Logitech Quickcam Webcam Goes Dim After Several Seconds

[Joseph Schwenker]

I've been having a problem with my webcam for a long time in Ubuntu where when I open an application like Cheese or Gmail's video chat plugin the video feed will appear fine for several seconds before becoming extremely dim, almost to the point where one cannot see anything in the shot. My webcam is a Logitech QuickCam. Does anyone know of a fix for this?

[coldraven]

Try this, install guvcview from the Software Centre.
Close all other web-cam apps.
Run guvcview and crank up the brightness, then quit, no need to save anything.
See if your other application now works.

[Joseph Schwenker]

Thanks so much! Though the problem wasn't with brightness, you set me along the right path to solving my problem. In guvcview, there is an option in the first tab that says "Auto Gain". I unchecked this box, and my camera stopped "fixing" the light automatically. Thanks for your help!

[Joseph Schwenker]

Though disabling "Auto Gain" in guvcview solves my problem, it only does so temporarily, as I've just learned. As soon as I restart my computer, Auto Gain is enabled again. Is there a way to force this setting?

[no2498]

install v4l2ucp
after installed it comes up in system/preferences as videoforlinux control panel
i hope it helps you

[Joseph Schwenker]

Unfortunately, that didn't fix my problem. After a reboot, Auto-Gain was checked once again.

[no2498]

if you click reset or update it will go back to being on

[Joseph Schwenker]

I clicked that button after I unchecked Auto Gain, but when I reboot my computer, it's checked again. Additionally, clicking on update or reset did nothing to change the checked state.

[no2498]

best i can say is it should have stayed
now im at a loss of what to do
i hope you get it fixed

[oldtimer7777]

bump

When this happens, we call this "snake eyes". End of the road. Time to get some new hardware. Gotta pay to play.