face. If your face moves, it pans to follow. It also zooms to keep your face at a good proportion to the field of view. In other words, whether you move closer or farther from the camera, it compensates by zooming in or out.

The physical shade is nice, but I also like the software's "privacy shade" feature. Basically, you can select a photo to be displayed when you don't want to be seen. There are other things that you can use to toy with your image - avatars and distortions. You can select automatic "fine tuning" (white balance, brightness, contrast, color intensity aka saturation, etc.). You can also adjust exposure and gain, or have the software set it automatically. I find the automatic settings to be quite fine - exactly what I would select myself or close to it.

There are other settings to tinker with and third party software tie-ins (YouTube, Skype, etc.).

Before this, I used webcams from the computing stone age, so the built in microphone is nice to have.

As I said, if you want to communicate with your friends and family, save yourself some bucks and get this one. If you want to post video, get the highest quality model. Online video is going to HD so you want to publish the best quality video that you can.

2.) Easy to have my sister install remotely
Reviewed by: David A. Merriweather Minnetrista, MN United States
Rating:
I had this sent to my sister, 800 miles away, to install on my mother's computer so we could set her up with Skype. I wanted something very easy to install and operate and it was a piece of cake. Everyone is impressed with the picture quality.


3.) All You Need
Reviewed by: FlickDirect.com Delray Beach, FL United States
Rating:
Logitech Webcam C500 SI is not flashy and does not sport any bells and whistles; but lets face it, what do you honestly need in a web camera? You basically need the ability to have someone see and talk to you on line. On that note, the Logitech Webcam C500 does this perfectly. This inexpensive solution provides a great interface, allowing you to connect to those that are far away, as well as provides them with a crisp picture to see what you are doing. Don't be fooled into thinking you need HD quality videos for on line; the Logitech Webcam C500 is all you need.

4.) GREAT WEBCAM
Reviewed by: Grimreaper49 Alabama
Rating:
I bought this webcam to keep in visual contact with my daughter who goes to college in Scotland. The picture quality is fantastic and so is the sound. I am going to buy a 2nd one to install on the 2nd PC we have in our house.

5.) Worth Every Penny
Reviewed by: I. Crane
Rating:
The last cam I had was a Logitech Quickcam Communicate STX which I had bought a couple years ago for fifty dollars. I was never all that impressed with it but it did what I needed it to do so I decided to stick with it. Unfortunately the mic had recently gotten really distorted with static so I figured it was time for a new one. After reading a number of reviews for different cams, I decided to stick with Logitech and so I went to their website and was pleasantly surprised that they had a compare option right there so that I could more easily find the webcam that is best for me. They even had my previous model there (which was at that time my current model) so I quickly got busy comparing all the models in my price range to the one I had. It was no contest. The C500 had a long list of checked boxes where my (then) current webcam had very few. Something bothered me, though. My then current model was still fifty bucks, the exact same price as the C500. Why is that? Wouldn't the old model have gone down in price? Or wouldn't a good new model be more? I decided to hold off until the price dropped and, convenient enough, it did just two days later. It was on sale at Best Buy for 39.99 and that was my calling. Well to get to the review, the picture quality is far superior to that of my old cam, this one with higher resolutions, widescreen support and dozens of cool video effects. The mic is wonderful and has with it a background noise suppressor so the person you're talking to can only hear the sounds you want them to. I can't say this cam is better than Logitech's more expensive counterparts (I'm sure not) but what I can say is that for what it cost me, it's totally worth it. Even the fifty would have been a fair price.

6.) Really good webcam!
Reviewed by: Shyam Sundar Seattle, WA USA
Rating:
I must say that I was pleasantly surprised with the picture quality of this webcam. I haven't used a webcam in a really long time and the videos are almost as good as the ones taken with point and shoots. I would highly recommend this for those looking for video conferencing/video chat. An excellent product by Logitech.

7.) Good functional webcam with good thought out design
Reviewed by: Nishant Agarwal Calabasas, CA USA
Rating:
It has good glass, gives good picture and resolution. Build quality is good. Picks up the sounds properly. The clip is robust and can be attached to LCD screen. Looks like will last for long time. I would prefer a bit cheaper though like 35 bucks for it.

8.) Great webcam!
Reviewed by: Kirk D. Revitzer Lewiston, MI
Rating:
I bought this cam to use with Skype on a 64 bit windows 7 machine and it installed without a problem and it works great. The picture quality and sound is excellent!


9.) Easy set up, nice features
Reviewed by: B. Moynahan Juneau, AK
Rating:
I ordered this camera for a new computer with Vista (my older webcam would not work with Vista... bugger). It installed easily, and made the transition to Windows 7 easily. The integrated mike works well, and the eyelid feature is nice, if you don't like the eyeball-looking cam staring at you. I didn't bother with installing the calling/connection software, as I use this cam with gmail. All is good, nice extra features (though I probably won't use them much), and the no-hassle packaging was really nice. I have two other logitech products (a wireless mouse and a music-anywhere audio transmitter) - and I'm really becoming a fan of their products and web support.

