Product Description

Designed to provide a more enjoyable video calling experience, the QuickCam Pro 5000's exclusive video and audio technologies combine to ensure excellent VGA performance. Logitech's RightLight technology ensures sharp video and still pictures even in dim

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #20643 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Logitech
• Model: 961419-0914
• Released on: 2005-09-14
• Platform: Windows XP
• Dimensions: 9.02" h x 9.02" w x 3.50" l, 1.06 pounds

Manufacturer's Description
Designed to provide a more enjoyable video calling experience, the QuickCam Pro 5000's exclusive video and audio technologies combine to ensure excellent VGA performance. Logitech's RightLight" technology ensures sharp video and still pictures even in dim light, while RightSound" technology provides clear, echo-free audio with or without a headset. The versatile monitor clip works on virtually any flat panel, CRT, or notebook display, and the activity light lets you know when you're "live." With the QuickCam Pro 5000, you'll enjoy a truly personal conversation online.

Express your unique personality by using Logitech Video Effects. Choose 3D animated avatars that imitate your facial expressions and head movements, or 2D face accessories that allow you to change your look with glasses, hats and more. They're fun and easy to use with programs such as MSN Messenger Video Conversation, Yahoo! Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger, and others. With expanded video coverage and multi-person intelligent face-tracking, you can include friends and family without the distortion common in less-advanced cameras.

Box Contents

Customer Reviews

Good camera
Having read the reviews for this webcam, I see Windows XP and Dell compatibility problems appear to be issues for some people. When I installed this camera on a Dell Inspiron 5100 laptop with XP Home, it was unusable due to blue screen crashes. However, this is now easily resolved. The camera shipped with Quickcam 9.5 software (Late August 2006), but version 10 is available for download from the logitech website (79mb). Version 10 has worked with the Quickcam Pro 5000 without crashing on Dell Inspiron 5100 and 9400 laptops and Windows XP Home and Professional.

I personally don't use the Logitech software but it is installed. I use the webcam frequently with Skype 2.5 and have tried MSN/Windows Live Messenger and Logitech VideoCall. Skype is far superior due to better video and audio quality and picture resizing ability.

As for the camera, the video quality, automatic light adjustment and colouring are very good. I'm not overawed by the face tracking and so switch it off - it simply uses a digital zoom and pan to frame your face (no physical movement of the camera). It has a fixed rather than adjustable focus but I am usually a relatively normal and constant distance from the camera so isn't an issue for me.

The built-in microphone is pretty good, it took me a while to get the laptop speaker volume/microphone sensitivity right for both parties such that I couldn't hear my own voice. The headset is fine but I don't find it necessary. The stand works well enough on a laptop monitor and can be flattened if you want to sit it on a flat surface. It sits rather than grips a laptop/flat panel screen.

As for the competition, the Logitech Quickcam Communicate STX seems to be more keenly priced and, according to the Logitech website, only differs by not having a digital zoom. Some other cheaper cameras that have lower quality CMOS sensors rather than the CCD sensors found in the Communicate STX and Pro 5000. There are webcams appearing with higher resolutions with a corresponding price tag. Keep an eye out for the specifications, many aren't true 1.3MP cameras (Creative Live! Cam Voice and Microsoft VX6000 are). Whether or not these offer an improvement in video calls over the internet is for another review.

Logitech Pro 5000 Webcam
Similar spec to the Logitech Pro 4000 i.e. built in microphone and 1.3 Mega pixel CCD lens (not your inferior CMOS).

But cheaper (how does that work?) normally 49.99 pounds, but buy it from Amazon and cheaper again and free postage.

Easy to set up (Win XP SP2) install s/w first then plug in hardware.

The microphone (with echo cancelation - right sound technology) works great, so no more need for the headset and external microphone. Does however come with external headset, but have had no need to use it (perhaps only in you want a private conversation)

Excellent in low light (Right light Technology) and it has the ability to track your face/head and zoom in - if selected.

Then it has the advantage of syncing your face, lips, eyes to animation characters, known as avatars, great fun for the kids (and adults). One slight warning - it can not use this function to calibrate in poor / bad lighting conditions. Would ony work if the room was naturally lighted i.e. daylight.

Also nice mount to work either on flat surface or bend round LCD flat panel screen

Overall, excellent clear pictures and good microphone response without the annoying echo problem associated when using speakers.

Works with Skype (using external video plugin - spontania www.video4im.com and its free)

Overall excellent.

Solid piece of kit, delivers on its promises
Superb webcam from Logitech again. Its definetly worth spending £30-£40 on an item like this.

Installation was faultless on Windows XP SP2. Make sure you install the drivers before plugging in the camera. I didn't bother installing the additional Logitech software, so can't say much about it.

All I can say is that I've tried the QuickCam Pro 5000 with Skype, and it works seamlessly. People who I've communicated with report great clarity of picture, good refresh rates (2Mb ADSL broadband), and superb sound quality. Face tracking works well, although sometimes a little delay (not problematic).

The sound quality alone is worth the price of the camera. I've not had the need to use a headset at all. No echos on either end of the line.

Hassle-free, superb buy.