On Mon, 12 Mar 2001, Brian Rozmierski wrote: > The target application is multicast videoconfrencing so 15 fps > would be the target, price depending. My Webcam III is running at > 8fps right now and is tolerable, but not ideal. Either way after > we hit 10 people with video and audio on the multicast confrence > fps is going to be semi-moot. :) See http://www.smcc.demon.nl/webcam/ The Philips 680K (which I have) is pretty decent as far as USB cameras go. The only downside is Philips' NDA requirements, so the driver isn't integrated with the kernel, nor totally open source. http://www.smcc.demon.nl/webcam/api.html has a framerate vs resolution table halfway down. A better table is about hafway down http://www.smcc.demon.nl/webcam/faq.html This one shows 'compression' limits. The 'red' squares are compressed sizes. If you're only using qcif, then you're not going to have a problem. If you want CIF for your conferencing, then USB isn't the way to go. Note however, that CIF images over a bt8*8 capture board are interlaced, and that you get a 'buzzing' on the image. Mark > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Eric Jorgensen" <alhaz@xxxxxxxxxxxx> > > Brian Rozmierski wrote: > > > > > > Does anyone know of a decent webcam that can be purchased new nowadays (in the US) that currently is supported in Linux. I don't > > > need perfect (I have 1 Creative Labs Webcam III that works fine, frame rate is a litle low, but that's ok), just functional. > > > > Well, if you want a good frame rate, nothing you can attach to a > > parallel or usb port will be up to snuff and that's basically all there > > is to it. USB is a relatively low bandwidth hookup, and bidirectional > > parallel ports are even worse. > > > > If you're looking for frame rate, go get a regular CCD camera with NTSC > > output and a Bt8x8 based capture card. You can get a card that's > > basically an 878 and nothing else for $20 at www.computergeeks.com > > (#include std_disclaimer.h) and OEM version STB DesktopTV cards on eBay > > for $30 pretty regularly. The geeks also have an outstanding deal on > > those itty bitty Pixera CCDs. ($32 for a color CCD camera smaller than > > your thumb, in a handsome black plastic package) > > > > If you want to see if some other model is faster, IBM PC Camera Pro's > > are selling for $60 with a $50 rebate here: > > https://secure.nac.net/harmony/results2.asp?Manufacturer=IBM+PC+Cameras&MANUFACTURERSEARCH.x=4 > > > > but i honestly don't think USB will offer you anything you'll be pleased > > with. Exactly what sort of frame rate were you hoping to acheive? -- +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ Mark Cooke The views expressed above are mine and are not Systems Programmer necessarily representative of university policy University Of Birmingham URL: http://www.sr.bham.ac.uk/~mpc/ +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
