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QuickCam is a line of webcam video camera products originally produced by Connectix in 1994 and acquired by Logitech in 1998. Although its picture quality would today be considered primitive, it was the first widespread used webcam-like device.
History
editThe original QuickCam was developed by Connectix in 1994 for US-wide commercial sale and was the first widely marketed webcam-like device, although its original advertising did not use the term "webcam" or refer to the World Wide Web, then in its infancy. Video conferencing via computers already existed at the time, and client-server based video conferencing software such as CU-SeeMe was gaining popularity. Eventually, it evolved from an RS-422 connector to a parallel connector then eventually to a USB connection.
The initial model was available only for the Apple Macintosh, connecting to it via the serial port. It produced 16 shades of gray at a resolution of 320×240 pixels, and could record video at about 15 frames per second; it cost $100.
The software that originally shipped with the camera included QuickMovie for recording motion pictures and QuickPICT for capturing still images.
The QuickCam product line was acquired by Logitech in August 1998.[1] The company has gradually decreased support for the Macintosh platform, with only one model as of 2010 officially supporting Mac or including Mac drivers.[2] This could largely be the result of Apple building webcams into their laptop and desktop computers, negating the need for external third party devices [dubious – discuss]. Many recent models implement the USB video device class standard and work under Mac OS without additional drivers.
In October 2010, QuickCam was elected to Time Magazine's Top 100 Gadgets of all Time.[3]
Cameras
editThis list is non-exhaustive.
| Camera | Model # | Part # | Image | Year | Category | Sensor resolution | Focus | RRP (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connectix QuickCam | 1994 | General | 320 × 240 4bpp Greyscale | $100 | Sold over 500,000 units from 1994 to 1997.[4] Serial model with built-in microphone and Parallel model.[5] | ||||
| Connectix Color QuickCam | 1996 | General | 320 × 240 24bpp | $199 | Serial model with built-in microphone and Parallel model.[5] | ||||
| Connectix Color QuickCam 2 | 1997 | General | 320 × 240 24bpp | $199 | Improved sensor and optical system, optimised for indoor use[4] Parallel model only.[5] | ||||
| Connectix QuickCam VC | 
|
1998 | General | 320 × 240 | $99 – $129 | VC for "Video Conferencing". First USB QuickCam; also supports parallel ports.[6] | |||
| Connectix QuickCam Home | 1998 | General | 320 × 240[7] | $130 | Only USB.[8] | ||||
| Connectix QuickCam Pro | 1998 | High-End | 640 × 480 | $150 | USB and Parallel.[8] | ||||
| Logitech USB QuickCam Home | 
|
1998 | General | 352x288[9] | |||||
| Logitech QuickCam Express | 
|
1999 | General | 320 × 240 @ 30 frame/s,[10] 640 × 480 @ 15 frame/s | $49 | .[8] | |||
| Logitech QuickCam Web | 1999 | High-End | 640 × 480 @ 30 frame/s[11] | Only USB.[12] With built-in microphone.[13] | |||||
| Logitech QuickCam Pro 3000 | 2000 | High-End | 640 × 480 | ||||||
| Logitech QuickCam 3000 | 2001 | Business | 640 × 480 | [14] | |||||
| Logitech QuickCam Traveler | 
|
2001 | Notebook | 640 × 480 @ 30 frame/s[15] | $99 – $149 | First "laptop" QuickCam.[16] | |||
| Logitech QuickCam for Notebooks | 961404-0403 | 2001 | Notebook | 640 × 480 video, 640 × 480 still photo | Manual | ||||
| Logitech QuickCam for Notebooks Pro | 961398-0403 | 2001 | Notebook | 1.3 Mpixel resolution | RealLight lighting correction. f=3.85 mm | ||||
| Logitech QuickCam Pro 4000 | 
|
2002 | High-End | 640 × 480 @ 15 frame/s[17] | Can take interpolated 1280 × 960 stills. | ||||
| Logitech QuickCam Zoom | 2002 | General | 640 × 480 | $99 | Features a digital zoom that focuses on the user's face. Re-released as "QuickCam Zoom Silver" in 2003, then "QuickCam Zoom Refresh" in 2004. | ||||
| Logitech QuickCam Sphere | 
|
2003 | Flagship | 640 × 480 | First motorised pan/tilt QuickCam. Known as "QuickCam Orbit" in North America | ||||
