Should be a simple question to answer, but I haven't managed to find one online.

I have a usb webcam which works fine – all I want to do is to view a live display, e.g. using my webcam as a baby monitor. It's very easy, using Cheese or VLC, for example.

However, when using Cheese, I have the ability to change the resolution of the output via Edit → Preferences → Resolution.

Trouble is I like using VLC almost universally. If I open up the webcam as in input device in VLC (via Media → Open Capture Device), I can see the live display. Unfortunately I seem unable to change the resolution of the image. I know it is possible, but it seems beyond me.

What is worth noting is that although I can't change the resolution in VLC (yet), VLC apparently 'remembers' the last resolution I had set in Cheese, i.e. if I pick 640x480 in Cheese, that's the size of the display when I open up the capture device in VLC.

Any suggestions?