Last update on 2024-04-27 / As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more about us.

Webcam applications are being used for an array of functionalities nowadays whether it might be online classes, content creation, or simply personal use. There are many different webcam applications available online but most of them aren’t exactly the way you’d want them.

For that reason, building your own camera applications and accessing and saving recordings on your own is pretty handy and advantageous. That’s where OpenCV comes into play.

In this article, I am going to talk about what OpenCV is, what it can do with webcams, and which webcams are the best to use for Computer Vision.

Does every webcam work with OpenCV?

In the past, there were compatibility problems with OpenCV. It could only support a handful of webcams and would simply not work with other types of cameras. This made working with OpenCV very difficult.

However, with recent updates and better quality software productions, OpenCV can use Gstreamer, FFMPEG, and other video capturing backends which make it compatible with almost all kinds of webcams.

That doesn’t mean that you should use any ordinary webcam for recording applications with OpenCV. Make sure you use the best available webcam because the better the quality of the camera, the better the identification and other applications of OpenCV.

Best Webcams for OpenCV

Although many webcams are compatible with OpenCV, in order to provide you with the best programming and application experience, we’ve created a list of the top 6 best webcams for OpenCV.

These webcams have been selected on the basis of features, pros, and cons that they come with.

1. Logitech C270

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When it comes to budget high-quality 720p HD camera quality, the C270 by Logitech is the best option. With its wide-angle shots and automatic light correction, your OpenCV projects are going to work smoothly and sharply.

Features

Here are some of the features of the C270:

• Delivers 720p resolution video quality at 30 frames per second for smooth recording and application.
• Offers a 60-degree diagonal wide-angle view for better capturing.
• Comes with Auto Light correction for sharper and better quality imagery.
• Even features a built-in mic if you ever think of recording audio along with a video with your OpenCV functions.
• Available for a reasonably small price.

Pros

C270 comes with a few amazing pros. Here are some of them:

• Reasonably cheap.
• Wide-angle view.
• Sharp and Clear Images.

Cons

However, Logitech’s C270 also comes with some cons. Take a look at them:

• 720P is slightly below high-quality now.
• The design is old and unattractive.

2. Microsoft Lifecam HD-3000

Last update on 2024-04-27 / As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more about us.

One of the most widely used webcams for accessing OpenCV. Microsoft’s Lifecam HD-3000 is an older option but it definitely holds up pretty well and you can use it for designing applications without any hesitations.

Features

The Microsoft Lifecam HD-3000 comes with the following features:

• Wide-angled views are available on the HD-3000.
• It records HD videos at 720P resolution with 30 frames per second for smooth high-quality recordings.
• Uses TrueColor technology.

Pros

Here are some of the pros that the Lifecam HD-3000 comes with:

• It is fairly cheaper than other HD recording options.
• Can be mounted anywhere the user wants.

Cons

Even the HD-3000 comes with its cons. Here’s a list of them:

• Quality is not the greatest.
• Wide angles are not that wide.

3. Surface Pro Built-in Webcam

Last update on 2024-04-27 / As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more about us.

If you’re lucky to own a model of the Microsoft Surface Pro, you’re set for all kinds of computer vision applications because the Surface Pro features an 8MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera.

Features

Here’s a look at the Surface Pro webcam features.

• It records HD videos from both front and rear cameras at 1080P 30fps.
• It comes with a high-resolution, auto-focus rear camera which can really help in identification and movement capture due to the 16:9 aspect ratio as well.
• It comes with an IR face detection feature, which uses computer vision as well, which is a great reference point if you want to get into the details of CV.

Pros

Here are some of the pros of the Surface Pro camera:

• Built-in doesn’t require additional money.
• Uses Computer Vision IR technology.
• Records at 1080P HD 30fps.

Cons

Let’s take a look at some of the cons of the Surface Pro webcam:

• Helpful, only if you own a Surface Pro.
• The viewing angles aren’t very great.

4. Logitech C920 (Editor Choice)

Last update on 2024-04-27 / As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more about us.

If you’re looking to go for a more recent, stylish looking 1080P resolution high-quality recording webcam, then the Logitech C920 Webcam is one of the best choices for you.

Features

For your information, here’s a look at the features of the C920 webcam:

• Records 1080P HD videos at 30 frames per second.
• Wide-angled views with 78 degrees of viewing flexibility.
• HD auto light correction.
• Dual mics for Stereo quality audio.
• Stylish and smooth design.

Pros

Here are some of the pros of this camera:

• Better viewing angles than other webcams.
• Records at 1080P constant 30fps.

Cons

Let’s take a look at some of the demerits of the webcam:

• Slightly more expensive.
• Fragile build quality.

5. Logitech C930E Webcam

Last update on 2024-04-27 / As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more about us.

Our most expensive webcam on this list, the Logitech C930E webcam doesn’t only record at 1080P at 30 frames per second but also provides incredible viewing angles that you can use for better recording using OpenCV.

Features

Here are some of the features of this webcam:

• 90 degree ultra-wide viewing angles.
• Records at 1080P resolution with 30 frames per second making the recording smooth and sharp.
• Built-in stereo mic for calling and streaming application which will be helpful in development with OpenCV.
• Comes with 4x HD zoom capabilities.

Pros

Take a look at some of the pros of this webcam:

• Really amazing viewing angles.
• HD recording quality.
• Superb design.

Cons

The C930E comes with some disadvantages as well. Here are some of them:

More expensive.

Disconnection issues has been reported

What is OpenCV?

You might be familiar with the purpose of Computer Vision. Well, OpenCV is a library for programming functions that are made to implement computer vision for different applications. It is an open-source library and it can be used for personal use as well.

There are many different uses and applications of OpenCV in today’s world as computer vision is an extremely quickly growing field.

What is OpenCV used for?

There are many different applications of OpenCV in the field of security, design, identification, and many more industries. Let’s take a look at some of the fields computer vision is being applied to.

• STREET VEHICULAR IDENTIFICATION – Street cameras which identify signal breaking vehicles and their number plates.
• PERSONNEL SECURITY ­– In order to keep company security in check, personnel is identified using different computer vision algorithms to avoid unauthorized access.
• WEBCAM APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT – For personal and content creation uses, webcam applications with different customization options are being created.
• IMAGE SCANNING – In order to check different images and scan them properly, OpenCV functions are being used.
• CHARACTER AND MODEL DESIGN – For motion capture and accurate character design in movies and games.
• MEDICAL PURPOSES – For verifying medical reports and scanning x-ray and other kinds of files for accurate result generation, computer vision and OpenCV is being used.

Why use a webcam with OpenCV?

Well, there are multiple uses of attaching a webcam with OpenCV. You can create a camera accessing and recording function with OpenCV, you can create a file saving function with OpenCV.

You can even play recorded videos and manipulate frames as well as resolutions and sizes of videos for content creation and personal use purposes like video calls and meetings.

All of these purposes require a good quality camera though because, without a good quality camera, you won’t get the best quality recording. That’s why we’re here. To help you choose the best webcam for OpenCV.

Final thoughts and best pick

In our opinion, the best webcam choice for you would be Logitech. It is because not only does it provide amazing viewing angles and high-quality recording which is optimal for OpenCV but it also comes at a low price which makes it the best webcam for OpenCV on our list.

You might be interested to check out my article about whether an ultrawide monitor is good for programmers.

I hope you make the right decision and enjoy your computer vision journey with OpenCV.