10.) Good buy for the price
Reviewed by: Dirk Willard Chicago, IL
Rating:
I've been using the C500 for about a month. It is reliable, packs well and the video quality is excellent for the price. I try to stay behind the technology curve. The C500 is a good value purchase for use with Skype and other video software. I'm using it on a small tropical island in the South Pacific and it works well. I especially like the adaptable clamp. With adjustment it can form a stand or adjust to clamp almost anywhere. The picture quality is only fair but who uses a webcam to take photos anyway --- get a camera or buy some expensive webcam.

If this review was helpful, please add your vote. Thanks.

11.) Beautiful Video & Audio from a Webcam
Reviewed by: Performance Shrink
Rating:
This webcam provided much more than what I was expecting. I bought a more expensive Logitech model (I believe the model is Pro 9000 and it was around $100) for my office, but this one was for my home and so I felt I didn't need the same quality. Well, it turns out, I like this one better. It's half the price of the one at the office but the picture is clear (not quite as good as the more expensive model but still better than just good enough) and does a good job adjusting for the low lighting conditions in my home office. The ability to track where my face is and to zoom in or out were nice extras. The Frustration-Free packaging was just that. I'm actually thinking of replacing the one at work with this less expensive model! I'll sell the used 9000 online.

12.) Awesome Video Quality!
Reviewed by: James Duckett St. George, Utah
Rating:
The first thing I noticed with this product after getting it installed and set up with the video quality. In fact, I was blown away considering it goes for $50. The color was rich, the quality was fantastic, and the experience was beautiful. If you are looking for something mid-range, then I would highly recommend this web-cam. I have Windows 7 and it installed and worked without any hiccups.

13.) Great little WEBCAM
Reviewed by: JGA357 Washington, DC
Rating:
Having been introduced to OoVoo, I decided to get a basic WEBCAM to go with my laptop and desktop. My netbook has an integral WEBCAM, so after some research here and elsewhere, I decided this was the camera to go with. Amazon's current price is pretty good, but I got it for $10 less on sale at BestBuy.

There are fancier and better quality cameras out there, but this one is just fine for novices like me who just want something that has decent audio/video and is easy to use and set up. I installed the drivers on a 2-year old Vista laptop and my 7-year old XP desktop. No problems on either machine, although it did take a bit long for the installation to complete. Also, because I'm using OoVoo, I did not install the LogVid software included with the camera.

The camera and it's on-screen controls work well on both machines, even through the USB 1.1 port on the desktop! The camera tells me I really should be using a 2.0 connection for best quality, but folks on the receiving end say both audio and video are just fine. There don't seem to be any compatability issues with OoVoo, so I assume the camera will work well with most other internet video suites as well.

In short, this is a fine camera for most users and is worth the price for it's ease of use, audio/video quality, and compatability. Shop around, though. (Sorry, Amazon!)



14.) Keeping in touch with children abroad
Reviewed by: K NJ
Rating:
I purchased two of these webcams, one as a gift for my son who is studying abroad, and one for our PC. They both work very well and were sooo easy to set-up. We both just downloaded skype and plugged them in. It sometimes takes a couple of tries to connect, but I don't think that is the fault of the webcam and it is a minor inconvenience. The picture and sound are clear, and it is so much fun for our family to sit around the computer and visit with him. It's just as if he is in the room with us! I couldn't be happier with this product.

15.) best web cam
Reviewed by: Mike San Diego CA
Rating:
just plug it in and it works great, I use SKYPE. Great picture, great sound, no problems ever. Never use the software, don't need it. So happy I got this cam. It also works great on close-up's.

16.) I am VERY happy!
Reviewed by: G. Mann Grosse Pte, MI USA
Rating:
I had been thinking of purchasing a web cam for 6 months prior to making this decision - simply for personal use to talk to relatives across the country using skype. I didn't want to buy the Best (most expensive) but I sure didn't want a "cheepy". I viewed many of the reviews of other web cams from the Amazon site and finally landed on Logitech as my preferred company. Then tried to determine best value (price for benefits) and selected one with a GLASS lens. Based on other reviews of Logitech I did not install the software (yet) - took it out of the box - mounted it on my flat screen - pluged it in - made a video call. I got very good reviews from the other party (who have an older Logitech) regarding Picture, Color, Focus, Movement and Sound quality. I'm planning to buy another one for a gift.

