Screen & WebCam recording

Five Best Webcams for YouTube and What to Look for Before you Buy Them

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Thinking about starting life as a YouTuber? Or do you want to improve the quality of your videos? As a vlogger or streamer, the first place to start is getting a good webcam. They are incredibly cheap for the benefits they offer.

Here are the best webcams for YouTube to buy and what to look for before you get one.

Best Webcam for YouTube (Pro Level): Logitech Brio Ultra HD Pro Webcam

Starting with the most expensive webcam after calling them incredibly cheap feels like a contradiction. But when buying webcams, or anything for that matter, it is more important to consider what you’re getting for your money than the nominal price.

In that regard, Logitech’s Brio feels cheap.

It may be overkill for regular video conferencing. However, for YouTubers and Twitch gamers, its 4K resolution places you ahead of the curve. 

Brio Ultra HD Pro also supports high dynamic range and 5X zoom, which combine to make the cost of producing high-quality videos far less costly.

Hardware and Design

A 13MP camera lens is in the middle, flanked on either side by two noise-canceling mics, both of which are excellent at picking up audio. All in a four-inch wide, one-inch high metallic-gray aluminum casing.


The unit is attached to a rubber-coated flexible stand that clips onto the bezels of any laptop or monitor. Also, a square plastic piece at the bottom allows the webcam to stand on any flat surface freely.

More impressively, the stand is removable, enabling the attachment of the webcam to a tripod mount. Perfect if you ever need to film a YouTube video away from your computer.

Camera Quality and Usage

Logitech Brio is a 4K camera, but it also supports different resolutions. There is 1080p and 720p streaming at 30/60 fps. However, you might not need them since YouTube supports 4K streaming.

The webcam also has full support for Windows Hello, so you don’t have to compromise on biometric security measures like facial recognition.

Lastly, installing the Brio is seamless, and the picture quality for out-of-the-box settings is excellent for vlogging.

But if you want to make adjustments, you can download the Logitech Camera Settings app from the company’s website. It allows you to change the field of view, standard/widescreen display, and a Background Replacement feature.

This webcam is an excellent choice if you want to capture your YouTube videos in the sharpest possible detail.

Pros

Facial recognition

Excellent microphone

Super detailed resolution


Cons

Expensive



Best Webcam for YouTube Videos (Portability and Flexibility): Elgato Cam Link 4K

What if you didn’t have to buy a webcam? What if you could turn any device with a camera into a webcam? That is the question Elgato Cam Link answers with this product.

The idea is pretty simple. Connect the USB device to a camcorder, DSLR camera, or iPhone, and it becomes a webcam. The device works with all camera brands, including big names like Nikon, Sony, GoPro, and Canon.

It is the perfect tool for any YouTuber who wants to make videos on the go. Especially travel vloggers and photographers who are likely to have professional cameras for capturing footage.

Photography hobbyists who use their fancy camera occasionally can also use it to elevate the quality of their video calls. It is compatible with various video conferencing software like Teams, Google Hangout, Skype, and Zoom.

So besides its benefits, what are the specs?

Well, Elgato Cam Link supports 4K resolution at 30fps. Downstream, it supports 1080p, 720p, and 480p recording at 60fps, ensuring that no matter the resolution, you get clear images at all times.

The device is a USB dongle with an HDMI port at the other end that connects to the camera. The product also has a USB 3.0 extension cable to bridge the gap between your computer and the camera during setup.

Even though it is not a webcam, Cam Link gives you greater control over what is possible with your video content. 

Whatever it is, its portability and flexibility allow you to create anywhere, anytime, without a drop in quality.

Pros

Easy to move around

Supports video conferencing

4K resolution


Cons

Not compatible with every camera/computer

Has high OS and hardware requirements


Best Webcam for YouTube 2017 (Best for Vlogging) - Logitech C922X Pro Stream Webcam

When Logitech discovered many vloggers and streamers were buying the C922X, it decided to make C922X Pro. Designed specifically for high-quality streaming, it is one of the best webcams you can get for YouTube or Twitch.

It checks all the qualities you should target for elite performance. C922X supports video streaming and recording at Full HD (1080p) and HD (720p) at 30 and 60 frames per second respectively.

That guarantees crisp visuals whenever you go live or record for YouTube, Facebook, or Twitch.

Logitech C922X comes with automatic low light correction. Regardless of your lighting, you can expect to stream and record in excellent conditions.

The feature enables the webcam to adjust its performance according to the light in the room. You don’t have to manually adjust the settings every time a fluorescent light goes out or flickers.

Other worthwhile features include a background remover tool that eliminates the need for a green screen. You get to replace your background with your preferred image, all while enjoying a 78-degree field of view.

It will help you level up your video’s production value, attracting those sweet likes and subscribers.

Lastly, with the C922X, you don’t necessarily have to invest in a microphone. It comes with two omnidirectional mics that capture stereo audio from every angle.

Overall, the C922X Pro is more than a decent alternative to the Brio, especially for vlogging beginners.

