USB camera recommendations please

Think you'll need a webcam - which has a built in mic too. Although you can use a separate mic. Webcams generally come with a bracket for clipping to the monitor.

Think your budget is a bit small for a decent one though. Remembering that your monitor will be HD or better. And a low res camera won't look good.

Dozens on eBay/Amazon in that price range. I got an unknown brand HD

Logitech C920 here, list price is above your budget but check ebay £40-50, it's full HD and in particular has excellent mics, I used to get complaints about other mics on Teams calls, but never an issue with this one, comes with a bracket that rests on the top of monitor.

The cheapest cameras would focus at infinity.

You would want something better than that.

Find a review for "Logitech C270".

Technical Specifications Max Resolution: 720p/30fps Camera mega pixel: 0.9 Focus type: fixed focus <=== ouch Lens type: plastic Built-in mic: Mono Mic range: Up to 1 m Diagonal field of view (dFoV): 55° Universal mounting clip fits laptops, LCD or monitors

For comparison:

Microsoft LifeCam Studio (2.5x to 3x the price)

Resolution and Frame Rate 1080p <=== at less than 30FPS 720p at up to 30 fps <=== not limited by cable protocol Sensor CMOS Sensor Resolution 5 MP Field of View 75° Zoom 3x (Digital) <=== so during conf. call, only head shows...

Focus Type Auto Focus Range 0.3 to 32.8' / 0.1 to 10 m

Host Connection USB Type-A USB 2.0 Power Source Bus Powered Low-Light Correction No Supported Operating Systems W7/8/10, macOS 10.7 or Later

Microphone Yes Polar Pattern Omnidirectional Frequency Range 100 Hz to 18 kHz Frequency Mode Wideband

Operating Temperature 0 to 40°C Operating Humidity 5 to 80% Storage Temperature -40 to 60°C Storage Humidity 5 to 65%

Privacy Shutter No Attachment Method Clip, Tripod

Cable Length 1.8 to 2m Dimensions (W x H x D) 2.4 x 1.8 x 4.5" / 60.0 x 45.0 x 114.0 mm Weight 4.52 oz / 128 g

In my opinion, if you must use a camera, then you want the ability to compose the shot.

Make sure the camera software comes with a panel, with fake PTZ, to position your head in the frame.

I like to crop down "room noise" in conf.calls.

For conf.calls, I use a separate mic. Macintosh 590-0670 plus adapter s*it (it uses hard +5V power), then plug into PC LineIn (it's mostly a line level output signal).

Integrated microphones on webcams, don't generally work worth a darn, and pick up electronics noise when the AGC opens up. Even my digital camera does that. The old Macintosh microphone does not have AGC.

Read the reviews on webcams, to see what kind of audio they offer. There are very few that rate "good" on audio. And you'll get sticker shock on vblogger-style microphones.

Summary: The bad news is, it's very easy to buy a bad microphone. And might require more than one purchase in any case, to get a good one.

Paul

Maybe Chris has got impressive shelves full of hardback books?

Two Logitech C525s here. About £60 as iI recall. They work well, although I use headset microphones (Plantronics Bluetooth).

Thanks for all the advice. The price I suggested was just a shot in the dark - I had no idea as to what you got or for how much. Quite happy to up my budget. The Logitec range gets several recommendations here. I'll have a look.

Well, yes, he has, but they won't be in the background. It surprises me to see people being interviewed on TV from what I can only assume are their homes, with the background very brightly lit so that the interviewee appears almost blacked out. You'd have thought the TV company would have advised them about the best location, orientation or background to have, before the interview was set up.

Given on Zoom etc you can see your own picture too it's quite surprising how many don't seem to care what it looks like. Other than books in the background, obviously. I've got a nice picture of library shelves I can key in when needed. ;-)

Broadcasters are increasingly staffed by people who have less of a clue about lighting/sound/etc than some of the interviewees these days

What are you doing watching GB News? ;-)

I tend to do most of my video calls in my workshop (SWMBO is working, doing the same, in the office).

The background is shelves of components, tools and a PDP-11 in a 42U rack.

I do too sometimes. On the edge of the picture is my cable rack. Where I keep audio video and computer etc cables for just about anything. That seems to get the most comments.

I've got a desk light for the keyboard. Can be white, warm white or cool white. Dims too. So can use it as a key light and match to the ambient at the time.