Logitech Quickcam Fusion (961403-0403)
The Logitech Quickcam Fusion is a nicely-designed piece of hardware right down to the unique 'tail' that lets it sit on the screen of pretty much any laptop. Once you go past design, though, you enter into some very dark and troubled waters.
The hardware is a gem but the software is big, inefective and troublesome. This software never installed correctly. Its installer was meant to go in before the camera was ever attached but the actual installation crashed and I rebooted and tried it again. The second and all later attempts to install the thing excluded the original installer and went through some other process. The camera did actually work at this point so you think this is no problem. Then you actually *use* the camera and things become more wonderful from there.
Other reviewers have praised this device for its picture quality, I personally was unimpressed by it. Despite the hype and the high price, I found that it was a webcam and only a webcam. It took a cold, if decent picture picture of whatever was in front of it: it did *not* transport you to shangri-la. Making it's ordinariness more noticable was the fact that the software wasn't done demonstrating how bad it was.
While giving the cam a shot, I started noticing softwares I had no idea about cropping up and making themselves known--up to an including some sort of debugging utility I'd never heard of that showed up during shut-downs and other operations. Better still, the cam comes bundled with a utilities suite that allows various images to be drawn over your face by software that requires that you have a really powerful computer with tons of ram and top of the line video circuitry--pretty much the antithesis of a laptop. Maybe that was what it required, maybe it was something else. I never found out because I never once got it working and with all the previous problems of the softare installation as possible culprits, I certainly never found out why.
In conclusion, you can say the Logitech Quickcam Fusion webcam is from a physical and esthetically well-designed camera, but one that as a package could be held up as a negative example in a class on business. You can almost imagine a professor saying it:
"In a market crowded with less expensive and simpler-to-use alternatives, this is exactly what you are not supposed to do."
it worked with my laptop. The laptop is toshiba satellite, so be careful if buying this guy for toshiba.
The camera is aesthetically beautiful and that is where it ends. The software is a monstrosity with NO FIX available. After installing the software on three different computers all started crashing...Internet Explorer, Firefox, all components of Microsoft Office, Outlook Express, you name it. Logitech IS very well aware of this problem and choose to do nothing about it including not replying to your support request emails. They have a cheerleader whose id is KachiWachi who replies to their forum posts. This KachiWachi blames all problems on any user who dares complain about the faulty software.
Basically if you want constant crashes, Dr. Watson appearing and crashing too...buy this or any other Logitech camera (they all use the Quickcam software that will DESTROY your computer). Following Logitech online installation help, which involves selective startup and disabling Windows services does NOT solve the crash problems. You basically have to uninstall the Quickcam software and clean your registry of any residual entries left to return your computer to a normal, working state.
Oh, did I mention that I am an IT consultant?
It's a good cam with good sound and video performance but itis cumbersome to have round your lapdog and way too heavy to go on the road with the lead it carries!!! I would go for a more compact lightweight version from Logitech next time round. Other than weight and overall size no complaints.
I just got it a few hours ago and tested it with my sister. The image and sounds were great. I was surprised that this webcam came with a stereo headset. The headset wasn't stated in the package content on Amazon. Although it doesn't look like a very high quality headset, it serves its purpose very well(Sound quality was good). I'm pretty happy with this product so far.
This is a great web cam, the software didn't load quite right in Windows Vista but nothing to bad (lock up after software installs but all was well when I did a reboot)I love all the software add-ons'. would recommend
I haven't purchased any other webcam but this one has been great. I am able to adjust the camera to different positions at different computers. The picture quality is clear and the setup was simple.
I am totally disappointed in the quality of the picture. "Automatic" never works but is even worse if you wear a light color. Adjust the Contrast and Brightness to compensate and you get a washed out picture. Turn Auto off and it's almost a black picture !! Great extras if you could get the cam to work !
It works well but my computer is only two yrs old and it
I have enjoyed watching my grandson with good color. However, the picture I send I have been unable to get the color in a good transmission. Will keep trying. Picture quality good.
I bought two of these...both perform well...I do like the product. However, I guess I was expecting to see a huge difference in the other one that I had. I do not. The cool thing is that I don't have to have a seperate microphone and I really like that. I also like that the view is wider than others. So if you are buying expecting to see digital camera quality pictures...you probably won't. But the ease and price I got mine from Amazon is well worth the investment.
A very nice product. Very compact and easy to use. Easy installation for the software. Neat design, too. Not so expensive, either.
I tried installing the software to this product to windows Vista but the disc I had wasn't working. So I went to the logitech website to download the fusion software that is compatible with Vista from the logitech website but the download service wasn't working. This seems to be an ongoing problem with logitech.
The camera works fine, I've used it before, but if I can't use it now then what's the point?
the quality of this webcam was excellent. However, I couldn't get it to work with Yahoo or Google.
had no problems getting this to work, images are clear and we are able to visit with friend overseas with Skype and this webcam. definitley would recommend to anyone
The quality of the product is good: easy to install, easy to handle, good quality of the picture. However, using a notebook it is not very pracitcal as it does not attach to it properly. You have to set it on a desk in front of you. For that reason I will buy something else. For a regular monitor this product is great!
This web cam performs as it should. It is well priced, and loaded and ran without a hitch.
After spending considerable time going over web cam reviews on the pcmag and epinion sites, I decided to purchase this model. I was fortunate that it is really a great choice and a huge improvement over my previous 25 dollar Creative Web cam.The software that comes with it allows for effective noise filtering and many types of image quality adjustments.One function I really liked is the face tracking, where the camera actually recognizes your face on the image file and keeps it centered despite any movements you might make.Also, it is Skype compatible, something I found not to be the case with all cameras.The only minus I can think of is that the camera software keeps running on the background even when not is use, consuming memory that may have been used elsewhere. Maybe this can be configured differently and I just was not able to figure out a way to do it.
I've read a few forums where people have been complaining that the software for the Quickcam and Ultravision is screwed up. So, I decided to try it for myself. I purchased one Quickcam Fusion and one Microsoft NX-6000.
Ha ha! Wow. It's just as bad as everybody said. I tried to install the Quickcam product, using all the latest so-called "fixed" drivers, and not installing any of the extra special effects. The camera worked once, then as soon as I adjusted the resolution setting, it stopped working. Locks up the computer every time I try to use it. Spent an hour re-installing and gave up. (Like, sure, I really have the time to sit around and try to fix Logitech problems!)
On the other hand I installed the Microsoft NX-6000, now on several different computers, and it has performed absolutely flawlessly, without even a hiccup, every single time. Excellent picture quality, easy to use, nice little small unit.
So, the Logitech people are in serious trouble. Their drivers are flawed, and they are shipping to thousands or perhaps millions of customers. Bad situation.
So, my father-in-law decided that we should all try web cams again. We tried 3 or 4 years ago, and the quality was bad, plus we all had dial-up then. So, we saw grainy black and white pictures as big as a thumbnail, that updated every 30 seconds or so.
Welcome to 2007. This camera is a gem. The display is very good - I really like the picture quality. It can easily follow and focus on me as I move around, which is great. The blue light and privacy shield ensure that the kids don't accidentally start broadcasting themselves.
I got the camera and, as usual, threw the disk out and downloaded the latest drivers from the internet. I hope everyone has a broadband connection - the software package is 83MB. Everything seemed to install OK, but then the fun started.
Now, I installed on my laptop. I have a lot of things installed on my laptop, and I'm a computer professional, so I'm sort of used to sorting out oddball configuration and driver issues. With a little tweaking, rebooting, and restarting of applications, I had a picture showing up. Now, where's the sound? OK, more tweaking, rebooting, and restarting of apps. Ahhh, sound and a picture. Very nice.