17.) Lights, webcam, action!
Reviewed by: Riley0091 Concord, NH
Rating:
I picked this handy little gadget up for a buddy of mine who post videos of himself reviewing movies on youtube. I was pleased to hear that it was simple for him to use (just plug and play) and the quality of the picture and sound was on par with his Panasonic camcorder, which is always being borrowed by his neighbor to film his children's events. So for just fifty dollars this little device eliminated all of those phone calls that ended with, "so, are you finished using the camera yet?"

18.) Awesome
Reviewed by: JD Scotia, NY
Rating:
This camera was recommended by a Network Engineer friend of mine and I couldn't be happier with it. Audio and Video are excellent and so far the only problems I've had with it, have been via Skype and my network connection. Definitely worth Fifty Bucks !!!

19.) So Far--excellent
Reviewed by: AMRS Redondo Beach, CA United States
Rating:
I just bought this webcam for the school where I am tech director. I have to say that I just set them up. It was quick and easy and the quality is great. I have a different brand at home that I bought more than a year ago and I think I'm going to upgrade. I really like this model.

20.) Great little cam for it's price!
Reviewed by: Ktovornik Harrisburg, NC
Rating:
I got one of these because a friend (who is a computer whiz) said it was a good one to get. Boy, was he right! For someone like me, it was easy to set up, easy to use, works with Windows XP and has a great quality for what the average person wants and needs to do. The picture is terrific...not superior, but it's close enough for me and my husband. I liked it so much I bought one for my nephew to use while we are keeping his dog for him and she can see him everyday. You can't go wrong with this for your basic uses. If you want superior picture? Still stick with Logitech. They really are the best! **As an added bonus Logitech's VideoCam communication network is better than Skype with a bigger picture and it's free, too!

21.) Great little web-cam
Reviewed by: Marty Farmington Hills, MI
Rating:
Unless you are into making professional video productions, I think this little webcam will more than meet your needs and expectations. It's easy to set up and use on my end. People on the other end of my connections say the picture and sound is great. So what else do you want from your webcam? At around $50, I think it's a great value!

22.) Great webcam
Reviewed by: glfrlady Florida
Rating:
Installed this with the software on a Dell Laptop running Vista. Easy, easy - except for the software trying to push their version of video messaging / calls. It's perfect for Skype. Hangs easily on the open laptop or can sit on a surface. Great buy for the money.

23.) Great Value, Works well!
Reviewed by: N. Fisher Florida
Rating:
Easy to use, did not have to download CD to use, sound quality excellent, and video very clear. Absolutely recommend this product.

24.) Logitech C500 webcam
Reviewed by: Ken Pennsylvania, USA
Rating:
Good camera for the price. Picture quality is decent, sound is very good. I had to install darker drapes to cut down on the amount of daylight coming into my room. The camera does not like a lot of light in the room. Would buy again.

25.) Fantastic!
Reviewed by: Penny Ancram, NY USA
Rating:
I purchased 4 of these Logitech C-500 Webcams. One was for my husband and I and the others were for our children so we could easily
and inexpensively communicate with them across the state and at the same time, see our Grandchildren. This, I would say, is the midrange priced Webcam from Logitech.
I am very impressed with the ease of setting it up, using it and the quality of the product as well as quality of the picture. I could not be happier. The C-500 comes with an instruction book as well as software needed to set up. I run windows 7, 64bit OS and it is compatible with this Webcam.
I bought the Logitech because I have other products by Logitech and have always been impressed with their products and support.
Unless you have a business and need more from your Webcam, you don't have to spend more money for a good quality Webcam. Logitech Webcam C500 with 1.3MP Video and Built-in Microphone
Amazon.com made these purchases more affordable and the Webcams were received in a timely manner.

26.) It works
Reviewed by: Sheryl Katz Chatsworth, CA USA
Rating:
It works with no problem. Installation was easy and it functioned out of the box. I like the way that it fits on top of my computer, very securely but easy to install and remove.

I am using it at the office and it is surprisingly handy to have a webcam available from time to time.

I don't use the Logitech calling software, just Skype.

27.) Logitech Webcam C500
Reviewed by: Carlyle S. Walters
Rating:
This is a great product, easy install and fast setup.
Camera image is good and sound clarity is fine. Recommend
as a mid-cost Webcam.

28.) Perfect gifts!!!!!
Reviewed by: N. J. Ols
Rating:
These were purchased for Mother-Daughter gifts. The two live at opposite ends of the country. They found them easy to install and use.

29.) Logitech Webcam C500
Reviewed by: P. Williams Jackson, MS
Rating:
Great camera. Installed easily, easy to use and produces good picture quality. I have used it on Skype video conferencing and I am very pleased with it.

30.) Good product
Reviewed by: Karthik Gururaj
Rating:
Nice product for the price. Works well for chat on Skype, gTalk etc. Decent video and audio (built-in mic). Works easily on Linux also!

31.) Easy to usde webcam
Reviewed by: JP Northwoods
Rating:
Purchased this webcam, it was extremely easy to install and use. Love it, good clarity, sound etc. Would highly recommend.

