In its favor, it is one of the easiest to use thanks to its instant connection with Facebook and YouTube, thanks to the software Live! Core 3 Lite. In addition, it has a noise-canceling microphone for better sound on your video calls.
LifeCam HD-3000: the cheapest from Microsoft
Yes, tough you do not believe it microsoft also manufactures and sells webcam and the LifeCam HD-3000 It is one of the cheapest on the list. It has HD 720p resolution of up to 30 fps and a unidirectional microphone with noise cancellation, which will help you capture only your voice.
Its support is quite basic and is more designed to rest on a table or flat surface, although you can also place it on your screen thanks to a small hook that allows it.
Trust Trino HD Video: basic and functional
Another one of the options basic is the Trust Trino HD with which you can obtain recordings or transmissions in HD resolution of 720p at 30 frames per second (FPS). It has a precise adjustable grip and an automatic white balance system and backlight compensation for the best image quality.
Also, it comes with two microphones integrated to capture your voice clearly, as well as a quick access button to activate its photo function. Honestly, it’s not the one that offers the most features, but if you just want something basic, it may be more than enough for you.
Logitech C270: the cheapest
if you want one webcam and you don’t care about anything but the price, Logitech has one of the best basic models. The only reaches a resolution of 720p at 30 fps with a 16: 9 widescreen format, although it has an automatic lighting correction system that captures more realistic and natural colors.
In terms of sound, it comes with a built-in noise reduction microphone that makes it possible to hear it clearly up to 1.5 meters away, even in noisy environments and thanks to its universal-clip you can easily place it on any screen.
The best 1080p options
Finally, we end with some alternatives that offer you great features at the best price. They are not the best on the market, but they are not worth it as such. The idea is that by investing a little more you can get similar features and all for less than 100 euros.
Genius ECAM 8000: the cheapest 1080
We now move on to the devices with 1080p resolution which, as we have mentioned before, is already a standard in video communications. And the most economical model within this plot is the surprising ECAM 8000 by genius.
Surprising because it offers a technology pretty decent video, dual mics for stereo streaming, and a pretty handy clip, all for half the price of other 1080p options. Ok, it doesn’t have the best video quality, but it can be a good choice to start with.
Ozone LiveX50: unbeatable value for money
The well-known brand of gamer peripherals Ozone has launched his LiveX50 to make life easier for all youtubers who are just starting out in streaming and want a webcam with Full HD 30 FPS resolution without spending more than necessary.
Its optics are capable of offering sharp and realistic images and, although it is very much designed for the gamer world, it can also be used for video calls in a more work environment, thanks to its double integrated microphone, one on each side of the lens, which captures the voice in a natural way, guaranteeing always optimal video calls.
Creative Live! Cam Sync 1080: cheaper impossible
If in the previous Creative model we had already told you about the virtues of this brand, the alternative immediately superior It offers more or less the same functionalities, but with an important difference: the 1080p resolution with which it improves the video quality a lot.
And the best thing is that the price is more or less the same, so you can enjoy an economical and functional device for any situation. In addition, as a great attraction, this webcam has a wide-angle lens that allows you to film a wider field of view, up to 77 degrees, without optical distortion. A safe bet.
Microsoft LifeCam Studio: Near Perfect
With the LifeCam Studio we find one of the most complete alternatives of the entire list. This webcam has a Full HD 1080p sensor that offers sharpness and image quality far superior to the previous model of microsoftthanks to its high-precision wide-angle lens.
In addition, it has the technology ClearFrame, which allows for smoother and more detailed videos, and TrueColor technology, which offers better contrast. To this we must add a high-fidelity microphone and a support that allows it to rotate 360 degrees, so you can easily point anywhere. Few give so much for so little.
Logitech HD Pro C920S: with shutter cover
Despite what you may have seen in Black Mirror, having your camera hacked should be one of your last concerns (there is more valuable information on your mobile), but it never hurts to have a cover to ‘protect’ you or, at the same time, less, stay calmer.
