Philips SPC1300NC Webcam review

Can this challenge Creative and Logitech?

Philips SPC1300NC Webcam. Cameras, Video And Editing, Webcams, Philips, Digital cameras 0

Reviewer: Stephen Patrick
Review Date: 26 October 2007
Manufacturer: Philips
Price as reviewed: £70
Latest price: compare

Our score

8/10

Full Review

It seems no matter what you buy these days that it comes with a webcam built-in and we’re all looking for that next YouTube moment.

However, if you really want to have fun online then it pays to invest in something a little more impressive than the average 1.3-megapixel webcam most people use.

Designed with the notebook user in mind, it has got a neat design that can either be clipped onto the top of your notebooks screen, or you can use the supplied stand and have it resting on your desk or the top of your monitor.

The lead is only short, so if you want to put it higher you’ll need to buy an essential cable.

Philips is billing the SPC1300NC, as offering "professional quality" images, largely due the camera's ability to take still images at 6-megapixels and to capture video at up to 90 frames per second.

This recording speed is three times faster than the average webcam, which would be impressive alone if the software the webcam comes with wasn’t so easy to setup.

Philips really seem to have taken the pain out of getting you new webcam up and running.

Verdict

At £70 (inc. VAT) it’s not the cheapest webcam out there but then it’s not delivering the most basic of online functions.

The only question we find ourselves asking is: who in all honesty needs to capture video images at this resolution and consider it "professional quality"?

Full tags

Cameras, Video And Editing, Webcams, Philips, Digital cameras, Philips SPC1300NC Webcam

UK Shopping

Jessops.com, Amazon.co.uk, ebay.co.uk

US Shopping

BHphoto.com, Amazon.com, ebay.com

Comments

I've had this webcam for a year now, and it sucks!
The mic doesn't function at all, the VLounge software is bloatware,
and I don't get anywhere NEAR 90 FFS video, I get 30 FFS at best
in XP or Vista either one.

When I mount this on the top of my monitor, it shows the top of my head, so I found that not to be a good place to mount the camera, so I put it off to the side, but you need some kind of tripod device to get the camera up high enough to focus your face in, no different then any other webcam I've purchased in the past.

I don't get anywhere NEAR 6mp shots, I'm getting only 640x480's at best.

oh and did I mention the mic doesn't function?

bottom line, this webcam might be nice if they improved on the drivers and bundled software a bit Posted by Tom Coburn, USA
VLounge software locks up frequently. User manual is weak. On line customer support is weak. Motion sensor is only moderately functional and recording must be manually initated. No automation in the GUI. Not happy with this purchase. Posted by Thomas Oates, USA
@Tom Coburn:
It sounds as though you've got a duff one, the quality of the microphone is excellent on mine and I get the full 6mp and 90fps under both MacOSX and Windows XP. It's also worked fine with Linux and I've had no problem with it under Skype and similar software. Posted by Siftah, United Kingdom
This device is a DUD! It works maybe 1 out of every 10 times I attempt to use it; the microphone doesn't work at all; and the software and documentation is minimal and unhelpful at best. I can't depend on the product, so I can't use it. Does anyone know of addons or newer drivers that may help run this peripheral on XP? Signed, Very Dissatisfied Customer Posted by Greg, USA
idk about it i cant get it to work on my yahoo messenger Posted by idk, USA