Once it was working, the software is pretty cool. The Andy Warhol / Pablo Picasso effects were pretty lame, but the video add-ons were really neat. The kids and I played for hours. Who doesn't want to see what their baby looks like with a mullet? Or snap a shot of themselves with moose antlers? The avatar part didn't work as well for me, but the kids made it go. Maybe it was the goatee or something, not sure.
Also, the software doesn't include any video conferencing software, so you're on your own. There are good, free ones out there - we used Yahoo - and the software provides links and launch buttons. The funny thing was they wanted me to subscribe to the Logitech service to do the same thing.
So, camera working and confident, I gave the other two parties a call. Guess what? Both of them had the same issues getting the software installed. I spent 2 hours with each of them tweaking control panel, setting default settings, restarting the apps, etc. before we could finally make a conference call. If you are getting these for non-computer type people, be prepared for some support time.
So, overall the conference went well. There was some echo, but there's a setting to cancel that (I was too worn out to try to talk them through it by the time we finally made the call). Video was pretty quick, high quality, and in synch with the audio.
All in all - I'm impressed. Everything works well at this point. I'd recommend it to others, but with the caveat that you need to be prepared for some headaches on the install.
well worth it. We use it to show off the newborn to our family overseas and they love it. It picks up on less than favorable lighting and does a good overall job with the picture. Broadband internet is obviously required, but i think it is a great product
I bought this PC cam to show my 3 months old baby to my parents via MSN messager. My old PC cam was so blurry and this one is very clear and I'm thinking about getting one for my parents too. I love it and would recommend it to anyone.
This product is great. Does exactly what it says it will. It's tremendously easy to set up and use. I use it to see and talk with my friends all over the world!! I have many "Logitech products and always check them out FIRST before I buy anything for my computer. I have never been disappointed!
My parents, inlaws and myself have purchased this camera. None of them work. My father-in-law cannot boot-up with the camera plugged in; during a call our computer crashes with the blue-screen-of-death; my parents have had audio and video trouble. Before our computer crashes we can get in a few minutes of conversation. The audio is terrible and the video quality is terrible. We tried Skype; Yahoo; MSN and Sightspeed and all of us still had audio and video trouble on the rare occasions we could start a conversation. We all have Dell computers with Windows XP. Our systems are around 3 years old. I am sorry I had our family purchase this camera.
I love this product!! It has a very clear picture. It is very easy to down load and run!!
I am very satisfied with this quickcam. This model is much better than the previous one we had. The picture is so clear! It still creates some static noise with the microphone but well worth buying.
Great camera with easy configuration utilities. The base adjusts easily to a monitor or laptop.
The built-in hook does not attach well to the top of laptop screens. Otherwise, it works OK. The software that similates your face's emotions does not work most of the time, which makes it useless.
No carrying case makes it difficult to travel with. Other than that i love it.
This is a really great web cam. The face tracking is a nice feature...also the resolution is wonderful. 1.3m pixal gives you the ability to take pics and zoom without losing detail. Best web cam ever.
Pros
I have Windows XP and had no problem installing the Quickcam. The It workes as described. I have been using it in conjunction with Skype for 4 week and I am enjoying my grandchildren.
Cons.. None
It works pretty well, but still difficult to adjust to screens like a laptop.
We couldn't get this to work. The screen would just turn blue. I spent about 10 hours on the phone with tech support with Microsoft, Dell, and Logitech but no one could get it to work. This was a disappointment and now I have to navigate a potentially arduous return process. Maybe it will work for you.
Nice webcam delivering high quality video but beware of Blue Screen Of Death when used on systems with SigmaTel drivers. WebCam drivers needed for advanced accoustic features (noise cancellation and likes) conflict with SigmaTel's drivers for wireless 802.11 network card causing BSOD. Disabling advanced accoustic features of the webcam takes care of the problem.
I bought this camera to replace my 2 year old Logitech Communicate STX, wich was really great. I gave it away to a relative in Chile, and I bought this new one, hoping to take advantage of the Rightlight 2 feature. It lived up to the expectations, works great, nice quality pictures and feed, nice framerate, best over-all camera there is. I guess the Ultravision is also great, but it's a bit pricey, and is a resource hog. This is a better bang for the buck.
Anyway, always download the latest Quickcam drivers and software from the website, since they are always fixing out the bugs and improving overall performance.
got a cheap one first, returned that and purchased this one instead. very satisfied with the quality. easy to install and use. it's a good buy.
For people that have driver problems it could be that your computer is too slow and is overloaded. Also, when setting up the webcam it is important to put the cd in first before you connect the usb into the webcam or else you might have some software problems. Overall I am pretty satisfied with the cam, but the cam seems incredible slow with yahoo messenger for some reason. Windows messenger works a lot better...anyways Quickcam Fusion is a pretty good product and its probably the best camera out there from all the reviews i have read. I give it 4 stars only because it sux with yahoo messenger.
I have the notebook Logitech, and I am so happy with I bought this one for my desktop.
This isn't applicable to all buyers. The audio drivers on this cam won't coexist with Sigmatel audio drivers. Had to go in and disable the Logitech drivers to get it working and in so doing lost some of the product features I paid for. There has been no fix for this and doubt Logitech will fix it.
What is worse is the random crashes it causes. I'm not talking about blue screen. I'm talking about consistent random restarts from which you receive a "Windows has recovered from a serious error" message upon startup. The message gives no hint of information as to what is causing it.
I couldn't pin down the culprit until now - when I moved to another part of California, and reformatted my HDs. I intalled it the first time I did this (months ago) and got the restart crash again. I reformatted again and didn't reinstall it. Didn't have the problem. Last night my brother in NCarolina wanted to webcam and I installed it again. My computer autorestarted itself with a serious error recovery twice since then after 3 months of no trouble.
-1 star for the driver incompatibility
-1 star for the restart crash (would take two - but I'm sure its specific to certain PCs - I have a mid-high end Dell Dimension E510 that is less than 1 year old)
This is primarily a heads up for owners who may experience this hard to explain problem in the future.
Quality camera, Quality software ( easy to install & use ) Thanks again Amazon.
Great Cam. Easy to install (though the software is a bit much for what I want to do). Needed a cam for business conferences that is clear. This one is working very well. I don't use the microphone b/c I have a headset.
The Cam was excellent right from the start. Many of negative reviews I've seen on Amazon is probably because the folks using the cam did not go with the default settings or screwed around with the configuration settings... My problem started after 4 weeks. Seems like the image is very dark now. I believe that this is related to theRightLight technology not working. I've tried various configurations, rebooting, complete power down of all hardwaare.. etc... no help.. I just think that I am one of the few who got a lemon. Oh Well... I did not register it or save the receipt... At this point, I still think that the Logitech Cams are the best on the market for now...
I live in Florida and my new Grandson is in Chicago - with Skype and the camera the miles just shrink away.
I originally bought a lower spec Logitech camera and was very disappointed with the clarity of the picture. My son had the Fusion with super quality - that is why I bought it. The only negative is a time delay in the audio which may be due to the Internet but overall I am very pleased.
My wife I communicate with our grand kids up North and my son says the fusion works very well.
It has a nice wide view. Video quality is good. I've had audio problems and still do. I had recommended this Fusion to a coworker, and they also had problems with audio. My brother inlaw installed the fusion cam on he's Dell laptop, after installing drivers, everytime he would try to run the web cam, he would get the B.S.O.D (Blue Screen Of Death).
