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Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000 | 
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| Brand: Logitech
Category: CE
List Price: $99.99
Buy New: $73.92
You Save: $26.07 (26%)
New (40) Used (4) Refurbished (2) from $64.94
Rating:  279 reviews
Sales Rank: 10
Color: Black
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: No
Native Resolution: 1600x1200
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3
Dimensions (in): 3.4 x 7.6 x 8.9
Warranty: 2 years warranty
MPN: 960-000048
Model: 960-000048
UPC: 097855044914
EAN: 0097855044914
ASIN: B000RZQZM0
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Features:
| • | Box Contents - Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000, USB cable (6-feet), QuickCam Software CD including Logitech Video Effects, one-click video e-mail, QuickCapture for photos, Windows Live Messenger, Skype with free full-screen video calling, video-enabled AIM, Yahoo! Messenger, HP Photosmart Essential application for capturing, editing, customizing, and printing images (Web download required) and Quick-start guide | | • | Conveniently clips to virtually any flat-panel monitor or notebook | | • | Logitech Video Effects - Personalize your conversations with hundreds of avatars and face accessories that mirror expressions and motion using Fun Filters to add playful photographic effects such as fisheye, '50s Movie Reel, neonize, and more | | • | Universal monitor clip mounts easily on any type of display or notebook computer | | • | Carl Zeiss optics |
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Product Description
Enjoy image-perfect detail and clarity plus motorized tracking. Ultra-wide field of view and intelligent face tracking keeps you right in the middle of the action. Get more detail and clarity from Logitech's glass lens designed in collaboration with Carl Zeiss, the global leader in camera optics. Your images stay razor sharp, even in closeups. HD video and images have never looked so real at 960 by 720 pixels. A true 2-Megapixel sensor, with up to 8-megapixel photos. RightLight 2 Technology adjusts intelligently to produce the best possible images in dim or poorly backlight settings. Integrated microphone with RightSound Technology lets you enjoy crystal clear conversations, free from annoying background noise. Autofocus system Ultra-high resolution 2-megapixel sensor with RightLight 2 Technology Color depth - 24-bit true color Video capture - Up to 1600 by 1200 pixels (HD quality, Video 960x720 pixels) Frame rate - Up to 30 frames per second Still-image capture - 8-Megapixels with software enhancement Built-in microphone with RightSound Technology System Requirements - Windows XP, Pentium 4 or compatible processor 1.4 GHz, 128 MB RAM, 200 MB free space, 16-bit color display adapter, Windows-compatible sound card and speakers (full-duplex sound card recommended), USB port and CD-ROM drive / Also works with Windows Vista
From the Manufacturer
As Internet connections have matured to faster and faster broadband pipelines, webcam manufacturers have been keeping pace with higher resolutions and improved optics to take advantage of the larger bandwidth. And more than just communicating over chat and VoIP, webcams are increasingly used to broadcast Truman Show-esque live video feeds of one's every move (such as at Justin.tv) as well as high-quality mini-movies uploaded to sharing sites. And that's where the Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000 really shines, with its 2-megapixel image sensor, smooth-tracking autofocus, high-end Carl Zeiss optics, and HD video capabilities (with the capability of recording video at 960 by 720 pixels). 
The combination of Logitech's RightLight technology and 2-megapixel Carl Zeiss optics produce improved clarity and lighting (Pro 9000 on the left, MacBook integrated camera on right--both captured in the same lighting conditions). | 
Add a variety of special effects from filters (above) to facial accessories (below). |  | First, a little about Logitech's touted technological and optical advantages. Designed by Carl Zeiss (known for high-end film and digital camera lenses), the Pro 9000's optics use a five-element lens arranged into four optical elements. As a result, the lens focuses the light onto the sensor with maximum detail and minimal aberrations. The 2-megapixel lens also offers an autofocus mechanism that automatically adjusts as your face moves about. It also incorporates Logitech's RightLight and RightSound technologies, which improves the webcam's image quality under difficult lighting conditions and provides noise cancellation, respectively. We found the autofocus feature to be much smoother than another similarly specced webcam from Creative that we previously reviewed (which felt stuttery to our video chat partners), and the RightLight feature was able to render an image of our face in both highly backlit and low-light situations--something that other webcams we've tested have completely failed at. And the combination of RightLight, Carl Zeiss optics, and the two-megapixel sensor helped to enrich both the clarity and the color of our images. While it's true that broadband Internet has gained speed, unfortunately none of the major chat or VoIP programs are can stream the high-definition video (960 by 720 pixels) that the Pro 9000 can capture. Thus, this feature is really only usable for recording video to your hard drive and either uploading to a video sharing service like YouTube or for inclusion into a movie project to be burned to disc. The Pro 9000 also enables you to take still images at larger than its native 2-megapixel sensor via software interpolation (up to an 8-megapixel resolution). Note, however, that shooting at a higher resolution causes a lengthier shutter lag. The Pro 9000 offers easy plug-and-play operability on either a Windows PC or a Mac--just slide in the USB 2.0 plug, select the camera from your chosen video chatting program (it works seamlessly with Skype, Yahoo!, Windows Live, SightSpeed, and iChat), and you're good to go. While the Pro 9000 works brilliantly right out of the box, you'll only be able to take advantage of software add-ons such using the included QuickCam software (which is for Windows users only). The QuickCam Control Panel is where you can select from a host of special effect add-ons that range from a selection of avatars (such as a dinosaur or cat) to facial accessories (including a crown and Borg hardware), and a variety of filter effects. The avatars didn't seem especially responsive unless we were overly hyperactive, but the limited face add-ons and filters were more successful (with our favorite being the rotoscope animation effect). The double-hinged clip on the back of the lightweight Pro 9000 can be articulated to fit both the thinnest notebook screens to thicker LCD TV/monitors. A rubberized is placed right below the camera housing to help prevent slippage, and the camera itself can smoothly tilt up and down about 90 degrees. The Pro 9000 has a single microphone on its right side, and while the left side has a control button that automatically opens the Logitech QuickCam software. And in the middle is a Logitech logo, which is given a red glowing halo when the camera is recording. It uses a single USB connection that does not require external power. With its arsenal of optical advancements combined with an invitingly affordable price tag and easy portability, the QuickCam Pro 9000 is a great alternative to the standard VGA/1.3-megapixel cams built into notebooks. --Agen G.N. Schmitz Pros: - 2-megapixel sensor helps to improve both clarity and color
- Automatic autofocus smoothly readjusts as you move around the screen
- Double-hinged clip easily fit on a variety of laptop and monitor surfaces
Cons: - While capable of capturing HD-quality video, you can only utilize this for video saved to hard drive
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| Customer Reviews: Read 274 more reviews...
