Ok, I can confirm, this is a great solution - I just got a 4K monitor and I was either having the top of my head or my chin, this works great - the flip down design is perfect. I wish you could turn it off automatically when you flip it up, but that's my only grouse (that and that most video chat won't use 4K anyway, so you may want to save yourself a bit and get the non flip down version that is 1080P. the only downside I can see is that now my wife will want one too....
Thanks for the review, Jeremy. Am I correct in assuming that you can't achieve a background blur with this camera? I need a simple setup for video calls + recording 4k videos, but I want that low f stop.
That's right. You'd need to do that using software unfortunately. The only real way to get a decent level of background blur naturally is by using a proper APS-C camera with f1.8 or lower aperture lens. Even the Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra with f1.7 on it's "big for a webcam" 1/1.2" sensor has minimal bokeh effect unless your room depth is more than 20 feet or 6 meters.
Thanks for this video. I bought one based on it, but there's no dedicated control app for it so I can't control zoom, exposure, etc. Where did you get the UVC app you're using? I've been searching, but must not be using the right terms.
Thanks Karl. I used the camera controls from OBS, which launches the standard UVC controls, but you can also access some controls from Windows Settings. Microsoft Teams also had it in the older version, but the new version doesn't seem to link to it anymore (or yet).
@@karllautman in Windows 11, it's in Bluetooth & devices > Cameras. It doesn't expose as many controls as the UVC control, but you should get Brightness, Contrast, maybe Saturation, and video rotation. These controls are intended to survive reboots, whereas the UVC settings will not.
Hi Karl, we have an app for mac users called the iContact Control where you can adjust zoom, exposure, etc. But we are currently developing a windows app that offers the same control! We hope to release it in several months.
@@icontactcam Please let me know when you have the Windows version. I’ve been using Camo Pro and its green screen tools are poor. Hopefully yours will be better.
Related tip, if you use this camera/approach, use a smallish window in your PC or Mac under the camera lens. That will avoid left to right eye movements when reading, because the monitor is usually pretty close to your face compared to a prompter in a studio.
@@DeployJeremy Thanks it works great with the iContact Camera Pro. However, right now, I'm feeling down right cheated here - I cannot get better than 1080P out of the iContact Pro - and Google Meet says it's ay 720. With Photo Booth I can get it to 1080P, but that's still a long way from 4K. Any ideas? Other than that the iContact Pro does actually do a decent job of making Eye Contact, which is something. I just want the 4K I paid for (I could have just gotten the cheaper version). Also - the Mac software that they provide is really terrible - that Camera Controller you linked does a FAR superior job.
@@TheDavishers it's doing 4k for me (in Windows). That said, it is still "webcam 4K" so you can't compare it to a mirrorless camera or good mobile phone sensor image in terms of sharpness.
@@DeployJeremy thanks for that clarification. For the price they are asking, I want the camera to also be Windows Hello compatible, so I guess I'll keep looking. Thanks again!
When using an external mic like a shure mv7, do you ever get an echo when web conferencing with the audio being an external speaker? How do you solve for that echo???
Not recently to be honest. Most online meeting tools like Teams or Zoom have echo cancelation. Sometimes they need a few seconds to initialize if you use mute buttons at the microphone for example (not the mute button in Teams), but even those things are rare to hear these days
Who is the patent holder? Is he an American? If it's Chinese related I am not letting it sit in my house, I would only buy it if it's US company product.
@@DeployJeremy Absolutely! Real eye contact includes natural breaks, conveying authenticity and comfort, unlike the constant stare of AI, which can feel unnatural and intense.
Can you tell us what was wrong with the video - why di dyou consider it poor? Did you use natural light in the room or any professional lighting? Thanks
Let me know what you think of this webcam - it's a great way to improve eye contact. Here's where to find it: amzn.to/4hoY0Nv
Great to hear the benefits of eye contact with the iContact Camera Pro, thanks Jeremy!
No problem!
great review. This has made me buy one ! Thanks Jeremy!
Ok, I can confirm, this is a great solution - I just got a 4K monitor and I was either having the top of my head or my chin, this works great - the flip down design is perfect. I wish you could turn it off automatically when you flip it up, but that's my only grouse (that and that most video chat won't use 4K anyway, so you may want to save yourself a bit and get the non flip down version that is 1080P. the only downside I can see is that now my wife will want one too....
Thanks for the review, Jeremy. Am I correct in assuming that you can't achieve a background blur with this camera? I need a simple setup for video calls + recording 4k videos, but I want that low f stop.
