Quick Version: The QuickCam Vision Pro from Logitech is perhaps the easiest-to-use webcam I have seen in a while. There is no software required to run it, so you simply plug it in via the 6-ft USB cable, and you’re good to go. It works automatically with MSN Messenger, Yahoo, Skype, and other applications.
With 720p video resolution and a 2-megapixel camera, you’ll get a much better picture than most webcams. I set up two laptops side-by-side and logged into separate MSN accounts so I could see it in action, with pleasant results. The amount of detail is impressive, and crisp. There is very little lag when there is movement, and the auto-focus lessens the burden of fooling around with manual adjustments every time you alter your distance.
It comes with a universal clip that you can hook on to any flatscreen or laptop. It functions okay as far as hanging onto the top edge of the screen, but I would have preferred something a bit more stable.
My only real gripe is with the pictures you take. It looks like you need to be using some kind of software in order to capture still pictures. While in MSN Messenger, if you click the button on the left side of the webcam, the picture will freeze for just a second, then video will resume. But searches throughout My Documents and other places yielded nothing. It wasn’t until I right-clicked the USB Video Device and selected Get Pictures that I was able to then take still pictures. You can take one or several, then have it save to a location of your choice.
Despite that frustration, the pictures themselves aren’t bad at all. The camera is a bit more sensitive to movement than a full-size one with all the lighting options, but the quality here is good.
It’s easy to recommend this webcam just for its’ picture quality, but it’s also pretty compact, yet durable. Despite some brief frustrations taking still pictures, the QuickCam Vision Pro is very solid.
I bought three of these to replace old miniDV cams we use in our video recording rooms. The one issue with no software is it doesn’t work with iMovie. I am know building an automator script to launch quicktime to record. We don’t want to pay for quicktime pro.
Video and audio are great. I just wish Logitech would have stated that it doesn’t work with iMovie or provided software for the people that want to use it. I assumed when it was made for Mac it would work with Mac software.
Hey Jeremy,
I just bought the camera and am having the same issue of not being able to use it with imovie. However, I couldnt even begin to guess how to “build an automator script”. Have you had any luck getting the camera to record video on your mac? Any help would be great. Thanks Jeremy!
Like select other driverless UVC USB Video Class Webcams in Logitech’s PRO line, the truth is the Vision Pro ‘For Mac’ is one of the best quality webcams made for ANY modern OS platform: Windows, Mac or Linux.
Because it’s autofocus and ‘RightLight2′ technology is implemented *completely in the hardware* (and not in software like it’s other Pro webcams) – it doesn’t have and doesn’t NEED any additional software. The only tradeoff as noted, is the lack of a still picture snapshot function or other fun/fluff features often bundled with other cams for Windows.
It’s hard for me to understand how can I use a webcam with MSN Messenger, because this software, in the MAC version (7.0.1) DOESN’T support any webcam. “I right-clicked the USB Video Device”: where is this option? In MSN? Or Where?
Hi,I have a Mac and I have the same problem. Technician of Mac told me that Microsoft will do a version for Mac that will enable us to use the webcam.I hope it’ll be true.For the moment we have to wait.Pedro
The lack of software can be kind of a bummer. Some may not need it, but for a webcam of this quality, it almost makes you want to do more with your videos.
Guido, the USB Video Device was available in my Windows Explorer, sorry I didn’t specify that. I am not sure what the equivalent would be on a Mac.
Hey, you can use the native OSX app called “Photobooth” (It comes preinstalled with Leopard) to record videos and take snapshots. It works great.
No, you cannot use “Photo Booth”.
Because that app mirrors all videos.
Also, you cannot use iMovie.
In my opinion: this is ridiculous.
It is the only webcam available on the apple store.
Yet, it does not work with Mac properly.
Outrageous!
I just bought Rocketfish yesterday, I was trying to make a choice between that and QuickCam Pro 9000 webcam, which was on sale at Best Buy for $79.00. I bought the Rocketfish for $62.00. It was the only one that said anything about Mac OS 10. Plus I asked a salesperson and it seemed as though Rocketfish had everything that QuickCam did.
Well I’m toying with it now and I almost considered taking it back because I was looking for something to record as well.
I happened to google this page and others and just found out because of what was said earlier, that Rocketfish can also work with Photo Booth. But the video jumpy. Before I take this back can that be corrected or do I need to do something else.
Frustrated.
Did not quite understand about the comment made earlier which said “(No, you cannot use “Photo Booth”. Because that app mirrors all videos.)”
What exactly does tha mean and is that the reason why the video that is recorded jumpy?
In PhotoBooth when you take a still, you can flip it so your right side appears to be the right side, (Aww = Aww) but in the video, your image is mirrored so that your right side appears to be your left side. Aww would look like wwA.
Why on Earth would they not create MAC software to drive this camera? I have a MACPRO and I have to hobble along using multiple software packages to do the simplest of tasks with this cam. The camera is such a nice bit of kit. But, come on.