| Logitech QuickCam Messenger | 2004 | General | |||||||
| Logitech QuickCam Express 2 | 2004 | General | |||||||
| Logitech QuickCam Communicate MP | 997-000078
960-000240 |
2004 | General | 960 × 720 video, 4.0 Mpixel still photo | Fixed | 183 cm USB cord. Adjusts lighting in dim light. | |||
| Logitech QuickCam Cordless | 2004 | Speciality | |||||||
| Logitech QuickCam for Notebooks Deluxe | V-UBU49 | 860-000070
960-000095 |
|
2005 | Notebook | 640 × 480 video, 1.3 Mpixel still photo | Manual | 78 cm USB cord | |
| Logitech QuickCam Chat | 2005 | General | Manual | ||||||
| Logitech QuickCam Fusion | 2005 | General | |||||||
| Logitech QuickCam Pro 5000 | 2005 | High-End | |||||||
| Logitech QuickCam Sphere MP | 2005 | Flagship | 640 × 480 | Motorized pan/tilt. Known as the "QuickCam Orbit MP" in North America | |||||
| Logitech QuickCam Ultra Vision | 2005 | High-End | 640 × 480 @ 30 frame/s | ||||||
| Logitech QuickCam Connect | 2006 | General | 640 × 480[18] video, 640 × 480 still photo | ||||||
| Logitech QuickCam Communicate STX | V-UBK45
V-UAM14A |
961410-0403
961443-0403 961464-0403 961687-0403 |
2006 | General | 640 × 480 @ 30 frame/s, 1.3 Mpixel still photo | Fixed | |||
| Logitech 720p Webcam C905 | V-UBU48 | 860-000108 | 
|
2007 | Notebook/General | 1600 × 1200 video, 8.0 Mpixel still photo | Auto | 78 cm USB cord. Comes with 30 weighted base and mounting stalk. RightLight2 lighting correction. | |
| Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000 | V-UBM46 | 860-000109
960-000313 |
|
2007 | High-End | 1600 × 1200 @ 30 frame/s video, 8.0 Mpixel still photo | Auto | 210 cm cord | |
| Logitech QuickCam IM | 2007 | General | 640 × 480 | ||||||
| Logitech QuickCam Sphere AF | 2007 | Flagship | 1600 × 1200 | Known as "QuickCam Orbit AF" in North America. | |||||
| Logitech QuickCam Vision Pro | 960-000254 | 2008 | Macintosh | 1600 × 1200 | Auto |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Logitech Buys QuickCam Unit Of Connectix". techweb.com. 11 August 1998. Archived from the original on 3 Feb 1999. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
- ^ "Webcams". Logitech's official website. Archived from the original on April 13, 2010.
- ^ Peter Ha (25 October 2010). "Connectix QuickCam — All-TIME 100 Gadgets". TIME. ISSN 0040-781X. Archived from the original on 26 January 2011. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
- ^ a b Connectix Ships Color QuickCam 2 for Windows: Next Generation of Best-Selling Digital Camera; Connectix QuickCam 2 Delivers Sharper Images, Enhanced Software, and Easy Applica... Archived November 5, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c QuickCam Technical FAQ
- ^ JSOnline.com News Archives Archived August 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Review: Logitech USB QuickCam Home Archived January 26, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c Pioneer Press: Search Results Archived August 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Logitech Quickcam Home Webcam Specs". CNET. Retrieved 2020-06-28.
- ^ QUICKCAM EXPRESS USB 50PK - WebCams - CNET Archive Archived October 13, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ QUICKCAM WEB DIGTLCAM USB 640X480 PC 30FPS S/W 5PK - WebCams - CNET Archive Archived October 13, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ JSOnline.com News Archives Archived August 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ NewsLibrary.com - newspaper archive, clipping service - newspapers and other news sources Archived August 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Logitech QuickCam 3000 Reviews Archived October 1, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Tech cool for back to school Archived June 28, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Newsweek Archives Archived August 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Logitech QuickCam Pro 4000 Review - WebCams - CNET Reviews Archived January 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "QuickCam Connect (E2500) Technical Specifications - Logitech FAQ". logitech-en-amr.custhelp.com. Archived from the original on 24 November 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2022.