 Great for Skype Video July 8, 2008
Robert W. Stuthridge (Indiana, USA)
Have had the camera about a month now...never any problems, worked straight out of the box and software caused no issues for my aging Win XP desktop machine.
I am an expat Brit, living in the USA and use the camera for Skype calls to my family in England. They all tell me the image is amazing (they have more basic cameras, so I get to see a lot of indistinct images of them, sadly); In consequence, my dad intends to upgrade to the QuickCam Pro 9000 because it works so well. I am even able to show people scenes outside my home office window, and the autofocus and auto-lighting features cope perfectly well when moving from a darkish room to a very sunny day outside. I am able to pan around to show objects in the room, printed materials, our dogs...all in correct focus and with great clarity. The Pro 9000 easily copes with the variety of lighting conditions I encounter throughout the day.
I have also used it for a webinar/video conference from my university and it worked great for that, too. I bought the Pro 9000 to replace a very disappointing Philips webcam that actually cost more money! So far, after quite a lot of use, I have been very impressed and have recommended it both to friends and family.
Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000 July 7, 2008
Dinesh Muciliath Jayadevan (Bellevue, WA, USA)
I have been using this Web Cam for the last couple of weeks. The picture quality is superb, and even in very dim lighting condition, the sharpness and brightness of the images are superb.
I have noticed one problem with the cam, though. Due to the curvature or other optical aspects of the lens, your face or body may look a little out of proportion towards the corners of the image. But if your face is at the center of the image, this problem is not there.
Another issue is that although the cam and the bundled software can record video in HD, the video is not image-stabilized. Therefore, if there are fast moving things, you can see blurred movements in the video.
Anyway, I'm happy with the QuickCam 9000! The viewers acknowledge that they get crisp and clear images. The bundled software gives a lot of ways to amuse the viewers at the other end! :-)
 First webcam, works great July 5, 2008
Wes Injerd (Hillsboro, OR)
Had some issues at first with Skype, the main reason for buying this. But after getting the latest DirectX installed, it worked fine. Not sure if it can be used as a security webcam but it does have some pretty nice software that enhances the image -- pretty wacky, some of them, to the amusement of the viewers! It's been working great for the past 3 months and I have no complaints.
Crystal Clear Optics July 4, 2008
C. Murphy (Maine)
I spent a little more than I had planned to on a webcam, but the money was well spent. This is clearly a newer generation of webcam than the old counterparts that were the video equivalent of stuttering and stammering.
The optics and clarity are excellent, and the camera smart enough to adjust for even the most unforgiving light and speed environment. It senses and corrects most everything thrown at it, from fast movement to harsh backlight. The color is true to life and vivid. The audio is clear.
Setup was simple. I installed the companion software without a hitch and it was ready to go. There are some features that are pure fluff and novelty, but I did play around with them briefly. Turning myself into a talking cat is not something I think I'll need in the future, but some folks would find it fun.
The field of view is nice and wide. I use it to keep the family in touch, so several of us sit around the camera to communicate. It accomodates everyone without a problem.
The only thing I struggled with and never did get to work to my satisfaction was clipping it onto my notebook. It doesn't so much clip as "drape" so any substantial movement to the laptop would cause it to fall.
But all in all, stellar optics and audio make this an excellent choice for those looking for clarity and smooth, non-jumpy webcam.
Poorly Designed July 4, 2008
Tanya S. E. Burke (Jamaica)
I purchased this webcam from Amazon.com for use on Sykpe and Instant Messenger.
The sound quality is excellent. The video plays back images in slow motion which is quite disappointing to me because I thought we got past slow motion imagery technologically.
The most disappointing thing for me is its design. I find it too bulky to perch on either my Dell Inspirion or Gateway Tablet. I travel frequently and use the webcam and storage is an issue for me.
The webcam does not fit securely in place either.
Each time I use it I fantasize about obtaining a "small" webcam that is fixed in place on the notebook via one of those "large rubberised clothes pegs" similar to the "bag clips" and an adjustable neck that can turn 360 degrees as well as up and down. In other words after spending $85 or so dollars on thing I expected more but got less.
Is there an inventor out there or maybe logitech will go back to the design drawing board?
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