Pros

Records and streams at 1080p and 720p

Plug and play

Less need for professional microphones


Cons

Not fully compatible with Mac




Best Webcam for YouTube and Twitch Streaming - Logitech HD Pro C920

Regardless of the similarities in looks, each Logitech product at every price level has its distinct advantages. In the case of the HD Pro C920, that’s a privacy shutter that prevents anyone from spying on you.

When the webcam is not in use, you can close the shutter, making it completely secure.

But that’s not the only reason why the Logitech HD Pro C920 is one of the best webcams for YouTube and Twitch streaming. 

It ticks all the boxes for an excellent webcam. It can record 1080p at 30fps, has dynamic stereo audio, and comes with a 15MP camera.

On a more specific level, it comes with a Carl Zeiss lens. This is an excellent surface for light to pass through and guarantees high image quality. The lens has a 20-step autofocus lens with a wide-angle view, 78 degrees, to be exact.

Asides from the camera are two omnidirectional microphones. The sound quality is not as great as the previous options, but it is far from the worst out there.

Another distinct quality of the Logitech HD Pro C920 for its price is the ability to mount it on a tripod. Asides from clipping it to the bezels of your PC or laptop, you can attach it to a tripod with a screw mount.

One more thing, it comes with Auto-focus technology. This ensures the camera adjusts qualities like white balance and exposure based on your face instead of the room. The effect? The webcam will always present your face in the best light.

Pros

Has automatic light correction

Built for privacy

High recording quality


Cons

No 1080 HD streaming




Best Webcam for YouTube (Budget-Friendly) - Microsoft LifeCam HD-3000

Even for those with a tight budget, getting the most bang for your little buck is essential. That is exactly what Microsoft’s LifeCam HD-3000 is.

The budget-friendly webcam is the best webcam for YouTube for anyone looking to start a YouTube career with minimal start-up cost.

Sure, you won’t get the fantastic clarity of higher-end devices. Still, it offers enough to deliver quality content for a YouTube beginner.

For instance, you get 720p at 30 frames per second. Not the best, and it limits the range of YouTube content you can film with it, but it is still a high-definition video. You and your audience will be able to make out your face and any object in focus.

LifeCam HD-3000 has a 4MP camera with True Color Technology. It allows you to enhance the color and optimize the brightness of the video for different lighting conditions. There is also a fixed-focus lens that enables 4X zoom.

The webcam also has an in-built microphone, so you don’t have to worry about buying one or getting stuck with the one on your computer. The microphone has an integrated noise reducer that eliminates background noise to deliver clear sound.

The hardware itself has a sturdy design, allowing the webcam to deliver clear and balanced images.

Overall, it is a marked improvement on a standard laptop webcam, especially those with low hardware components.

Pros

Budget-friendly

Decent image quality

Flexible clip


Cons


No 1080 HD streaming


Best Webcam for YouTube: What to look for

Here is what to look for while you search for the best webcam for YouTube: 

  1. Video Resolution

This is arguably the most crucial factor to consider. It determines the image quality you get when you stream or record the video. Current market options range from 720p to 4K.

4K, also known as Ultra HD, is generally the best option, but they tend to cost more on average. As a (prospective) YouTuber, the ideal resolution is 1080p, so target that.

  1. Audio (Built-in microphone)

For excellent sound quality, it is advisable to buy a dedicated microphone for your YouTube content. However, if you can’t afford one, make sure you get one with decent sound quality.

This usually means two omnidirectional mics that can capture sound from different directions. An extra feature like noise canceling is nice too.

  1. Build Quality

There is no value in buying a webcam that breaks down after a couple of uses. Beyond the internal specs, make sure the overall design is sturdy and built to last.

That includes paying attention to features like the mount and material. Flexible and balanced mounts are always better.

  1. Compatibility

Webcam technology has come so far that the majority of them are compatible with most devices. But there are still exceptions. For instance, the Logitech C922X is not fully compatible with Mac computers.

Before buying a webcam, make sure it works with your operating system and computer hardware.

  1. Auto Focus

No one will be behind the camera when you are recording or streaming your videos. That makes the auto-focus feature a handy tool to keep track of your face at all times.

The feature goes by different names for various brands and products. Some call it Auto Focus. Others call it Face Tracking. 

Either way, double-check before making your purchase.

  1. Field of View

The field of view refers to how much of the scene is captured by the webcam. For standard webcams, that ranges from 60 degrees (just you in front of the computer) to 150 degrees (everything in front of the lens).

The correct FOV ultimately depends on your planned content, but anything between 78 and 120 degrees is considered ideal.

Conclusion

Whether you are a vlogger or video game streamer, part of taking your content to the next level means investing in a quality webcam. 

Abovementioned are some of the best webcams for YouTube and Twitch content. You can pair any of them with Keevi Screen Recorder to record your content using any layout easily.

For more tutorials and help creating great content for YouTube and other platforms, visit our learning page.

Hammad Akbar
Hammad Akbar
November 11, 2021