FreeTrack Forum

At Fry's I found few webcams which seemed ok.  Is there a consensus for a cheap webcam (i.e. less than $25) which works really well with free track (i.e. 30fps at 640-480, RGB and I420, does not require removing the filter when using SFH485P IR-LED)?

Here is what I found and I am considering a webcam by EZONICS or ENVISION (See below)

By www.ezonics.com (http://main.ezonics.com/homeweb/index.html ),  I found:

EZ Video Kit, Model 368, which hit includes 2 webcams and 2 headsets for $24.99 after $10 mail in rebate.
Image Sensor: 335K Pixel VGA CMOS sensor
Effective Pixels: 640 x 480
Video Format: RGB 24 bits true color
Video Resolution: 1280 x 960 800 x 600
640 x 480 352 x 288
Frame Rate: Up to 30 FPS for VGA mode
Lens Focus: 5.17 mm
Distortion: < 2.37 %
Field of Angle: 530 ± 20
Focus Type: Manual focus
Focus Distance: 4 cm to infinity

EZ Cam Plus, Model EZ-319, for $24.99

EZonics Notebook Pro, Model EZ-326, for 29.99 after $10 mail-in rebate.


By EnvionDisplay :
EnviosnoV-CAM II 30fps at 640x480, (RGB24 and I420) CMOS, $10 after mail in rebate of $10.
• 1.3-Megapixel CMOS image sensor
• Maximum video resolution: 1280 x 1024
• Video modes: RGB24, I420
• Frame rates: 30fps at 640 x 480, 15fps at 1280 x 1024
• Interface: High-Speed USB 2.0, backwards compatible with USB 1.1
• Signal to noise ratio: >48dB
• Dynamic range: >72dB
• Image focus: 20cm to infinity
• 5-glass element (5G) lens
• Automatic face tracking
http://www.envisiondisplay.com/products.asp?EPage=products&SMenu=vcamII
http://www.aocdisplay.com/envision/manuals/vcam.pdf


There are also the by GearKead the Quick Webcam Basic Model WC3301 for $20 and my Micro Innovation, mi Webcam for &14-19

Does anyone bought and tested any of these?  Anyone has a good recommendations for a webcam which would well without removing IT-Filter since I'd like to use it with Skype for video-phone calls too?

Thanks in advance for the feedback.
Donat-Pierre

The difference between those two webcameras I am considering is that the EZ webcam only has RDB video compression whereas the ENvison V-CAMII has both RGB and I420 modes.  The frame rate and video resolutions are identical it seems.

The advantage of the EZ webcam kit is tat it includes two sets of wedcam+headset, for $12.5 each after rebate vs $10 for the Ension webcam.

The question is how important is the I420 mode for reliable use with FreeTrack?

My laptop is Toshiba Satellite L25-S1216, with an intel Celeron M 1.6GHz Chip and 1.37GB of RAM.  WOuld any of these matter on my average two year old laptop?

Thank you in advance for your reply,
Donat