32.) Great little webcam
Reviewed by: K. Bentley Arlington, Tx USA
Rating:
I bought this webcam for my grandchildren in Arizona. I all ready had one like it and love it. It was easy to install and we use Skype communication which is also really easy to set up. The picture comes through very clear and the audio is also good. Such a nice affordable webcam that is compatible with Vista.

33.) Works great with Laptop
Reviewed by: E. Rojas
Rating:
Camera works great with my HP Laptop. I set it on top of the screen. It is sturdy and doesn't fall off. It also has a lens cap that you can open and close. Frustration free packaging was perfect and I was able to recycle the box.

34.) Light & Easy
Reviewed by: Lisa Boston, MA USA
Rating:
It was very easy to install. I did not use any software that came with the camera, just Windows camera wiz. Portable. Nice plastic cover to protect the lens. Build-in microphone is very convenient. Also, the picture is much! much clearer and wide compared to my friends on skype. This is my first camera and I am extremely satisfied with it.

35.) Happy Camper
Reviewed by: David Rocco
Rating:
WebCam works as advertised. The price plus the rebate made for a great purchase. I would definitely recommend this WebCam to family/friends.

36.) Great product!
Reviewed by: Bgeorge Iowa, USA
Rating:
I love the fact that I took it out of the box, plugged it into my computer, and didn't HAVE to download a program. I used skype and gmail to video chat with my family. I loved how easy it was. The quality really isn't too bad when someone is a reasonable distance away, and the sound quality is pretty great!

37.) Good bang for your buck!
Reviewed by: S. Rawls Mission Viejo, CA United States
Rating:
I am not a technical person but this webcam was easy to install, and is simple to use with Skype. For a relatively small investment it is perfect for talking to friends and family overseas. Great way to keep in touch. Audio and video are perfectly adequate for this sort of use. I have given it 5 stars as I have experienced nothing negative in 2 weeks of use.

38.) GREAT CAMERA WEBCAM
Reviewed by: INTERNET BUFF Utah
Rating:
vERY GOOD PRODUCT AND i LOVE TO BE ABLE TO SEE WHO I AM TALKING WITH.

39.) Web Cam
Reviewed by: S. Helmer
Rating:
It was very easy to install and use. I also can move it from one computer to another with ease.

40.) Great little camera!
Reviewed by: TX TN Winchester, TN
Rating:
This is my first webcam, so I don't have anything else to compare it to. It was easy to install and start using. The camera fits on my notebook easily and appears to be sturdy and the quality good. I would recommend it.

41.) web cam
Reviewed by: Lauren F. Pearl Sarasota, FL United States
Rating:
We bought this web cam for our son who lives in Brazil. We skype with him weekly. However, his web cam was several years old, and the picture quality was not very good. It is hard to buy these kinds of products in Brazil, so we bought it for him and mailed it out. The picture quality is quite good, and as long as he has a strong internet connection, it is almost like being at the table with him.

42.) No Problems
Reviewed by: Michael Flores CYPRESS, TX, US
Rating:
Have had this camera from several months, setup was easy. We use for Skipe works, picture is very good.

43.) Does what it's supposed to do, at a very reasonable cost
Reviewed by: Eduardo Nietzsche Houston
Rating:
I got mine for twenty bucks after rebate from my local Fry's Electronics, very sweet deal. Just using it for Skype and the occasional fuzzy self-photo.

What can I say, setup was quick and easy, just skip the "Logitech Vid" software and install only the drivers and the application software. Took me all of maybe 5 minutes.

The built in mike seems to work perfectly, and overall this webcam looks handsome and solid not chintzy, so I have no complaints so far.

Come to think of it, I have yet to have a bad experience with any Logitech products...

44.) Prima Webcam.
Reviewed by: Ernie S
Rating:

I found this web-cam (C500 logitech) easy to install and in no time I was talking to my family in Holland, this was just amazing and I can recommend this camera, good picture and sound....Have fun.

45.) Very nice
Reviewed by: AirborneWookie Loyall, Kentucky USA
Rating:
I've had this webcam now for several months. I like to hold onto technology for awhile before reviewing due to long term defects/issues.

The picture quality on this camera (based on previously owned webcams) is amazing. I absolutely love the clarity in comparison to my experience with other webcams. Keep in mind that I've never spent too much on one. I've used the camera in low light and with heavy light. I have to say I prefer the light being a little muted due to the contrast showing off how ugly I am. (Note: not a problem with the camera, just genetics)

The audio seems to be fine. I can't really discriminate too much in this are due to the lacking audio profile of my PC.

All in all I would recommend this camera to someone looking for a decent quality webcam.

