Webcams

What to Look for When Buying a Webcam

Laptops, tablets, and all-in-ones feature integrated cameras, but these models don't quite cut it if you're looking to record or stream high-quality video. For the best webcams, look no further than Ebuyer. Here's what you should be looking for in a webcam while browsing our range.

Resolution & Frame Rate

Simply put, there's three resolutions to choose from when shopping for a webcam: 720p (HD), 1080p (Full HD/FHD), and 4K (Ultra HD/UHD). Like a television or monitor, the higher the resolution of a webcam, the clearer and more detailed it will look.

Which resolution you opt for will depend on what you intend to do with your webcam and, of course, your budget. As you can probably imagine, the cheapest of the bunch are 720p webcams which, while not the sharpest, hold up well enough for casual chats and calls. 1080p webcams typically strike the best balance between price and quality, while 4K webcams offer up pristine images and videos for a higher price tag.

Do keep in mind that, in most cases, your webcam won't be much larger than a post-it note on someone else's monitor. Rarely do people full-screen other people's faces in a video call. So, you may not need an ultra-high res webcam if it's just going to be compressed into a little window. They're great for those who like to create video content in the highest quality possible, however.

There's also the frame rate of a webcam to consider. Without getting too technical, a higher frame rate results in smoother-looking videos. For the average user, a 60fps or even a 30fps webcam will be perfectly fine for calls and chats. Even if you may not be able to put your finger on it, a higher frame rate is generally more desirable.

Microphone

In addition to video recording, webcams come with built-in microphones for audio recording. These microphones are more than adequate for quick catch ups and will do in a pinch when you've got nothing else to hand.

If you know you've got a long call ahead of you, however, it's worth investing in a headset with a higher-quality microphone or, better yet, a standalone microphone. Streamers and content creators will want to skip the headset microphone and go straight for the standalone microphone for the best possible sound quality.

Field of View

The field of view (FoV) of a webcam determines how narrow or wide of an area it can capture. Alternatively, you can think of it as how zoomed in or zoomed out the webcam is. With a narrow field of view, the webcam will look as if it's punched in right close to your face. Whereas with a wide field of view, you'll be able to see more of the area around you.

So, if you'd rather people focus solely on your face and not the room you're in, go for a narrow FoV webcam. On the other hand, a wide FoV webcam will allow you to fit multiple people in frame, ideal for video conferencing. There's webcams with adjustable FoVs, too, if you want to switch between a low and high FoV depending on the situation at hand.

Mounting Mechanism

Practically all webcams sold today clip onto the top of your monitor, while also offering a little bit of tilt and pan adjustment to angle the webcam squarely on your face.

For many, this type of mounting mechanism is easy to use and convenient. If you want more flexibility, it's worth looking at Logitech's more creator-focused webcams, which tend to feature mounts for tripods.

Webcams at Ebuyer

Here at Ebuyer, we stock a range of webcams from all the top brands, including Logitech, Razer, and more.

If you want your new webcam by tomorrow, next-day delivery is available. We also offer finance packages for added flexibility. And don't forget the Ebuyer Price Match Promise - we won't be beaten on price.