That's right. You'd need to do that using software unfortunately. The only real way to get a decent level of background blur naturally is by using a proper APS-C camera with f1.8 or lower aperture lens. Even the Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra with f1.7 on it's "big for a webcam" 1/1.2" sensor has minimal bokeh effect unless your room depth is more than 20 feet or 6 meters.
Useful, thanks
Better picture quality than Center Cam I think.
Good idea, but image-wise - seems blurry and low fps.
Agree, but thats probably video capture. I have the camera and the image quality is great.
I was hoping it came with a fairly long cord so I could mount on my external monitor when needed.
Thanks for this video. I bought one based on it, but there's no dedicated control app for it so I can't control zoom, exposure, etc. Where did you get the UVC app you're using? I've been searching, but must not be using the right terms.
Thanks Karl. I used the camera controls from OBS, which launches the standard UVC controls, but you can also access some controls from Windows Settings. Microsoft Teams also had it in the older version, but the new version doesn't seem to link to it anymore (or yet).
@@DeployJeremy Thanks. Do you know where in Windows Settings you can access the controls? I couldn’t find them.
@@karllautman in Windows 11, it's in Bluetooth & devices > Cameras. It doesn't expose as many controls as the UVC control, but you should get Brightness, Contrast, maybe Saturation, and video rotation. These controls are intended to survive reboots, whereas the UVC settings will not.
Hi Karl, we have an app for mac users called the iContact Control where you can adjust zoom, exposure, etc. But we are currently developing a windows app that offers the same control! We hope to release it in several months.
@@icontactcam Please let me know when you have the Windows version. I’ve been using Camo Pro and its green screen tools are poor. Hopefully yours will be better.
Did you use a teleprompter to create your icontact video? If not how was there no flip down in vision?
No, because it is effectively sitting on your monitor where the lens would be in a teleprompter, so you don't need a mirror.
Related tip, if you use this camera/approach, use a smallish window in your PC or Mac under the camera lens. That will avoid left to right eye movements when reading, because the monitor is usually pretty close to your face compared to a prompter in a studio.
Thanks so much for this information! What is the Mac equivalent of the Windows software you are using ?
I'm not a frequent Mac user, but I've read that this one is good github.com/Itaybre/CameraController
@@DeployJeremy Thanks so much!
@@DeployJeremy Thanks it works great with the iContact Camera Pro. However, right now, I'm feeling down right cheated here - I cannot get better than 1080P out of the iContact Pro - and Google Meet says it's ay 720. With Photo Booth I can get it to 1080P, but that's still a long way from 4K. Any ideas? Other than that the iContact Pro does actually do a decent job of making Eye Contact, which is something. I just want the 4K I paid for (I could have just gotten the cheaper version). Also - the Mac software that they provide is really terrible - that Camera Controller you linked does a FAR superior job.
@@TheDavishers it's doing 4k for me (in Windows). That said, it is still "webcam 4K" so you can't compare it to a mirrorless camera or good mobile phone sensor image in terms of sharpness.
@@TheDavishers also, the online meeting apps, Zoom, Teams, Meet will also downscale to max 1080p depending on your bandwidth connection.
Doesn't appear to be Windows Hello compatible for facial recognition.
Correct, it doesn't have the IR sensor needed for that.
@@DeployJeremy thanks for that clarification. For the price they are asking, I want the camera to also be Windows Hello compatible, so I guess I'll keep looking. Thanks again!
When using an external mic like a shure mv7, do you ever get an echo when web conferencing with the audio being an external speaker? How do you solve for that echo???
Not recently to be honest. Most online meeting tools like Teams or Zoom have echo cancelation. Sometimes they need a few seconds to initialize if you use mute buttons at the microphone for example (not the mute button in Teams), but even those things are rare to hear these days
Who is the patent holder? Is he an American? If it's Chinese related I am not letting it sit in my house, I would only buy it if it's US company product.
I believe Stacy the founder of iContact holds the patent. Afaik he's American. Check out their UA-cam channel, he's in their videos and ads.
Couldn’t software solve the eye issue?
Yes, except you can currently tell it's not real. And you get "dead eyes" look. Real eye contact with the lens is best
@@DeployJeremy Absolutely! Real eye contact includes natural breaks, conveying authenticity and comfort, unlike the constant stare of AI, which can feel unnatural and intense.
Bought one. Poor video. Avoid
Can you tell us what was wrong with the video - why di dyou consider it poor? Did you use natural light in the room or any professional lighting? Thanks
You look like a ghost at the 9:57 transition.. what gives?
I set it to default camera settings at 8:16, then went back to color tuned settings after that transition.