Logitech HD Webcam C910 per © LogitechSeit many many years now Logitech has webcams at the range. Personally, I had this camera back in the days when Macs were not supplied as standard with iSight in use.

Recently, Logitech now offers the “HD Pro Webcam C910″ on. With just under 100 € is not exactly a bargain (even if they already offer Amazon for about 80 €). We now look, if just for Mac owners, it is worthwhile to buy this camera and so if you experienced a real added value, such as Logitech promises to be full-bodied.

HD Pro Webcam C910

Plugging & Get Started?

Yes … uh … yes and no. Well. So. Behaves in principle, the HD webcam really like the built-in iSight on a Mac. Is it connected, it may be in Skype, iChat or Photo Booth also selected and used. Unfortunately, it does e.g. not with iMovie, Photoshop or Aperture. The camera is connected via USB 2.0. So whoever wants to use only for chatting in the most popular programs that can start immediately. But who wants to transmit HD video even on the opposite side must first install Logitech’s own software …. Unfortunately.

HD Pro Webcam C910
The image quality

On a very high level and of course much better than the quality of the iSight in my MacBook Pro (Late 2008) available. The images of the HD Pro Webcam are bright and sharp, the autofocus works very fast and reliable. Especially close-ups succeed extremely well. Unfortunately (and you can not make Logitech to blame) support Photo Booth eg not the full resolution of the camera, iMovie, they will no more detected. The same applies to Photoshop or Aperture. This is of course annoying, especially since those who spend the 100 € for this webcam, probably also want to make now and then a few pictures, and not only in VGA resolution. The potential of the camera would have to anyway.

Logitech HD Webcam Pro C910 – Close-up

Would have been desirable, in addition to the standard drivers, Logitech had also supplied a separate driver for the camera image can be adjusted slightly finer. Unfortunately, all the pictures a little over-sharpened, which can sometimes lead to minor color fringing.

Logitech HD Webcam Pro C910
The software

Oy oy oy … like say ‘I come to this without someone on your tie? Very very bad … apart from the general instability (tested on OS 10.6) it is made not only cumbersome (it must be created a separate account), it is also programmed nor bad. Since unmotivated camera icons hovering somewhere above the text (ABOVE the text) because running lines beyond the background …. you know, dear boys from Logitech (No harm meant) – but if you can not program (I just can not), then please let it provides better and a driver that allows all functions including the camera and allows fine-tuning. Although you generally want to leave rather than Macuser tends to run in new hardware is no installer, but if the installed software then continuously in the background, offers a superior user experience that’s OK.

IF I had “Logitech Vid HD” install, then I would expect at least that it is tinkered basically sound (not as shown below, more on Flickr), no crashes and gives me next to the video chat and the ability with which the Cam maximum print resolution photos AND use the camera also included in all applications that are feasible, (iMovie, Aperture, etc.) 0 points for HD Vid.

Logitech software

Logitech software # fail
The camera for Face Time

Here, the camera comes naturally benefit from the generally very high image quality. Who e.g. like us, the camera is mounted on the TV and plugging a MacMini, receives a beautiful wide-angle image. So the rest of the family know everything, and the autofocus provides the necessary clarity. Very fine. Everything went without hesitation. However, whether it was a face-time HD call, I can not say. The camera also has built-in microphones to the sound quite clearly and in sufficient volume capture and transfer. Very fine. I would have been able to quite get used to using the camera on a permanent MacMini for Face Time!

HD Pro Webcam C910
Construction

You take the camera for the first time from the packaging you can not believe they can fix them anywhere. Adventurous … to see the “foot” on the camera. Neither is it an actual “crunch” or a “foot”. It is an extension of two hinges of incredible offers good support (of course, is not intended to heave to the laptop through the area). Both on television and on the MacBook Pro an attachment was perfectly possible. The only slight negative point here: The camera does not swivel left and right. So it is centrally mounted on the MacBook Pro, iSight or less “to” integrated, it also hides the ambient light sensor which leads to a very dark screen. Here would be another joint to rotate the camera to a lesser degree to the left or right may have been very helpful. Generally, however, is the design of sophisticated, robust and well resolved. And to be fair, one must also say that if the almost completely built-in iSight on a Mac is certainly not the Mac users should belong to the main clientele of this camera.

HD Pro Webcam C910
Technical

Full HD video in 1080p resolution (up to 1920 x 1080 pixels) with recommended system
HD video calls (1280 x 720 pixels) with recommended system
Logitech Fluid Crystal ™ technology *
Carl Zeiss ® optics with autofocus
Photos: (software enhanced) Up to 10 Megapixels
Built-in microphone with Logitech RightSound ™ technology
Hi-Speed ​​USB 2.0 certified (recommended)
Universal mount for notebooks, LCD or CRT monitors

Conclusion

Judging purely on the image quality and processing by: Clear recommendation. Fast and reliable autofocus, good overall performance, sharp (a bit too sharp) images, vivid colors. If we but to the very poor software and the fact that unfortunately no dedicated drivers were found on Logitech’s website, I can only 3 out of 5 stars for the Logitech HD Webcam Pro C910 forgiven.

Who calls a MacMini and for his own Face Time Photo Booth or a camera looks – clear recommendation.