46.) Great quality webcam; glass lens makes the difference
Reviewed by: G. Bovara Chandler, AZ USA
Rating:
I really liked the little webcam. The picture quality was some of the best I've seen from a webcam, and the fluidity of the video motion was excellent. No lagging and stopping between frames!

I installed it on a Windows XP laptop and liked the 3-sided clamp mechanism to attach it to the screen. A note, however, is that the Logitech Vid software did not run through a proxy/VPN, but when I disconnected from that it started right up. There didn't seem to be any settings in the software to adjust this.

I also installed it on my Windows 7 desktop and it installed without a hitch. I have a media center PC in my living room and it was fun to clamp it to my 61" DLP TV and play with the motion games included with the software.

The privacy cover on the camera itself is also very nice; I like the fact you can close it and not have to worry about the camera starting up with Live Messenger (or anything else).

47.) Still the Best!!
Reviewed by: shooter OKUSA
Rating:
I have not had a webcam for a long time as the Mac I used has a webcam built-in. I got this webcam to use with my other laptop that does not have a webcam.

Logitech webcam, while probably not the sexiest one out there, is always a workhorse. Installation is straight forward, you pop in the cd, run the set up and it prompts you for the rest. This webcam also came with Logitech Vid, a free video conference program. Beside Vid, the software that comes with it allow you to take pictures like those come with my Mac, make video, editing..A lot of goodies!

The picture is very clear and sharp. There is some noise if you don't have enough lighting, but there is a parameter you can adjust to control this. You can select different picture resolutions, but for this webcam 1.3MP is the max. The camera's angle covers a good size area. My office is about 14x12 and I can cover the entire area with clear and sharp picture under good lighting.

Its universal mounting allows you to attach it to just about anything, top of a flat screen or monitor, or on a table top.

I have many Logitech devices and this webcam is a nice addition. You can not ever go wrong with a Logitech!

48.) Great Little Camera for the Price
Reviewed by: bunnyrabbit4 New Orleans, LA USA
Rating:
One of my major gripes with computer cameras is their tendency to act like a fish eye lens or keystone and make my face look...well...let's just say...Bad. No one wants their first online impression to appear as it if it was transmitted using alien technology. Enough said. As noted, image transmission is good with no noticeable lags on video, though your computers speed and memory can affect these things. The software it comes with is very user friendly. You have complete control over color saturation, lighting, brightness and zoom and the auto lighting compensation works well. Please note that the zoom adjustment is located in the settings menu...a place most people don't think to look for something you will likely use every time you open the camera.

I wasn't quite as impressed with most of the video effects. They offer distortions you will never use or look pretty bad and they only work on the 640 x 480 resolution. I haven't checked the available downloads yet so some of the those might be more interesting. My favorite is one that outlines everything in neon against a black background. Cool.

This camera with the free Vid software can be used to talk to friends who download the software. I haven't used that feature because I don't know anyone who has it, but at $49 it is cheap enough to send to mom or anyone else you feel the need to see and hear from on a regular basis. I haven't tried the camera with many programs, but a freebie video/screen capture program called Debut, worked very well and showed up as a tab on the Logitech image window. Good buy with fun software.

49.) Quality Hardware
Reviewed by: J.D.
Rating:
The quest for a good replacement webcam can come to an end with the mid level Logitech C500. The thing that appealed to me primarily were the simple features. With a two tone silver finish, the glass lens C500 is packed with an attached 6' USB cable, software CD, instructions and a two year product warranty.

The expandable clip easily attaches to my LCD monitor or it can free stand on the desk. I found that the webcam installs perfectly with or without the enclosed Logitech software. Just plug and play. It paired well with both Meebo and Google's Gmail "G Chat" without stalling or interruptions.

I was very impressed by the clarity and sharpness of image transmission. The microphone picks up even the faintest of whispers. The jury is out on the product's RightLight technology. I did not see that much difference in lighting over my older Logitech webcam. The manually operated privacy shutter is a nice add on.

The much hyped Logitech video calling network software package with its special effects and avatars is probably an okay add on for some but not for us. Personally I find it too intrusive. As I have mentioned earlier, its not required to get the webcam up and running. Other chat networks work fine without it.

Overall for the price and features, I find the Logitech C500 Webcam to be a step up over other internet communication tools in the same category. The C500 delivers on the basics and more.

50.) Good Little Webcam
Reviewed by: SuperMom Alabama
Rating:
I bought four of these for family members as christmas gifts. They have good (not excellent) quality video and sound for skype calls. There is certainly a difference between these and the camera that's built into my laptop. They are much better! As others have said, you do not need to use the included software, just plug in and start calling. If you're looking for a decent quality webcam at an affordable price this one should suite you just fine.

51.) Good, middle of the road cam
Reviewed by: Matt Carruth Plano, TX United States
Rating:
I've been using the Logitech Pro 9000 and was curious to see how this new mid-range cam would stack up against it. After running some tests, I would say that the cam is better than average, but not in the same league as the Pro 9000. The resolution and color rendition are just not as good. If you're interested in paying a little less and don't need the best, then this cam may be for you.