I'm a big fan of Logitech, but I can't recommend this product.
I knew I wanted to buy a webcam soon after my husband deployed to Afghanistan, so that he could still see how our two kids and I were doing. I looked around for the best quality webcam, and did a little bit of research before I knew I wanted to buy this particular logitech model. After I received it, I set it up and sent my husband a video the same day. I was able to review the video before I submitted it and noticed how clear both the look and sound of the video. My husband says that he can see and hear it very clear as well. I found it very easy to install and use, which is usually something I have my husband do. Thank you! -Tara
I'm really disappointed with this camera. The image is always fogged and it doesn't really seem to have the specified resolution. I bought a much cheaper webcam that works much better!
I've been reading so many great reviews about it that it makes me think that perhaps my camera is just not working as it should. Perhaps it's damaged or something... I will contact Logitech for support.
Logitech Quickcam Fusion (961403-0403) is the BEST webcam in the market. It's so easy to install and it works wonder. I'm truly impress with the built in right light technology and with its cool Avatars stuff that comes with it...its fun and absolute enjoyable talking to my family and friends online now. I highly recommended this product to anyone.
It gets 5 stars from me! We ordered it for my father so he could see his grandson while he was at work. It works great! Wonderful picture easy set-up hight reccomend it!
I own this camera at my office. At home I tried Microsoft LifeCam VX-3000, which had an auful audio quality.
The video quality of this camera is also very good. The audio/video synchronization is very good as well - no echos at all, no return sounds.
Is it perfect? Maybe not; but one of the best on the market.
The camera has a good picture and sound. The only thing that I don't like about the camera is that there is a slight delay from when the actual words are spoken. I really enjoy seeing and hearing my parents that are so far away. It makes it feel like I am right in front of them.
Nice webcam for a desktop pc. Not for notebooks.
This is a great way to keep in touch with the loved ones. This camera is wonderful, though this is the only webcam I've ever used. Easy to install, easy to use and up and running in no time. Just a side note for those of you that aren't especially computer savvy - please make sure you have enough RAM on your computer to run it. I didn't and had to buy a memory card before this would work properly.
The sound is distruckted, camera is not following the subject, sharpness is not better than my previous camera that costed $17.00
Very good webcam at at the best price I could find. What more could I ask for? Free super saving shipping, that's what. I'm satisfied.
As probably many reviewers have said, this is very good camera if your comp is up to its needs. This probably means Intel at least 1.2- 1.4 GHz and at least 256 MB RAM. It run on my PC with Intel Celeron 1.2GHz+256MB, but I feel this is stretching. If you have older and slower PC, especially one with a lot of "junk" that cause it to run slow - this camera will likely not work. On a new PC, it works fine, image is good, wide angle is a plus, mike is sensitive, the flexible stand is sometimes a bit clumsy, otherwise it is OK.
Purchased primarily to use with Skype on my Macintosh. Could not use software (on CD) provided with this camera since it was developed only for pc and not macs. Macintosh OSX (Tiger version) contains driver for this webcam, therefore it works. It would really be a 5-star camera if software (on CD) was also compatible with macs. Good quality transmitted video with Skype and well designed camera mount.
We purchased two cams (Nov. 22nd) as a Christmas gift for my in-laws who live 18 hours away. We tested them with my parents who live an hour away. The audio was so bad that we could not communicate with each other, even though we both have high-speed Internet connections. Since my father-in-law is hard of hearing we knew the cam would not work for us. We returned the cams to Amazon on December 13th, and as of today, January 11, the cams have not been received by Amazon. I was told the purchase price would be refunded, but I have not received a confirmation e-mail concerning the credit to my bank account.
I bought this camera two weeks ago and since then my computer start crashing every time when I try to reboot. I change my BIOS settings, reinstall the software and the drivers few times nothing help. I went to their web site for support, but there is only questions no answers!!!
Except that the picture from the camera is great better than Microsoft VX-6000, the mic. work good. so it is a good camera and bad software.
I was so pleased with this webcam. It installed easily, and is a breeze to use. Clear picture and excellent sound.
I bought the Logitech Fusion after reading several reviews that listed it as a top webcam.
I notice that Yahoo Messenger works well, but only sends 2 frames per second.
Skype works well, giving faster screen updates, and they list the product on their page, which was the primary reason that I started looking at this model.
The auto-pan-zoom feature, called "face lock", is very effective, tracking the person speaking.
I don't care for Avatars, but a friend of mine likes them. I bought a webcam so people could see me, not cartoons.
There are only two drawbacks. I travel, and there is no case for the camera. I put it in my laptop back with the privacy screen closed, and the privacy screen popped off. I popped it back on, but the camera needs better protection for travelling.
The mounting/stand is horrible. I find myself aiming the laptop screen so that the camera is pointing where I want it. It barely rests on the screen, and the flexible arm is in altogether the wrong position, even if I bend it as far as it will go.
I gave a friend the same camera for Christmas, and they made no comment about the mounting, so maybe it fits better on their LCD screen. On my laptop, with the screen tipped back for normal viewing, the camera just won't sit on top. It won't tip down far enough, which I consider a glaring design flaw, but the electronics are good, and sound and video are good.
a bit pricey - but it DOES work very well> Quality Video..Great Features, Easy to follow software..very rich color and sharp image. It is very easy to configure whether you want zooming or not etc
I bought this camera and was extremely disappointed because the picture was blurry and could no way be fixed. I think they have problems with the focal point setting on this camera. So I returned it.
I exchanged it for the much more cheaper Logitech QuickCam Communicate STX. Once you check the advanced image enhancement settings for the C-STX to low light boost and color boost, the C-STX is one of the best cameras on the market. The Quickcam Fusion cam software did not have these options.
Device is easy to install, but flimsy and not very stable on a laptop. Did not compare to other comparably priced cams, but overall, it's ok for the money.
I'm not sure how the QuickCam Fusion stacks up agains the rest becasue my last webCam was from the stone-age. But as a stand alone review I truly feel this webCam provides quality video with a clear picture in COLOR.
Software works well too. I had no trouble with it at all.
YES, a bit pricey - but it DOES work very well.
I read the reviews of other buyers on several models and brands of quickcams. The Logitech Quickcam Fusion is an excellent buy for the price. The software is easy to follow and download the quality of the cam photo is good and has a drop down menu to set the resolution that you wish. I am not a computer "geek" but was able to connect with my grandson within one hour of opening the box [...]. Am pleased with the purchase and ease.
This is an excellent webcam. I have had limited experience with Logitech's products, but the little that I have has been very satisfactory. I am not only pleased with the performance of this product, but also the price that I was able to purchase it new. Thanks Logitech.
This was my first webcam purchase and I do believe that I made a good decision. It does exactly what it is supposed to do and it has some really cute and fun options. However, I will say that the voice distribution is a bit slow at times and it may drag, but overall a good product.
The video quality on this is great! I like the weighted "thingy" that keeps it perched on top of our monitor. The software installed with no issues, and it works like a champ!
Overall I like this webcamera very much. It is easy to setup and use with great picture quality and features.
This is a good cam. It is also my 1st. I bought this cam with 2 considerations. 1. Price after rebate 2. What people said about it. It has quirks but for $55 bucks so be it. It is good for what I use it for. You get what you pay for. I think it is a good deal. I give it 4 because their is some room for improvement in video quality
The image quality of this webcam is great - very rich color and sharp image. It is very easy to configure whether you want zooming or not etc.
This webcam was very easy to install and to use. The quality of picture is good and for the money it is a great buy!
