Philips SPC 1000NC
Top camera made by Philips, there is just one better at the moment, SPC 1300NC. I got it for 2 days from a local store. Tested in March 2008, SPC 1000NC was the first webcamera with true 1,3Mp image sensor that got in my hands. The webcam is having a pretty good integrated microphone.
The camera has a new type of clamp, different from the one on SPC 900NC, on plane surfaces it stays even better, definitely a progress in here. There is absolutely no problem in mounting it on any surface, whatever it's a LCD monitor or a desk. The plastic mechanism has rubber elements for better holding. The camera does not rotate on any side, unfortunately, but there is plenty of space for maneuver, it can be rotated for 360 degrees around, and about 40 degrees in front/back. I am continually surprised by the decision of Philips to enhanced this top level camera with manual focus, apart from that, there is so little to upbraid. The image quality was somehow better compared with 900NC, except for the low light condition, and it's good as long as you don't use it at 640x480 or 800x600. It's strange, but at this resolutions, the image is a little blurry, compared with the crystal clear image you can get at 320x240 and 1280x1024. Auto adjustment works slower, maybe it's because of the bigger sensor, but it's definitely slower, although the colors are more natural compared with the predecessor. Face Tracking and background image replacement are two interesting features accessible through camera software. Again we see an excellent frame rate, it's up to 60fps, image goes very smooth, one big plus for those with a broadband connection. The viewing angle is great, images are sharp in any condition, the colors are natural. In this webcam Philips is using a CCD 1,3Mp (1280x1024) sensor, interpolated snapshot resolution is up to 5Mp. There are glass lens, about 4mm in diameter, easy to get to them, no protective glass or shield. There is an improvement when we compare the led, it's blue, not so bright (but still a little to bright) as the one in 900NC, and it's looking upward. Snapshot button it's on top. Must say that the usb cable is a little too short, about 1,5 meters. Webcam package contains a CD with: drivers, manuals and VLounge, Quick install guide , User Manual, a quick guide that explains how to change your background image and the camera, packed in a nice white and blue carton box with plastic window.
Pros:
* True natural colors
* Snapshot button
* Good integrated microphone
* Hi rate FPS
* Nice mounting mechanism
* Good in low light
Cons:
* The USB cable a little to short
* Manual focus
Verdict: Philips SPC 1000NC is a very competitive camera, I would say it has an excellent price/performance ratio.