Webcams

[pilut]

The C920 specs say it's USB 3.0 ready.

I have USB 3.0 ports on my PC.  I can't tell any difference plugging my C920 into a USB 3.0 port or a USB 2.0 port.

What does 3.0 "ready" mean?

Thanks for any insight.

[pedroc]

Hi pilut,

All it means is that it will work or that it is compatible with USB 3.0 ports.

Thanks,

-PedroC

[pilut]

Thanks.  I kind of suspected that but wanted to know for sure. 

edit:   In thinking about your answer a little longer, I think a question still lingers. 

All USB 3.0 ports are backward compatible with USB 2.0 devices so how is then "USB 3.0 ready" different from any other USB 2 device? 

[commodore256]

Your Marketing Department knew saying it's "usb 3.0 ready" would make people believe that it will work at the full bandwith of USB 3.0. That's sounds decptive to me. (of course it works with usb 3.0, I'm sure a old usb 1.1 floppy drive from 1998 will still work on a usb 3.0 port)

I want a USB 3.0 Webcam that shoots in what I call "Actual Full HD" and my definition of that is shooting 60FPS at the resolution of 1920x1080 and not see any artifacts, most consumer Cameras lie and say "well, it shoots at 30fps at 1920x1080, but it shoots 60fps at 1280x720".

I'm a videophile, but I don't want to spend around $800 just for the only usb 3.0 webcam that used usb 3.0's bandwidth.

I figured a ultrabook with usb 3.0 and a SSD could be the next form of hacked Videography. (basically like DSLRs)

next time, specify that means it works in USB 3.0, but it's still limmited to USB 2.0 Speed.

Companies that treat the customers like idiots tick me off. (yes, I did make an account here just to say that)

[shirgall]

I have a C920 that I am having problems with.

When I connect the camera directly to the USB 3.0 ports on my Lenovo Thinkpad W510 I get periodic freezes of all USB activity which eventually causes the computer to drop the endpoint. When I connect the camera to my USB 3.0 hub (I tried both a SIIG and uSpeed USB 3.0 hub) there are periodic errors which cause the hub to reset, or unexplained random behavior like my mouse shutting down

When I connect the camera directly to the single USB 2.0 port on my laptop, it works fine.

[pilut]

The only thing I can say reference your problem is that I can't tell any difference when my C920 is plugged in to a USB 3.0 or USB 2.0 port.

You may be having some Lenovo related driver issue, or something completely different.  In any case, I'd suggest if your 920 works with your USB 2.0 port, use that port to prevent the problems you're having.   If you get the webcam working with a USB 3.0 port you won't see any difference in performance.

[Al1138]

shirgall,

The drivers for your motherboard and video card may not be up to date, please update them.

Also please make sure that you are using the latest Direct X version on your computer as well as the latest Silverlight update. This does not seems like an issue with your USB port.

Best wishes,

[Tonu]

Logitech, stop lying! This camera has nothing to do with USB3.0. I bought it because I need USB3 support but this is plain 2.0. USB3.0 would mean 10x more bandwidth which can allow less lossy compression and more cameras connected to USB bus. This camera is 2.0 and I cannot use it for robotics project as intended. Stop lying! People loose money and time because of your lies.

[Pau2108]

Hi Tonu,

Here is a link to the C920 Specs where you can see that the USB protocol this webcam was designed to be used on is 2.0 this doesn't mean that it won't work plugged in a 3.0 port.

The Logitech Webcam C920 is fully supported with USB 3.0 this means that it will work properly and that the quality and speed may be better than in a 2.0 USB port but always within the webcam limitations.

[Tonu]

(Be courteous) You say:

"The Logitech Webcam C920 is fully supported with USB 3.0 this means that it will work properly and that the quality and speed may be better than in a 2.0 USB port but always within the webcam limitations."

"quality and speed may be better than in a 2.0 USB port". No they definitely will not be better in USB3.0 port. In USB3 there are 5 new contacts to provide USB3 capabilities and USB2 does not connect to them anyhow and also does not benefit from them otherwise. USB2.0 device is routed old way to USB2.0 hub on chipset. 

I would like to buy 10 of your "quality and speed may be better than in a 2.0 USB port" if it could be only true because USB2 limits me for now. But this does not mean you have to lie to customers and make them fake impression of benefitting from USB "quality and speed may be better than in a 2.0 USB port". This is plain lie.

What else you lie is 1080p@fps. No, it does not until image does not compress so much. And it does compresses to 1080p@fps if input image is all white for example. Then yes, it will compress a lot and you get 30fps at HD resolutions. Maybe.

Also please advise me, how do I use "Avatars, Fun filters, Video Masks" on Ubuntu Linux I use now. It is not MAC definitely, so it should work? Oh yes, I need colour paper and scissors to make them from paper and attach to webcam. Lies, lies, lies. Shame on you.