Review on Ultra HD 4K Optical Zoom USB Camera with Sony IMX317 Sensor, 2.8-12mm Varifocal Lens, Focus Adjustable, 3840x2160@30fps, Plug and Play for Conference Live Streaming and Web Cameras by Ricardo Knight

I bought the 2.8-12mm version hoping to use it as a webcam. For that purpose, it performs well for the price. It compares well to a high-end webcam ($200+) from one of the established brands. A possible secondary use would be to record interviews or other larger, more action-packed scenes. This camera is far from ideal for such an application. I give it 5 stars because it does what I need it to do well and my particular use is not compromised by its limitations. That's not to say this is a 5-star camera for every use case. (Although I think that goes for any camera.) Pros: - Good sensor for the price, capped at 30 fps - that's fine for a webcam. For any other use I'd like 60. I think the sensor could show higher image quality with a better lens. Optics are good for the price. A good lens for this will probably cost over $200. The controls on the lens are precise and do not drift. The adjusting screws work well. This camera is excellent for macro photography. It can focus to within a few centimetres. When zoomed out, it's almost like a fish eye with a very wide field of view. Cons: If you're used to a traditional webcam, you might be surprised at how much more light it requires. . A characteristic feature of both complex lenses and cheaper lenses is their need for more light. That's both. It's just that there's a lot more glass between you and the sensor, and that glass absorbs some of the light. The need for more light is exacerbated by the shallow depth of field. Even if you're using it as a webcam, you'll probably need to close the lens to increase the depth of field. I use the term stop, but the exposure control is continuous. Manual focus is sensitive. Once you set it up properly, you won't want to change anything. -- The lens has a slight barrel distortion. -- There is some vignetting. -- If your lighting or monitor uses PWM LEDs, you will see flickering in the image. This is different from 50/60 Hz flicker, which can be corrected in software. The solution is to use constant light or properly dimmable LEDs. I don't know enough about cameras to say if anything about camera design can be changed to reduce or eliminate this effect. Measurements in case you're wondering: I mounted it on an adjustable clamp arm of about 2 feet. out of my face The 56-inch wide green screen is less than 1.50m from the lens. I've zoomed in partially and still need to crop the sides of the camera by about 40% to fit the green screen. Since I use it as a facecam, it's not a problem. But depending on your intended use, you might want to consider a different lens or camera. Keep in mind. If you only want to use it as a front camera, 4k is probably overkill. If you only plan on using it with video conferencing software, it will definitely be overkill. You need to use the screen sharing trick to get FHD+ videos.