Logitech Vid looks interesting, but I was unable to get it to work. I would say this is probably because I'm in an enterprise environment with UDP ports blocked. If I get a chance, I'll try it from my home network.


52.) Good Value - Worth the Extra
Reviewed by: Michele P. Schultz
Rating:
I am new to video chats, but I had a tech-savvy friend do some research for me, and he came up with this model. It has very good resolution (worth the extra $15-20) but is still affordably priced. It is compact and truly plug-and-play. Another bonus: if you sign up for SightSpeed, their basic free platform is now Logitech.vid. But you need a Logitech web cam (like this one) to keep your free account for more than 30 days.

53.) above average webcam
Reviewed by: AK Texas
Rating:
I was about to purchase a webcam from Creative, but the reviews were not that great for most of them, so I purchased this Logitech C500 instead. My old webcam's resolution was VGA 640x480 so the 1.3MP sensor on the Logitech is an upgrade. Installation was easy and the picture quality is much improved over my last webcam. Also the "rightlight" feature did a good job with the brightness of the picture. The only feature missing is manual focus. I think the picture quality would improve if there was some type of focus, but otherwise this webcam gets the job done. I am not sure if I should have waited longer for a sale on a 2MP webcam with auto focus.

54.) I like it.
Reviewed by: Paul A. Anastasio Harwich, MA, US
Rating:
Easy to use and set up. My 11 year old has no problems using it.

55.) Logitech Webcam C500 (Silver)
Reviewed by: Happy grandfather Boston MA
Rating:
Logitech Webcam C500 (Silver)Works real well. Enjoy our weekly encounters with my son, daughter-in law and grand daughter. We had a little trouble insatalling the software, but the online service was great. Once it was installed we have been enjoying this product. I'm sure the technology will be improving and the picture quality will be getting better, my only disappointment, picture quality. Maybe higher end logitech webcams have better quality, check it out.

As far as shipping and cost you cann't beat Amazon.Logitech Webcam C500 - Silver [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging]

56.) Great Value for the Price
Reviewed by: Savta Amy NJ
Rating:
We gave this webcam to each of our kids as a holiday gift so we could all stay in touch and it is working. We can talk and see our grandkids on a regular basis and they love it too.
The webcam was easy to install -- only took a few minutes to load the software, plug it in and we were webcamming away. The calling interface is simple and straightforward. Maybe even too simple. There is no video conferencing so we can only talk to one household at a time. Conferencing would be a nice feature.
The other downside is that every time we reboot the software looses our settings and we have to set them up again. This can be annoying.
Overall, it's a good webcam and we'll probably switch to Skype for the interface. That should resolve all of our issues.

57.) Does its Job Well
Reviewed by: Timothy Lovett Boston, MA USA
Rating:
I found the Logitech webcam to do its job well. The picture comes in well and while they have their own software I chose to use Gmail to converse to test it because I didn't want anyone else to have to set anything additional up or click any links.

The camera came in with good quality, it sat attentively watching without falling over, and generally was a really great product.

58.) Pretty Much As Expected
Reviewed by: Satisfied Grandpa New Jersey
Rating:
Since we'll be moving once we retire we wanted to be able to stay in touch visually with our grandchildren. So I bought four cameras ... one for my wife and myself and one each for my kids. They set up easily in Windows XP and worked with Skype without a hitch. Resolution and sound were about what I expected from a moderately priced camera. If the light isn't just right, there are dark and light spots, but it's obvious who you're seeing. The sound is more than adequate. All in all I'm satisfied with the cameras and look forward to them serving the purpose for which they were bought.

59.) webcam c500 review
Reviewed by: Viraj Bhat Santa Clara, CA
Rating:
The features this webcam offers compared with its price is more than sufficient. It works well on Windows XP and that is what I need.

Viraj

60.) Good webcam for the money
Reviewed by: S. L. Cooper Clearwater, FL
Rating:
Purchased 2 of these for Christmas Gifts. For the price, this is a very nice webcam. Software that came with it was an unexpected bonus and is great fun. You can choose different animals or objects instead of showing your own face and it mimics all your expressions. Time to purchase one for myself now!

61.) Easy to use
Reviewed by: S. Bogacki Bartlett, IL United States
Rating:
This webcam is easy to use, easy to set up and it works very well. Very satisfied.

62.) Good value
Reviewed by: SG Austin, TX
Rating:
Great inexpensive webcam. Easy to set up (plug and play). One complaint - flimsy in the way it attaches to laptop screens. Not a huge deal for me though as I only attach it when I am making a Skype video call. Overall a good buy.

