Logitech C500 Webcam
Theo Boshoff
In your face
We know that not seeing friends and family who live in exotic and faraway places like Upington or Pofadder can be soul-destroying. But that’s why we have video-calling.

To stay in touch with people we don’t regularly get to meet up with, all you need is a good webcam, a VOIP

communications application and a working internet connection.

The Logitech C500 1.3-megapixel webcam will take care of the camera situation as well as the communication application, as it ships with Logitech Vid, a free video calling application built into the webcam setup. You don’t even have to go search for and download another application like Skype. It does support Skype, Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger and other popular instant messaging (IM) services.

The quality of the webcam images is really good. Those on the other end of the line we spoke to using the C500 said that the image is very clear on their side as well. This is due to the C500 sporting a glass lens, engineered for best quality.

The 1.3-megapixel sensor helps to get better fluidity in videos as well as a sharper image in still pictures. If needed, you can also take still shots at five megapixels, with software enhancements, but these are never as good as a camera sporting a dedicated five-megapixel or higher sensor.

The C500 also features Logitech’s RightLight technology, which automatically adjusts video images according to the light conditions, while you are on the call. It made a difference when we tested it and we did not have to change any settings manually.

The incorporated mic with RightSound technology does a good job and features noise-cancelling abilities that really make for a more clear voice chat.

Although we think it might be a bit bulky to simply carry around with you everywhere you go, seeing that we are moving to a more mobile world, as a webcam it does a great job.