Great camera. Great design and really interesting idea of attaching it to the monitor. The software that comes with it will make you smile. And the picture quality is really good! Highly recommend this camera. Don't forget to adjust your microphone setting on the desktop. Some times it is set to the max which makes the voice to come out overloaded. Once adjusted, you get a good voice quality also.
Not too bad on my desktop LCD, but pretty inconvenient and clumsy on my laptop. It's been in the drawer for a long time now.
I really like this web cam. It works well and it's very unobtrusive. I also like the fact the microphone is built in to the camera. It came with a headset but I've never used it. I highly recommend the logitech line of cameras. The set up is easy, their built in mic technology works great, and the picture quality is excellent!
I'd been using a Creative WebCam Live Pro and was extremely satisfied by the picture quality. I bought this one hoping that the clarity would be excellent. The reviews I read gave me the confidence to invest on this cam. Unforunately, I was not satisfied with the picture quality when I compared it to the previous webcam used. The Creative had a yellow tint to the pictures but the night light performance was excellent. The Logitech had more natural colors but the night light performance was horrible. Even when I increased the exposure to 1/5s, the object remained in dark. I do most of my chatting during the nights and I felt that it was not worth the $50-60 I spent on it.
I love it. You get what you pay for and this is worth every penny. Good microphone, good in low light, good echo control. If your thinking about it, Get it - skip the cheaper models (which I have made the mistake of buying and returned) !
This is a very high quality and stylish webcam. My parents visited from India. I bought a lap top for them and then I bought two Longitech Quckcam fusion webcams. I installed one on their lap top and one on mine. When they returned back home, we use video conferencing to communicate with each other between USA and India on MSN messenger using Longitech Quickcam Fusion. WE talk for hours and can see each other with a crystal clear image and audio. It is so amazing and overall the communication is always free as it uses VOIP technology.
I highly recommend this camera for everyone who have family overseas or anywhere else. The echo cancelling feature takes out all the background noise and provide clear audio. Video quality is very good. Sometimes MSN messenger gives trouble in establishing connection because of network traffic, but that has nothing to do with webcam. I can not complain as the communication is always free. Overall its am amazing product.
This is a pretty good camera. On my 1 gigahertz, 1 gig RAM system, when I start it up under SKYPE it takes most of my system resources and the action is jerky. When used by itself, it works fine.
Not just because it's inexpensive, but this is a great camera. The picture quality is excellent. It's built in microphone is great too. I'm not the most technically savvy person, so I appreciated how easy it was to install and use. I use it regularly for video chat and it works beautifully. All around, a very good buy.
This webcam is excellent. Very very good quality picture. I haven't used the built-in mic because I use my headset, but I am very satisfied with the quality.
When I use Skype for video-conferencing with others, there is no comparison in the image quality I send and they send. This camera is a lot more crisp and clear and can see a lot more detail.
The extra Avatars and face stuff are cool but not really for long-term use.
An excellent product over all. It sits well on my dell laptop. Doesn't click or attach, but doesn't shake or anything. Also like the little camera door so it can abstract the view of the camera in case you want some privacy for a little bit.
The lighting is also excellent. The RightLight is working really well.
Our Logitech Quickcam Fusion is an excellent product. We use it frequently with our son who also has the same webcam. The picture and audio quality are very good. I would highly recommend this product.
S. Thompson
Georgia
Great quality. I had a problem initially with XP Media Center compatibilty, but it works now after downloading an update from Logitech's website. Recently, the sound is cutting out when communicating with my girlfriend across the country. I think it might just be her interet connection though (we both have the same web cam). As long as we restart the video call, then the sound comes back. I am using Windows Live Messenger as the video call program. I have never used the cartoons that it comes with. The video quality is very good when recording a video for email.
great picture quality
fast and great features
excellent product and great price
also coms with a microphone and heaphones.
This is a very nice camera. Picture resolution is excellent, and it picks up in low-light conditions well. I'm using it with a laptop over wireless and movements are smooth. The bundled software is kind of bizarre, but that's OK because I don't use it anyway. I'm very pleased.
This is the best webcam I have ever had and I think it is a very good buy for the money... It has awesome quality and alot of kewl features... Incuding built in mic... It also comes with a Logitech headset! All around good buy!
Bought this cam for video chat. It draws a bit of current from USB port and I am in the process of upgrading to all USB2 so my computer will not stall (which happens occasionally when everything runs at the same time). In comparison to other cams I have watched this one is practically high definition and although the frame rate slows down to a crawl it will even support 720! I find you can get outstanding color contrast and brightness levels if you fiddle around with the exposure setting the color tint and brightness too. Then WOW! I mean I just never see anything as good out there so bring it on baby!
I've been very happy with the logitech quickcam. Picture is very good, it's very easy to use, and very easy to set up. Would highly recommend this webcam.
My son told me about this item and although I have a laptop I decided to purchase it anyway. I am in touch with my family and can see everybody, even the dog. The voice part is great also, all in all I am very pleased with it but then again, all items I have purchased that are made by Logitech are excellent and they stand behind their product.
This is a webcam that adapts very well to all kinds of flat screens. It is easy to use and provides excellent image quality.
This is a good Cam..... Worth the extra $$. I am using while I am deployed so I am hoping that it is the internrt connects that causes the delay.
Does everything I need. Works great for video conferencing across town or around the world using Skype without the need for a headset. Sits via gravity on the top of the screen of my Dell laptop.
I'm very pleased with this camera, and the price for the quality is right on the mark. I got this for myself when my son went to college. The first few weeks were rough, but having the ability to see and hear him clearly was so reassuring and I'm so happy I got this Logitech. For realistic sound,lifelike and clear visuals I give this an A+.
Easy to install - if you do not forget to disactivate the ZoneAlarm Suite... Easy to use + relatively good picture quality!
The Fusion is an easy to use compact webcam with good picture and sound quality, but the mounting device is too large and not stable.
Great resolution. I like it how it can rest on my notebook. Great camera!
this is a nice little webcam but with one huge flaw - it crashes certain OS - I have the Media Edition 05 and it certainly crashed mine. Not just once - nine out of ten times....many Logitech webcams have this issue. Check their website for a complete list (somewhere under tech support...). I ended up buying the Logitech 4000Pro and am very pleased....
Great webcam. Lighting needs to be just right in order for the video to look it's best.
I have used 5 or more web cameras over the past years and the Logitech Fusion is the best yet. I have a HP computer with Windows XP and the camera installed very easily and has worked in every application I have tried. I use it several times daily and it has never failed or given me any trouble. The new and outstanding features include the overlays you can apply to change your appearance. Great fun. The Fusion will also track you as you move around so you are always in the picture. It will also zoom in and out. Logitech has been around for sometime so you have their good name to rely on.
While i hear all teh best about this camera my very first impression is that upon opening its its already missing Parts Mainly the stereo headset. if i cmpany cant get it correct at the plant than im not interested it.
In the interest of full disclosure, this is my first webcam. Given that, I was mildly disappointed that the framerate was not the 30fps advertised (smooth motion, like watching TV or a video camcorder), but closer to 20fps (my system is better than the "recommended" system on the box). Acceptable, but not spectacular, especially at the price.
One note of warning. With many systems Logitech's latest software revision (10.0.0.nnnn) has CPU utilization issues. When you access the Quickcam, the CPU jumps to 100%, the framerate to <5fps, and audio all but quits working. For some Fusion boxes the 10.0.0.nnnn sofware is included on the CD and some come with 9.5. The 9.5 software does not have the CPU utilization issue and is MUCH better, IMO. The 9.5 software cannot be downloaded from Logitech's site (as of this date), so if you get the 10.0.0.nnnn software in the box, you will have a problem.