63.) I am very satisfied with this webcam.
Reviewed by: CY
Rating:
I did not use its build-in mac, so I don't know its sound quality. But the picture quality is very good.

64.) Great Price/Great Webcam
Reviewed by: E. Bethke Midwest
Rating:
Purchased this webcam to replace an older model from Logitec to use with Skype.
Rightlight works great and the Avatars are fun for our grandson.

65.) A really nice webcam
Reviewed by: digitalman Midlothian, VA
Rating:
Just looking at this webcam reminds me of all the webcams we have seen before - It doesn't appear to be any different. But when I plugged it in, I was pleasantly surprised with the the performance and features.

First, It has a built in microphone, and did a pretty good just picking up my voice. I tried it with both speakers and headphones, and found that when doing a video chatting, it performed better with the headphones on. This help to avoid the microphone picking up the audio from the speakers.

I only tested this on an apple computer, and it worked with both photo booth, ichat, imovie and many other applications. Also, i didn't really test out any of the programs that came with it.

The upside is that the quality is very impressive. It is much better then most of the other webcams that I have tried. If I had but one gripe with it... it isn't nice to look at. Ok, maybe I am spoiled with the built in webcam in my macbook pro, because it just disappears when into the display. So if ascetics are a big deal to you, look elsewhere.

But for the price and the quality, the slight eyesore is soon overlooked. I would unconditionally recommend it.

So why the 4 stars? Compared to the firewire iSight, this takes second place. While I know that Apple doesn't make it anymore, it did set a standard that other webcams are judged by.

66.) Nice product though not exactly perfect
Reviewed by: Grieger Los Angeles, CA USA
Rating:
I've been meaning to get a Web cam for my PC for some time. My Macbook has one built in which is nice but I don't use the Macbook unless I'm out and about.

I've had a love/hate relationship with Logitech's electronics (mostly with mice and keyboards). Often they're hit or miss. One model of something might be great while the other is lacking and makes you wonder why they bothered.

With this Web cam, they actually did pretty well. The setup was largely flawless and real simple. The only real glitch was the fact that you need to plug the cam in to your PC and install the software afterward (since the software needs to be able to find it, obviously). During that time, Windows (I'm using XP SP3) does what it does and tries to do the Plug-and-Play thing. A bunch of balloons and some warnings later, I was through that and on to the software install.

The cam comes with Logitech's Vid video communications software (think IM via Web cam). The only problem...I don't know anyone who's got this cam or the software so it's largely useless to me. Nice idea but it assumes you've gotten over the whole "network effect" thing and have a bunch of people who've got the cam and the software installed.

Of course, given the price, if you're looking to create a connection with family or friends who've moved away, this is one of the best ways you can do it. But, you'll have to take my review with a grain of salt since I couldn't really review the Vid software.

The picture and sound quality is good enough for a Web cam. Supposedly this cam offers upwards of 5 megapixels (for photos) and maybe it does but I'm guessing the clarity of 5mp comes with a brightly lit environment. Don't get me wrong, the general picture quality is pretty sharp. It's just that in relatively dim environments (like my home office which doesn't get sun and is usually lit with a lamp, not some fluorescent light like a real office) the RightLight feature kicks in and brightens things up. This seems to come at the price of weird color artifacts (basically noise) that's only really visible at higher resolutions.

If you keep resolutions down to "YouTube" sized (320x240 for instance, though YouTube vids are usually a bit bigger than that), the noise is unnoticeable. But, go 640x480 and above and it's there. Maybe I'm too sensitive to it but HD this isn't and when you see all those fancy and ultra-clear picts on the box showing quality images, you feel annoyed when the product doesn't deliver that.

Still, don't get me wrong, for what it is (a Web cam) it's definitely better than some of the Web cam footage I've seen on YouTube and is comparable if not a bit better than the Apple built-in cameras. And, it's not like you should be assuming/expecting to use this cam to shoot movies or anything.

There are also some included extras with the software package that do some interesting stuff including avatars that mimic your facial expressions (albeit simplistically) and backgrounds you can apply to "pretend" you're somewhere else (or to hide your messy room). They work well but are just there for fun.

Other features include quick links/loose integration into YouTube and Microsoft's Movie Maker software as well as Skype in case you already use that.

So, should you buy it?

If you're looking for a nice Web cam that does the job and/or is a nice (not-so-expensive) way to setup a nice connection with friends or family who've moved across the country or to another city.

If you're thinking this is going to launch your online film making/Web movie career, I suggest saving up and finding a higher quality alternative.


67.) Great!...when it works
Reviewed by: Kaitlyn OHagan Brooklyn, NY
Rating:
I gave this webcam as a gift, so this information is not from my own experience, but from what I have been told by the person who I gave it to. It has a cool design, though the mechanism that is supposed to allow it to clip onto a notebook computer doesn't work very well. When the camera is working, it has a high quality image. However, the webcam sometimes shuts off inexplicably - whether this is a result of the camera itself or the software is unclear. If it wasn't for this problem, I would've have most likely given the camera 5 stars.