And that is exactly what the webcam offers you c920s from Logitech. A curious addition to its excellent camera with Full HD resolution (1080p at 30 fps), 78-degree field of view and automatic lighting correction. In addition, it includes two microphones for clear stereo sound.
Razer Kiyo: worth the effort
Exceeding, by very little, the line of 100 euros, we arrive at Razer’s cheapest model. The popular brand of gamer peripherals offers a webcam with Full HD resolution (720p at 60 fps or 1080 at 30 FPS) so you can broadcast with the best image quality.
But its great virtue, and for what it is worth paying a little more if you are going to dedicate yourself to stream, is your ring of illumination. A spotlight that will greatly improve the lighting of your face in low-light environments, without saturating or creating undesirable reflections in your eyes.
Which to choose? Opinions and recommendations
Once the main webcams have been analyzed economic, our advice is that you do not stay in the cheapest on the market. The difference between the 720p or 1080p models is very little money, but we can assure you that the quality of your video calls will improve decisively.
For this reason, if you want to go for an economical model but one that allows you to have the functionalities of more powerful (and expensive) ones, we recommend the Creative Live! CamSync 1080which has an unbeatable price and very interesting options.
But if you dedicate yourself to streaming from your computer or you are an intensive user of video calls, our advice is that you bet on the alternative of Razen. The extra price will be offset by better image quality and top-notch lighting.
How to improve your video calls?
But before getting into the matter, we are going to give you a series of tips so that you can improve the quality of yours video calls quickly and easily. With a couple of accessories you will achieve a better quality in your digital interventions.
Light up your ‘set’
If there is something that all the webcams on the market have in common, it is that they have a small optics and not very bright. Therefore, they do not perform well in dark or poorly lit environments and will show the uncomfortable grain in your video calls.
The solution is very simple: add more light. If it is daytime, all you have to do is stand next to a window or in a place where the sun shines on your face (but always from behind the camera, so as not to generate a backlighting).
If it’s nighttime, being in a well-lit room with lights pointed at the ceiling will probably be more than enough to make your video call look good. Although you can also find very cheap spotlights on the internet that offer you the extra lumens you need.
improve your background
The best thing for a video call, whether for work or leisure, is that nothing distracts from your presence. Therefore, it is highly recommended to have a flat bottom. If this is impossible to achieve in your home, you can opt for one of the many green backgrounds that are sold on the internet.
The color is no coincidence, that range of green is very easy to detect by the main video call applications, such as Zoom, FaceTime or Skype, and by having a flat background you will be able to do the chromakey effectand replace it with any image you want.
Don’t forget the sound
Although we are here to talk about cameras, we cannot forget that half of the video is the sound. In general, a decent headset will suffice to make your voice clear, but if you don’t have them (or if you need extra quality to make stream) you always have the option of getting yourself a good USB microphone that will ostensibly improve the quality of your sound in your video calls or transmissions.
What to consider when buying a webcam
Finally, we are going with the key aspects that every webcam should have, no matter how cheap, so that it can fulfill its function in an acceptable way:
- Resolution. HD has become the standard for video resolution. webcambut beware, because the webcam plus economic they don’t go up to 1080p. and they stay at 720. It’s not a drama, but as long as you can go for Full HD, you’re guaranteed to always look good.
- grip. Most of the webcam of the list has a clip or grip accessory to be able to place it on the screen of your computer or laptop. Depending on where you want to place the camera, you must take this detail into account.
- Microphone. Another basic of webcams it’s the microphone. If it has ambient noise cancellation, better than better, since it offers you better audio quality even if there is ambient noise in the room.
- Light. It is not very common to find webcam with light, but in this list we show you an example that does have it incorporated. As we have mentioned, this can be key if you have very poor lighting in your room.
- Optics. This is where budget webcams save the most, as the rest of the components are pretty cheap to come by. Even so, if you can opt for a model with autofocus, you will have more possibilities when transmitting video.