The Fusion is pretty good, but I may return it and see if the Orbit MP or Microsoft's VX-6000 webcams work better.
The Microphone has too much echo noise and I have to use another pc microphone instead. The video part works fine.
I like the camera, but I was disappointed when I first install the software and got the blue screen of hell...again, and again, then try to fix the problem myself reading the logitech online support about the actually same problem that people heve been having, and fixed it... then audio problem, called logitech tech support, and they told me that is a problem between Dell computers and Logitech software (my case), and the fix is on the way...so I was a little bit mad with the experience, but after using the camera a litle bit, I really like the quality of the picture... and I can't wait to update the audio software.
The webcam is working well. However, there are a problem at the beginning. Since the webcam software has a conflict with Dell computer, the monitor turns blue when connecting the webcam to the computer. The problem was solved by changing a file type in system32 (use google to search for the similar problem).
This is a great webcam. I have tried others but didn't like the quality with the exception of a high end Sony. The Fusion far exceeded my expectations. It is an excellent camera for its' size. The low light capability is excellent. I don't see how you could go wrong with an Amazon price of $59 after rebate.
I have a dual core computer with windows media center.. the camera was recognized.. the software was fairly easy to install.. I did have to tweak the audio slightly because I use six speaker sound system but that was my system not the web camera or the software.
This is the best I have seen and it hangs perfectly on my monitor.. I skyped friends.. the the camera pick up was very life like, good colors, smooth and the sound was excellent.
Choose this one..
I use it with Skype and I had a little trouble getting it to work initially, but ever since it has worked very well. The quality is good and the way it mounts on top on my laptop or desktop screens is very useful.
Just received this camera from Amazon. Installed it on my brand-new XP professional system. Followed installation instructions. Re-booted machine, plugged in camera.... and a few moments later had the famous "Blue screen" with error messages.
DO NOT PURCHASE THIS CAMERA IF YOU HAVE XP PROFESSIONAL!!!
Seems like it is a known issue, yet they are still shipping product. Nice, huh?
This camera is everything I had hoped for and the price was good.
Thanks, Tom
This camera is not bad but I believe it's overrated and the reviews are exaggerated. However I think the quality-price is alright. I will give 3-1/2 stars.
This is very good webcam. I had purchased creative webcams and those were not so good. But this webcam doesn't work with some of computers like centrinos. It says your bois doesn't support or dirver file has corrupted. I have another laptop P4 from toshiba. It works perfectly fine. Image/video/sound quality is good. I don't see any negatives looking at the price at which I am getting this. I will recommend this webcam to others.
Get complements all the time on the picture quality. The face tracking feature is awsome (but can be a little tempramental at times). I use it's internal microphone for my internet calls and it works great as well. No complaints except the price was a little high but the quality has proven to equal out.
Before you purchase this webcam I recommend you check-out the Logitech support Forums. The software/driver for the Fusion has a compatibility problem with some computers. The driver causes the computers to reboot over-and-over-and... There is a work around that sometimes works (but didn't for me). I own a Logitech QuickCam for Notebooks Pro (using the same QuickCam 9.5 software as the Fusion) for my laptop and it works like a charm. But I can't get the Fusion to work with me desktop (64 x2 5000+ running Windows XP Pro).
I have been using this for over a month. I am very happy with it. Before you buy, u need to make sure that ur computer is high end (I got a newer PC just to use the webcam, I feel good about it).
The color/picture quality is awesome, but camera is slow to respond to movements. Its better than many webcams I have observed over the internet. It does not have too many features but does a good job of what its intended to do. It does a neat job even when the room is low lit.
But I have a query to all the webcam manufacturers, why do YOU ALL SUCK? The digi cams have improved so much over the years and there cost is going down too. But webcams are still lame in comparison.
The camera and attendant software are very easy to use. The video quality is excellent, in fact exceeds expectations for a product in this price range. Would readily recommend it to anyone wanting to get up and running with a web cam capability as quickly and easily as possible.
The camera itself works well although there are times when the picture freezes and the voices are a little behind the actual speaking.
Setting up through Logitech for the video is simple but you only have a 30 day free trial. Then it will cost you. Other services are free and are shown.
Very good picture quality. The audio is useless. Maybe its the application software, but the audio is so broken up as to be non existant. Installation is difficult unless you turn off all non essential services and startups. This is mildly hinted to when installing. If you don't do this it will take a call to tech support to reverse the bad installation before proceeding. Logitech acknowledges the audio problems and says a fix may be coming, no promise of when. Did not work on XP Media edition and only some of the apps worked on a 3 yr old laptop running Windows XP Pro. On a newer laptop running XP Home Edition all features worked.
I purchased this webcam after reading many reviews and haven't been disappointed. It's easy to install, basically plug-n-play, and really easy to use. The webcam came with a headset/microphone, even thought there's a microphone built into the webcam itself.
The software is pretty cool, allowing you to create video emails or snap photos (which you can also do using the button on the top of the webcam).
My family has purchased several of these so we can communicate using video through Skype.
I've had no problem using mine on XP Professional at work, but when I use it at home on XP Home, sometimes I have to restart the computer to get it working properly. Another family member got the "blue screen of death" after following the directions for installation, had to unplug it, restart and reinstall before getting it to work properly (we're still trying to figure out where the conflict was).
All in all, it's a great little webcam and you can't beat the price.
Nice camera. Serves the purpose I purchased it for. Some features see a little flaky and difficult to control.
This camera is easy to install and set up. It sits securely on top of a flat screen monitor which makes use very easy.
This is the best webcam I have so far. Remember, this is a webcam not a real camera. Be realistic about the expectation.
The Quickam Fusion is a very solid and well designed webcam, at least externally but after a day of fiddling with various bits of software I've decided that it is really a bit of a waste of the 1.3 MP sensor.
The first problem is the USB 2.0 interface. Unless you have a full on USB 2.0 interface the bigger images are very pixellated and compressed because the computer's interface can't cope with the amount of data the webcam is sending. My system: a Shuttle FX43G dating from a couple of years ago claims USB2.0 but I suspect it is really just a 1.1 interface and in this case the images are about the equivalent of a 320x240 webcam.
As a comparison I tried the camera in my wife's new Dell notebook running XP and the images were really good quality. For webcamming you will only use 640x480 and again the images will be no better than a 3 year old webcam costing 20 bucks unless your computer's USB port can cope. If you read the specs Logitech do make it clear that you need a real 2.0 interface for megapixel image capture.
If you want to use the still feature there is very little software that can capture 1280x960 images. I tried 20 webcam applications and none went anywhere near this resolution. Maybe a problem with the drivers but you are left with Logitech's quick capture application which is very limited.
So it is a good camera (4.5* for hardware) if you have the latest, powerful computer to match. The Fusion is let down by a lack of any applications for the 1.3MP sensor which has reduced my overall rating. Depending on your application you may be better chosing a 640x480 CCD sensor such as the Philips Toucam.
I just had a great experience with Logitech support and it prompted me to say some nice things. I have a number of logitech products, I have this Fusion webcam which I take on the road with me so I can see my family each night I spend in a hotel on business. It's fun and takes some of the sting out of travel. It works great with MSN.
I also had some problems with a Quick Cam Pro 4000. Let me tell you that they determined the hardware was the issue and made immediate arrangements to replace the device. Quick and painless.
