Introduction

   Most computer users, even those who aren't as enthusiastic about hardware as most of us are, have heard of Logitech. This is mostly due to the diverse amount of products offered by them, ranging from mice to game controllers and from speakers to cameras. Logitech certainly has proven themselves worthy to design good products beyond mice and keyboards, and they are quickly establishing themselves as the premier computer peripheral manufacturer. Today I'll be looking at one of their latest products from their camera lineup, the new QuickCam Pro 4000.

Specifications

   The specs of this camera are similar to a those of any good webcam you'd find nowadays. You can capture video along with just taking still-frame shots with this camera, and a nice feature included is the digital zoom. While this obviously won't be as good as an optical zoom, or even as good as using Photoshop to magnify an image, it can help you when you are trying to focus the camera before taking a picture.

• Video capture: Up to 640 x 480 pixels (VGA CCD)

• Still image capture: Up to 1280 x 960 pixels, 1.3 megapixels

• Frame rate: Up to 30 frames per second (with recommended system)

• Digital Zoom

• Built-in Microphone

• Included Software:

• FREE Logitech® IM Video Companion™

• Live video-enabled Yahoo! Messenger

• One-click video e-mail software

• Video broadcasting software

• Web album creator software

• Web camera software

• Motion detection software

• Animation software

• Extra Software:

• MGI® VideoWave PC Video Editing software

• MGI® PhotoSuite PC Image Editing software

• Free software updates with news and the latest features

• Works with Mac® OS 9.04 and 9.1

• 2-year limited hardware warranty

   For the entire description of specs, go to Logitech's product description page of the QC Pro 4000.

   Logitech includes a generous software bundle that includes their own ImageStudio program that provides wide array of options from setting up the camera to be a motion detector (for security purposes) to allowing you to use the camera for video capture. Having all these features in one program is very convenient. Also included are MGI's VideoWave and PhotoSuite programs, for editing video and images, respectively. Both are for the PC only, and both are SE versions of the software, probably designed for software bundles such as this one.

Retail Packaging.

Driver and Software CDs and Manual.

The QC Pro 4000 has a green LED that lights up when it is in use.

   There is a minuscule amount of assembly required, and this mostly boils down to inserting the camera into its base and snaping the privacy shade onto the camera. Once it its stand, the camera can rotate a full 180 degrees, and tilt forward or backward about 30-40 degrees.

   One thing I noticed is that while adjusting the camera's position it has a tendency to come loose from its base/stand, requiring you to put it back in place. This didn't happen all the time, and the camera didn't seperate completely from the stand, but nonetheless it would have been nice if the camera would've been more secure to its base. The focus dial on the camera is actually the ring just around the lens. It rotates to allow you adjust the focus, though I found this a bit weird in that the "dial" is hard to turn at times, and then loose at other times. In other words, the resistance was a bit funky.

The Camera has a tendency to fall off its stand when pivoted/moved around too much.

The privacy shade rotates down for when the camera is not in use.

The snap button is nicely integrated into the top.

   The privacy shade rotates down to block the view from the lens to the outside world when the camera is not in use. The shade is not opaque though, but serves well to block out any images. However, if you are truly worried about privacy, you can always disconnect the camera when it's not in use. At the top of the camera is its snap button, and it is somewhat recessed and isn't easily depressed by accident. Just in front of the snap button is the indentation that has the microphone in it. The camera's built in microphone, which is handy for videoconferencing, transfers its signal over USB, so there is no need for another cable and plug to attach to your soundcard. The USB cable is 9ft (about 3m) long so there is lots of room for maneuverability.

The microphone is up front, just above the lens ring.

The stand has three feet to help keep it in place.

   Lastly, there is a green LED just in between the lens ring and the microphone that illuminates when the camera is in use and transferring data to the computer over the USB cable. Not a necessary thing, but a nice thing to have nonetheless as it lets you know when the camera is in use, say if you have set it up to be a motion detector or a webcam for an extended period of time.