Best Webcam for Linux?

[poofyhairguy]

My favorite solution to the "my hardware doesn't work in Linux" problem is buying hardware that does.

For most categories, I know the most compatible stuff. But I don't know anything about webcams.

Which model and make of webcam is easiest to install in Linux? Which ones work with Amsn without a lot of fighting?

[az]

I found the spcaXX based webcams that I bought relatively easy to get going.

http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=44364&highlight=webcam

[tomchuk]

I've got a Logitec QuickCam Pro 4000 which seems to be working great with the pwc-modules package.

[kleeman]

Watch out for the pwc modules. There are proprietary problems with the reverse engineered modules in 2.6.10/11 which has caused the module to be somewhat downgraded in 2.6.12 apparently.

[maruchan]

http://www.linuxquestions.org/hcl/showcat.php?cat=0&stype=1&si=webcam

[tomchuk]

Watch out for the pwc modules. There are proprietary problems with the reverse engineered modules in 2.6.10/11 which has caused the module to be somewhat downgraded in 2.6.12 apparently.

Sonofabitch! I'm working with a $30,000 piece of software (http://www.evolution.com/products/ersp/) on an outdated OS (http://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/linux/RHL-7.3-Manual/) with a now unsupported camera (http://www.smcc.demon.nl/webcam/)

On Debian at least, the pwc-modules package is in the main repo, which means no freeness issues. I guess that means I'm using the crippled driver, seems to work fine for my uses - and my uses are probably a little more demanding than most.

[kleeman]

As I understand it the old pwcx part of the driver had proprietary stuff in it (decompressors). The new driver
http://www.saillard.org/linux/pwc/
reverse engineered this part of the driver and this made the kernel developers nervous in some way.

[LewisDre4m]

The best webcam for linux is currently the Logitech C200, it is reccomended as a "Camera that simply works" on the Official Ubuntu help site.

I have just ordered one but I know people who have used it and it is FANTASTIC. Do not hesitate to get the Logitech C200.

If you want the best and least hassle webcam for linux the c200 is the way to go.

Plus it's cheap too! only 20 GBP

[ianhaycox]

Just bought a Logitech QuickCam E3500 for my daughters' 9.10 install.

Worked perfectly with no extra installs and Skype works. Can't complain for 20 euros.

[hobo14]

The best webcam for linux is currently the Logitech C200, it is reccomended as a "Camera that simply works" on the Official Ubuntu help site.

I have just ordered one but I know people who have used it and it is FANTASTIC. Do not hesitate to get the Logitech C200.

If you want the best and least hassle webcam for linux the c200 is the way to go.

Plus it's cheap too! only 20 GBP

I didn't know the C200 was recommended, but I bought one the other day; just plugged it in and it worked.

The default exposure and gain settings aren't too good though, so you get heaps of motion blur.
I had to install guvcview through synaptic to be able to change them.

[AllenGG]

Best webcams seem to be Logitech .
OK I have 2. Best by far is the Quickcam Pro 9000 , very high resolution.

To YEESHKULL , set up "camera monitor " first, add "Cheese", both through SYNAPTIC. turn on "camera monitor, try Cheese, IF Cheese fails, go to prefs and change the resolution, down. Then go to Skype, to Options, camera/test (or video)

Even a piece of crap like Microsoft viewer works.

[BuffaloX]

Hercules Dualpix exchange is very cheap and good.

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=98&Itemid=1

It's 2 mega pixel for stills and 1.2 for movie. 30 fps.
It's very light sensitive, so if you sometimes sit in a romm that's a little dark, it is very good at that.

In Ubuntu Karmic you just plug it in and it works.
It also features a decent microphone.

[3rdalbum]

There are some cameras out there that use UVC and actually say "Linux kernel 2.6.28" under the System Requirements on the box.

[cariboo907]

THis thread was started in 2005. So much has changed since then, that it would be better to start a new thread. Closed.