If you haven't tried their Harmony remote controls and are interested in ditching the 5 remotes you are using now, it doesn't get any easier. Plug it into your PC, answer a few questions, then hand it to your 6 year-old and she will be ready to control your media system.
I purchased Logitech QuickCam Fusion 961403-0403 Personal Web Camera when I bought my new computer. And my family lives in Estonia, it's hard to talk to them daily, especially since it's kind of expensive over the phone. But now I can talk to my family whenever I want to and it's free. If you have DSL, the connection is great and you can see and hear everything. It's like you are sitting next to that person in the same room. It's a great way of communication.
I purchased two of these for two different PCs, both running the most updated versions of Windows XP but not identical boxes. Installation on the first machine was flawless, configuration easy, worked as well as I would expect with a sub-$100 webcam on both AIM and Skype. Audio surprisingly good, and video a little uneven exposure-wise, but quite good. Then installed the second one on the other PC and nothing but problems. Software installed easily, but every time I got to the step of plugging in the USB cable of the camera I got the Windows' blue screen of death and had to shut down. Some web postings say to disable the mic to solve the problem. Sort of defeats the purpose of having a "fusion" camera. Returned one, kept one. I give it 3 stars as a blend of a 4 and a zero.
This is my first webcam so I do not have others to compare to. I did do research and found this to be one of the better choices. I have installed 4 of these on Windows XP Media center edition pc's and have not experienced the problems mentioned by others on any of them. I am not using the media center though and maybe that is the issue. I am using the webcam on Skype.com and enjoy it.
Like others have said - if you own Windows XP Media Center Edition the camera can cause lots of system problems, errors, crashes, etc - and that's if it even installs. Skip it and choose another camera.
The image isn't as sharp as I was expecting and the focus feature tends to have a mind of its own at times. However, there are various other features (explained quite well in the description above) which make this webcam an excellent buy.
I bought one for my parents for Christmas and one for us. It works great. My parents love being able to see the grandkids. The picture quality is great and the kids love being able to see them. I would have given this a 5 but the installation was a little tricky, if you have problems just call tech support.
Well, I've had my webcom for about 6 months now and I love it. Not only is the picture and sound quality great, there are alot of little extra features that make the Fusion fun for anyone. I, like most people who own the fusion, love using the avatars downloadable from the logitech website, as well as the different digital props that you can use to goof around while talking to friends and family over the internet. The price has gone down over the months as can be expected with any technology now-a-days, so buying now would be a great idea. I also love the face tracking feature that come with the fusion, which makes it easy to keep your face in the picture all the time when communicating. All in all, the fusion is a great buy for anyone looking to purchase a new webcam.
It does what its supposed to do - the camera quality is nice, and it fits comfortably on top of my LCD screen - the included microphone is actually very very good, which somehow manages to filter out feedback from the speakers when using it for videophone. I also like the fact that there's a little light that turns on when the camera is recording. Overall, a very good purchase. I highly recommend it.
Works great. Easy installation. Great quality video feed. Can take pics in 4 megapixels
I have this camera for over a week now. So far the camera performance (video/audio) in general has been great. I use it with MSN messenge 7.5 and have been able to video chat without any problems. The greatest feature about this camera is the wide angle that allow my whole family to fit into the view of the CAM. This camera works well also under low lighting condition.
The only reason why this camera does not get a 5 stars is due to a software bug in their driver. The software version 9.5.0 that come with the CD have a bug in the driver lcvkap.sys. As a result, if I have my webcam plugged in at boot up, my PC will keep rebooting by itself, which is really annoying. Other than that, I will recommend Quickcam Fusion.
Fits nicely on top of a flat panel monitor, so it doesn't clutter up your desk space. Microphone is built in. Logo on webcam illuminates when camera is active. Picture/Video is clear, even in low light. Included software is fun and impressive (adds accessories to your face/head or changes you into an avatar). I was surprised to find that Logitech even included a separate headset with microphone in the package; that worked great on PC-to-phone calling.
* Dislike that the zoom takes away from the clarity.
* The picture displayed is grainy and the movements for the little avatar things don't synch up or work at all.
* I communicate with people long-distance internationally where the internet streaming technology isn't the best, and the fuzzy picture ruins it, plus the zoom and focus becomes way choppier than normal.
* Would rather stick to an older model of camera such as the ClickSmart510.
* Orb is light and yet durable.
* Orb hook easily mounts on an LCD panel, but the bi-directional swivels do not give a proper 360 deg. experience. I have to prop it up in my pencil holder cup thing if I want the camera to view the ground.
* Price is great for this new product, but if given the chance, would not purchase again.
I bought this webcam in order to to do video chats with my parents who have Apple/Mac computers with the iSight video camera. I use AIM 5.5 and they use iChat. During chats, the video quality on my PC laptop is above average, although not nearly as good as the video (and audio) they get using their iSight webcams. I would classify my video and audio experience as good whereas their video and audio experience seems great. The best feature is that this webcam is small / portable and mounts well with a laptop screen or desktop monitor when I move it to my office computer. The only real negative is that I am having problems using the built in microphone with AIM which was one of the reasons I bought it. It is supposed to have a better microphone that the one built into my laptop which gives some audio feedback when we do chats. Luckily, my built into microphone works well for the time being. If I get the microphone working I will update my rating to 4 stars, otherwise, this is an above average webcam for a PC and a good value.
Everything is great about this cam except it is not compatible with websites other than the chat utilities listed in its operational manual. (Yahoo, MSN, AOL) Other websites cause it to error message and shut down; consistently. Forget about it if you want to use it on freindfinder or other dating sites with chat capability.
The system works well. Occasionally it's difficult to diferentiate certain colors. When using a larger picture their is less clarity. Overall I enjoy the camera and I recommend it to anyone.
SUPER LITTLE CAMERA. EASY TO USE AND SET UP. GREAT IMAGE, NICE SOUND. LOGITECH RULES! A+++++++++++
Mu first webcam. Needed it because of grandchildren and children at school. Easy to use and set up. Slight delay in picture and sound but both are in sync of course. Sound quality and picture quality are just fine. I recommend this to anyone as a terrific way to keep in touch with the family. I am getting one for my mom and dad who are in their late 80's and the antithesis of techies.
I've wasted a lot of time and money on cheaper Internet cameras. With these cheaper cameras, image and sound quality were poor, sound would never even come close to syncing with the visual (moving lips), and background noise would drone. The Quickcam Fusion has none of these problems and, in fact, excels at image quality and sound, even under poor lighting conditions. The fact that this device uses a USB 2.0 connection for audio and sound makes a large difference. Cheaper cameras use a separate sound input jack (to your sound card). You will never get speech to sync this way. Be aware, however, that your computer must have USB 2.0 (not 1.0). If you don't, no matter how fast your connection is, the result will be poor.
My only criticism is that the Avatar feature needs bright all around room lighting in order to track facial features. Direct lighting around a desk in a darkened room will not work.
This camera can't be beat. I also have the notebook version and feel the same way about it as well. I had no problem with a video conversation on MSN Messenger from Europe to California on my laptop with a hotel WiFi connection to CA on a DSL line.
Was hoping for something really good from the reviews that I read for this cam. Dont know if I got a defective piece but the image quality was much poorer compared to the Pro 5000 that I already own and love. The image wasnt sharp and clear and fiddling around with the cam settings did not help either. Even the color was funny on the image. All in all it was a dissapointing buy and I had to return it due to the unsatisfactory performance.
