For those who just need a cheap webcam for a weekly catch up with colleagues, and who don’t have a laptop with integrated webcam, the Logitech C270 HD is exactly what you’re looking for.īuild quality is perfectly acceptable for the price, and in reality so is the image quality – remember, this is a webcam that costs just $20.
Logitech C270 HD: VerdictĪffordable simplicity is the name of the game here. However, this really shouldn’t matter for the vast majority of consumers, who just need their voice to be heard clearly on a video call. Sound quality is perfectly acceptable, although the microphone only works in mono, so there’s no stereo separation. It’s not HDR, but we’re pleased to say the Logitech C270 HD managed well in what can be tricky lighting situations.
Some integrated laptop webcams struggle in such an environment, plunging the subject into darkness as they try to compensate for the bright window, or entirely washing out the background to bring the shadows into view. Logitech’s RightLight 2 system helps to balance the exposure, and it actually does a decent job, with our face still perfectly visible even with a bright window right behind us. But once we had switched from a cropped widescreen image to the camera’s native, squarer view, the aspect ratio was closer to what we are used to from other webcams.Īll this means that, while the C270 HD works well for video calls where only your face needs to be in shot, anyone wanting to hold online presentations, or include their background and surroundings for any other reason, should look elsewhere. We at first found the image to be too tight, with our face taking up almost all of the frame. That said, you will want to adjust the aspect ratio if your video conferencing app of choice allows, as the C270 HD produces a tightly-cropped image. There’s no setup required and the Logitech really is a case of plug-and-play, on both Mac and PC. (Image credit: Alistair Charlton/Digital Camera World) Performance The webcam is powered via a 1.5-metre USB-A cable that is hard-wired into the rear so can’t be removed. Rubber inserts ensure the mount won’t scratch whatever the webcam is attached to. The universal monitor mount is similar to those used by other webcams, and should attach to just about any monitor. The C270 HD is nice and compact, with a two-tone design and a good amount of vertical adjustability. Thankfully the lens is very small and recessed into the camera a fair bit, so you’d have to be very unlucky for anything to get in there and cause damage. Even the lens cover is plastic instead of glass, meaning the picture isn’t quite as sharp as it could be, and you should watch out for scratches and scuffs degrading quality further still. Unsurprisingly, this is an all-plastic webcam. See also: Best Logitech webcams (opens in new tab) Build and handling (Image credit: Alistair Charlton/Digital Camera World)
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