68.) okay with Skype
Reviewed by: G.
Rating:
I bought this camera for use with Skype. It works okay. For some reason, I am unable to view image in full screen mode. I am not super happy with it, but if you just want an inexpensive camera for Skype use, then is okay, otherwise look around a bit more.

69.) OK
Reviewed by: M. Cloon
Rating:
My son has a friend across town that he won't see much this Summer so we got him this camera to "Skype" him. We have a newer laptop so it should support it. Every time they chat the vidoe and audio break up. When it's working it seems ok but when it starts breaking up there are long lag times until it catches up which can be very frustrating when they are trying to exhcange racing stories.

70.) Okay webcam.
Reviewed by: Lisa Snyder Ohio
Rating:
This was my first webcam purchase and I used customer reviews to find an affordable decent cam. I have used it for Skype and MSN messenger. It doesn't seem to send a very good picture, but the sound is good. It is easy to hook up right out of the box with simple software.

71.) MAC COMPATIBLE
Reviewed by: D. L. Sweeney Memphis, Down in Dixie
Rating:
This IS a MAC compatible cam, to us it however you have to track down the MAC drive which is a free download on the Logitec website. Nowhere in the instruction is this mentioned. It required a ten minute paper chase to find it. If it weren't for a clue in a Logitec ad I would have returned this camera. as not compatible. I'm knocking off two stars for that. Other wise highly recomended.

72.) Not THAT good
Reviewed by: Leo
Rating:
At a normal seating position, taking a photo, then you know how would you look like when beaten up badly; the face is obviously distorted. No idea why it gets such a good reviews here. My other webcam (Microsoft at half the price) does not do this. It might be caused by the wide angle feature, but I do not think it serves the purpose of a webcam since most of its usage is talk one-on-one with normal seating distance.

73.) Installation software bad.
Reviewed by: P. Murphy Boulder Colorado USA
Rating:
The web cam worked fine, but the installation instructions were inaccurate, and the audio failed, and the install program hung up during the Vid installation. I have Windows XP with 2GB of ram and lots of disk space. I still haven't gotten the installation to complete and I have done an uninstall, reboot, reinstall attempt twice.

74.) Logictech Webcam 500---Very poor
Reviewed by: Joyce Wood
Rating:
The Logtech Webcam 500 (LWC 500) is probably my worst buy this season!

The camera will not take any videos. I have tried at least 6 times to try and contact Logictech and either cannot get through or get a referal to the FAQ page, which does not address my problem.

I bought the LWC 500 to use with Skype for Internet communication. If I get a picture, it is only one or two still shots for the entire duration of the communication. I have tried uninstalling the program and reinstalling twice, with no change.

I am using Windows XP as an operating system and have tried plugging the LWC in many different USB slots on different computers.

Please give me instructions as to the process of returning the LWC to Amazon for a refund.

This is my first bad purchase from Amazon.

Joyce/Richard Wood
rwood238@comcast.net



75.) Logitech's poor business practices
Reviewed by: E. Lowery
Rating:
Logitech is a company that offers abysmal customer service and misleading promotions. I purchased two web cams under a promotion that offered a mail in rebate of 20% off. I submitted the rebate and was sent an e-mail that led me to a link that indicated my rebate was "invalid." The link claimed that my purchase date was outside the promotional period, which was December 6-25; however, my purchase date was December 17th, which is obviously well within the promotion period. In my efforts to resolve this issue, I had to send an e-mail to receive an actual phone number to call. When I called the number, I was routed through a confusing maze of automatic menus. When I finally talked to a person, he was unable to help me. I asked to talk to his supervisor and was put on hold for an extended period of time. Like most people I have a job and a family and other responsibilities, and could not stay on hold all day to resolve this issue. This illogical, time consuming, and frustrating process was obviously designed to persuade customers to give up on their attempts to receive their rebate. I plan to return my web cam, and would return the second one if I could (I gave it as a gift). I strongly discourage any one from purchasing any products from a company that engages in these kinds of business practices.

Features of Logitech Webcam C500 with 1.3MP Video and Built-in Microphone

1.) Ships in Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging;
2.) Glass lens and 1.3-megapixel sensor for fluid video and vibrant 5-megapiel photos;
3.) RighLight technology enhances image quality - even in dim light;
4.) Built-in microphone with Logitech RightSound technology for crystal-clear audio;
5.) Logitech Video Effects like animated avatars add fun to video chats;

Package Height x Length x Width: 7.1 in. x 7.1 in. x 5.3 in.
Package Weight: 0.6 lbs.

Accessories for Logitech Webcam C500 with 1.3MP Video and Built-in Microphone