This surpasses all the other Webcams I have tried so far. Great picture with vibrant colors, without delay between audio and video. I am happy with the results at low light condition. I do not care about the clamping mechanisn to hold it down, but overall it gave me the best results when compared to the other three different webcams from other manufactures I own.
I have had one of the first models of Kodak DVC323 and now the Fusion. From my experience I think this is the best one yet out there. It's easy to setup for winXP (sp2) and no annoying things except the Camera Assistant program that you have to do some registry changes to get it off of there (I haven't done it that way but I have used msconfig to keep it from loading up). Otherwise this thing has crisp pictures, low light levels are not a problem like my old Kodak webcam. I did a lot of searching before deciding on this camera and I'm glad I made the right choice!! You can't go wrong and you won't regret it. Some may not like the way it mounts on your LCD/Laptop but it is stable enough as is most of the other webcams out there now adays have a similar mounting attachments.
Overall, the Fusion was a slight disappointment given its cost and specifications. My prior Logitech webcams had excellent video performance, but this one performed only fair in good lighting. The most significant issue was a "washed out" colors appearance that I was unable to correct with the provided controls. Conversely, it was excellent in low light using the low light boost option such that it can be used in a dark room with illumination solely from the relected light of the monitor. The unit was heavier than expected due to its weighted flexible counter-balance base. It never felt secure hanging from my laptop monitor, but might work OK on a standard LCD. The included software installed easily with XP and was working without a reboot. The microphone did not produce any feedback issues.
I absolutely love using the Logitech Quickcam Fusion. I have been sending email videos to my (...) granddaughter in Jerusalem and she thinks that I am inside the computer. My daughter is in the process of also getting a webcam & I have highly recommended this one to her.
I am happy with my quickcam Fusion but for some reason of another I was expecting a little more. I had a creative ultra live and I replaced it with this one. Well i was happier with the creative product. I do like the built in microphone of the fusion. Over all, I am satisfied.
This webcam is the best I've used. Although the other model I used for my desktop was very basic and is no comparison. I was pleasantly surprised by most of it's performances: the clarity of the picture, color on the screen and picture options (zoom in/out, etc.). The only draw back for me is that it's a bit unstable just dangling off of my laptop. Also it's not very travel friendly since the camera itself is attached to this long "leg" used to stabilize the camera and it's not removable and can't be folded. Other than that really no complains. Especially since I got a great deal with $20 amazon rebate. I would recommend this webcam for all the laptop users.
I was greatly disappointed in the performance of this camera! I have an old intel pro webcam that completely blows the visual quality away on this cam! So....... I went to e-bay and picked up 2 more intels!!!!!!!
must have gadget. i use it all the time to talk to my family abroad so that they can see me as well as hear. i certainly like it. Built in microphone is a big plus.
I've been unable to install the Fusion on my desktop PC running WinXP Pro. After installing the software that came on the CD and the latest version, 9.5 from logitech's website, it instructs me to reboot my machine. Once rebooted, the software says to connect the Fusion to a USB port. A few seconds after I do this, it automatically reboots my PC for no reason. Again the software comes up instructing me to connect the Fusion, I do and again it hard reboots my PC. Logitech has been no help, and there are some users in Logitech's forums experiencing the same problem.
This really sucks, as I've purchased many other Logitech products before and haven't had any problems like this.
On a good note, I've installed the Fusion on my laptop running Win Media Center Ed. using version 9.5 of their software and it installed correctly. I'm really hoping Logitech updates their software soon to fix this install problem so I can use the Fusion on my desktop pc.
As for quality of the video...I'm not sure. I couldn't get video chat to work with Windows Messenger. It gave me a message saying I couldn't connect with the person I was chatting with or they couldn't connect to me. Who knows, I may have to open some ports on my router or the other party may have to. I'll have to do some more research. I have yet to try it with Yahoo or AIM.
this webcam is great even in the bad light condition. The seul inconvenient thing is that it doesn't attach very well to my laptop. Most of all, I think that it's the best webcam for desktop.
Good web camera.The built-in mic is very helpful.Also comes with headset.Though the picture quality is good,it could have been improved.Excellent lowlight performance.Clip is good for desktop.
I bought this with high expectations. It would not install-called Logitech Tech Support and was told: "Our software does not support Windows XP Media Center Edition, and we have no idea when, if ever, it will support Media Center Edition!" I think Logitech's promotion of this unit being compatible with Windows XP is completely misleading.
It has a lot better quality than the cheaper cameras. Clarity is much improved when used in low light. It still has some audio feedback problems when used on our laptop, but still better than a regular cheap mic.
Simple installation, works great from the moment you plug it in. Highly recommended, the built-in mic is a real plus...
I purchase this camera due to heavy videoconferencing use.
My previous cameras though preformed good had bad quality.
The camera is functioning well, the program is easy to install and the quality of the video is outstanding.
The zoom options and face tracking is good.
The camera adjusts to lighting condition and work well even in zoom.
It is not the cheapest camera there is but you get what you pay for with this one.
The fun features and animations are great to keep kids entertains.
The Logitech Quickcam Fusion has been a great addition to my online communication with family from out of state. This webcam does a great job of light control, especially in dark environments. Most webcams don't operate well in low light, but this one outshines all in its price class.
This camera meets and exceeds all my expectations in my first Web cam.
It took literally 10 minutes from box opening to video chatting via MSN Messenger with my lead tech. His web cam doesn't have the avatars but he could see mine as well as see the superior video quality of the Fusion.
I'm rating only a 4 because the sound seems to be having a little feedback issue. However, this may be my hardware. I've installed the Web cam on a T21 IBM Notebook, plus I'm a developer with a lot of installed software. The feedback issue is resolved when the headset is plugged in.
This is great setup with a grand picture. Connecting my guys and with my children will be a feature that is definitely needed.
This webcam is the best I've had by far. The avatar feature is a plus. The picture quality and lighting was the best of any I've seen or ever owned. Works best in MS Messenger. The only thing I would recommend is a longer cable. So buy yourself a USB 2 extension - you'll need it. I've never had any problems with Logitech products and its the only brand I ever buy or would recommend.
This webcam certainly is the best-quality webcam I've used so far. The wide(r) angle lense helps, and the face-tracking feature is kinda cool. (Note that it works best in good lighting, head-on and with a resonably powerful CPU.)
The "attachment" mechanism of the flexible arm works pretty well. It at least gives you the ability to position the webcam just about anywhere, including the top of a laptop screen. The downside is a) it's not clipped on, so if you're attaching it to a laptop that you may want to move around while the camera is attached, it may fall off and b) it's pretty large, so sticking it in a bag to go on travel takes up a fair amount of space - not huge, but enough to be a bit inconvenient. You also have to bend the arm a fair bit to have the camera facing far enough down.
Speaking of travel-worthiness: this camera does quite well with variable lighting conditions, so it's suitable to use in dingy hotel rooms and weirdly-lit office spaces. There is also a shield that covers the lens, but this is more for ensuring privacy (covering the lens to be sure it's not recording - although a blue light on the camera tells you that as well) rather than protection. The shield is quite loosely attached and does not close tightly over the lens. I wish it did, since this would help protect the lens from dust and scratches when it's in a bag. Having said that, luckily the lens is fairly far recessed, so I've not had any problems with this (yet).
The microphone also works quite well and the echo cancellation does its job. It's a real bonus for me since my laptop (like so many others today) doesn't have a built-in microphone anymore, so I only have to attach the webcam and I don't have to fiddle with an extra mic.
If these small issues get resolved in a potential follow-up model, I'd give it 5 stars.
like the web cam sits nice on my flat screen montior; best is it does not fall off like the others i have had
The Logitech Quikcam Fusion is an excellent webcam - super video and much improved audio. It also is better designed for flat panel monitors than other webcams.
it really takes good picture and record your voice and in the same time its a camcorder too
This camera lived up to my expectations. It is as advertised. It was easy to install and use. The picture and sound quality are very good.
I have a 1.1/1.0 usb port and it actually does not support this webcam. The consequence is my pc keeps restarting everytime I tried to turn on the webcam. I called logitech and asked why my pc keeps restarting. He said theoretically 1.1 should support it but sometimes it might not. Now I have to change my 1.1 usb to 2.0.
after I have tried other and cheaper webcams I ended up with the Logitech Fusion.
And to keep a short story short - I works flawless and the installation was a piece of a cake.
go for it and you won't fail.
Everything works as expected, even the face tracing works perfectly. If you want a high quality cam, that's the cam you should go for it (true 1.3 Megapixel!)
This is my second Logitech camera, and I highly recommend it. I bought a lower priced Logitech webcam last year. It served the purpose, but I often battled with noise feedback.
I bought this one around Christmas, and bought my children one. they live in another state and we talk online each night after dinner. This one has the auto tracking, so if my kids move around, it can follow. It has great video and audio. the headset works great. Finally, the video effects are a lot of fun with my kids. If they start to lose interest, I turn my face into a shark or martian for a sec - and they rejoin the conversation quickly, after laughing hysterically. Finally, the price is great. Everywhere else I checked, charged $20 more.
Bottom line, don't waste your time with lower priced cameras. They'll work. But this one is best for staying in touch with family, friends or business associates.
This web camera is awesome! The installation is a breeze.It took us 5 minutes to complete install without any problems and before we knew it, we saw our video on the computer! The quality is not exceptionally clear but compared to what is available at a similar price, it is great and the audio quality is perfect. It covers a pretty wide area and the lens of the camera is completely adjustable from left to right or up/down. Very very nice!!!
I am new to webcams and perhaps I expected a bit too much. Knowing that webcams have been around for several years and computing power keeps accelerating at a rapid pace, I thought all the technological quirks of webcams (i.e. dark pictures, grainy / choppy video, audio/video synching, etc.) would have been thoroughly tweaked by now... I was wrong.
I was specifically looking for a good cam that would work well with a Pentium II, so the first webcam I tried was the Creative Webcam Live which received decent reviews on Amazon, but like one other reviewer, I found the audio and video to be out by about a 1/2 sec on not only a P2, but a P3, and a P4... all three systems I tried had the same 1/2 sec. delay. Creative tech support was unable to help.
The next cam I tried was the Logitech QuickCam Communicate STX and it had only slightly better synchronization than the Creative cam... still practically worthless in my opinion... it would be better just to have audio than to have every single syllable out of synch with the video which I find to be very distracting.
I decided to forgo my Pentium II compatible webcam search and shelled out the money for the Logitech Quickcam Fusion, which requires a minimum of a P3, 700 MHz, with a P4, 2.4 GHz recommended (I suppose for the animated Avatars, face tracking capability, and echo free audio feature). I decided to try it first on the slower of my two systems: a P3, 860 MHz with 512MB RAM and slow USB 1.0. To my delight the camera worked excellent. The built-in mic was adequate, the automatic light adjustment is well done, and most pleasing was the audio / video synchronization... almost perfect in my opinion. I may get even better performance on my P4 with Hi-Speed USB 2.0. The only problem I encountered was that after installation and the required system reboot, Norton Antivirus was disabled because "The Norton Antivirus auto-protect driver could not be loaded." After running Norton's LiveUpdate however, the problem was fixed.
I use two other Logitech webcams and have been very pleased with them. My attraction to the Fusion stememd from its size, the 1.3 megapixel sensor, promised improvement in low light situations and the the promised echo-cancelling audio.
On the whole the Fusion is a competent perormer. The form factor is a pleasure. It is very compact and looks good. Best of all is the mounting which molds very nicely to support the webcam on a laptop or can be set up to sit atop a monitor or other flat surface. Overall a very well thought out design.
The camera mounted microphone coupled with Logitech's echo-cancelling technology works extremely well. If you've used other webcams, you know that the audio from your speakers is picked up by the webcam mike and repeated to whoever you're chatting with . . . which can drive everyone crazy. The Fusion microphone appears somewhat directional. Since the echo-cancelling feature works only with another Fusion user, my testing was limited to movies recorded on my computer. I was truly surprised by the quality of the audio.
Image quality gets a mixed review. Overall it is good, but the Fusion uses a fixed focus lens. The near-focus point on my Fusion appears to be set just a few inches further back than where I normally sit while at my laptop. Thus the pattern on my shirt is in sharp focus, but my face being closer to the webcam is not. I have found nothing in the manual, online or Logitech site help files addressing this issue. I am attempting to contact Logitech in hopes that my webcam is simply a bit off and needs to be replaced. If this is not the case, then reluctantly the Fusion may be returned. With all the attention given to ergonomics, it is curious that Logitech provides no manual focus and demands that you sit at an uncomfortable distance from the monitor. I have long arms, but would have to sit still further away than I do to keep my face in focus with the Fusion. This is, in my opinion, a serious design defect.
Logitech's customer support is also a drawback: they really don't seem to have anything than a relatively few self-serving FAQs and a user forum that is poorly organized. I am not lowering my rating of the product because of this since I have owned many Logitech products without ever requiring support. But the novice user might find this lack of support to be a major negative. On the other hand, I don't know if any other webcam manufacturer provides better support. Since webcams are essentially commodity items, I kind of doubt it.
Logitech claims the lens is wide coverage and they aren't kidding. For those of you with the need to include more than just yourself in the picture, it's a great feature. You, the significant other and all the kiddies can fit into the frame and wave at the grandparents. The downside is that if you are the grandparent and want to fill the frame with just you, you have to rely on an inconvenient digital zoom function. I've found no keyboard shortcuts for the zoom function. You have to open a separate window and then click for each level of zoom you want. I needed at least three or four to provide just a shot of my head and shoulders. That's a lot of clicking and since it is a digital rather than an optical zoom, you lose some image quality at each step. The image is still good, but I wonder if Logitech didn't go a bit too far in providing wider coverage.
The Logitech software is version 9. Functionally it provides a simpler interface than earlier versions. They've added avatars and what they call digital effects, such as overlaying a crown on your head. It's interesting for perhaps 2 seconds. Kids, however, might like it.
Overall, the Logitech Quickcam Fusion is a solid product. Were it not for the focus issue (which I hope can be successfully resolved), I'd give it 5 stars rather than 4.
Jerry
NOTE: I've spoken with Logitech tech support (pleasant, informed folks who answer promptly) and confirmed that the Fusion lens is fixed-focus. I also ran some tests of my own and found that I was mistaken. The critical focus is not set improperly. Rather the image is soft throughout. The beneefits of the higher-resolution (1.3 Megapixel) sensor are negated by the wider angle of view of the lens. My final conclusion is that the Fusion is best suited for people who often webcam with two or more people in the field-of-view (i.e., couples with kids chatting with grandparents, etc.) Individuals may find that the wider field-of-view leaves them appearing "too small" in the image. Using the digital zoom will increase the size of the person in the image, but will amplify the generally soft focus.
Overall, given the improvements in the audio and low-light capabilities and the smaller form factor, I think the Fusion is a keeper. But solo webcammers may find that the other Logitech webcams without the wide angle lens and higher resolution sensor may do the job better at a lower cost.