Logitech - Notebooks Pro versus 4000 Pro

[carterlake]

I thought this deserved it's own thread.

I'm going on just Day 1 with this camera and already I recommend you throw away your 4000 or 5000 or Microsoft VX6000 and get this tiny little camera that makes great FOCUSED pictures.

Careful... Logitech has the Notebooks Pro and the Pro Notebook camreas (they aren't the same).

Also there is the Notebooks Pro Silver and Black... I bought the older Silver model.

Pros of the Notebooks Pro versus 4000:

1) Better resolution and quality
2) Auto focus
3) Lens is covered with a flat piece glass or plastic for very easy cleaning (unlike 4000 which needs patience and a Q-tip)
4) Smaller
5) Colors seem more vibrant
6) Cost less (only while they last from Surplus computers, otherwise much more!)

Cons:

1) Clippy for mounting is probably great for notebooks but sucks for stationary webcam. I used a clear glass to mount it on for now.
2) USB cord is only 3' long. So I had to buy another USB extension cord which ended up (because I was in a hurry) costing more than the camera!
3) Boy that dirt on the window really shows now!
4) Added: low light not as good as the 4000

I'm still messing with the color and light balance but this camera really looks like a winner.

http://www.surpluscomputers.com/store/main.aspx?p=ItemDetail&item=IMG10117

(I won't say make up your mind fast.. but I've already had several people email that they've ordered from this site... new, these cost between $80-$100)

[daveq]

You can really see a difference between you 24 hour and the image right now.  Looks rainy and dreary yesterday but the color is sure good now.

--Dave

[carterlake]

You can really see a difference between you 24 hour and the image right now.  Looks rainy and dreary yesterday but the color is sure good now.

--Dave

Well, keep in mind that WU compresses the crap out of the 24 hour... but since I've seen the 4000 Pro images for the past 3 years, I completely agree.

What I can't get used to is that the new cam (correctly) focuses on the open space and makes it's lighting look correct while darkening the pine tree and grass. I'm used to the old washed out 4000 sky with the grass and tree lightened.

But everything.... w a y   off across the street is very crisp and clear. Couple of more hours and the sun will be fully up and then we'll get to see... I actually -really- can't wait for it to snow now. The nighttime pictures with snow on the ground should be spectacular.

In fact, now I'm not sure I like where the camera is... the tree takes up too much of the frame now.

Old image...

[daveq]

I hope BOTH of mine will look as good.  Looks like I'm going to have a few cameras for sale.

--Dave

[Clanger]

  The detail of the trees branches against the sky is stunning. I couldn't believe it when I saw a picture of the cam. Expecting something a bit bigger. 

[carterlake]

Well, I think I'm going with - crappy low-light on this notebook cam... it's not nearly as good as the 4000 in low light.

Although it more than makes up for it during the day.

Edited: I have to admit, pre-dawn is gorgeous... and is that stars I see in the sky?

[looney2ns]

Tom, I never noticed the baseball cages across the street with the 4000. But clearly see them with the new cam. Did you get around to installing the software for that cam or are you still using the 4000 ver?

[carterlake]

Tom, I never noticed the baseball cages across the street with the 4000. But clearly see them with the new cam. Did you get around to installing the software for that cam or are you still using the 4000 ver?

I do have the new software installed... it only helped a little with the low light... in fact, I have a bit of a problem right now because in low light the software starts fighting itself (in and out of low light).

I'll know more this evening.

By the way, that's not a baseball cage. It's a full baseball diamond and you're seeing the protective fence.

[carterlake]

Ware the wrath of our ATTACK BUNNY!


I think I figured out the issue with the low light... it might even be a bug in the software.

At a certain point at twilight, the software can't decide if the background or foreground should be the dominate feature... so it switches back and forth until one is decided upon.

[carterlake]

And surpluscomputers is officially out of Notebooks Pro cameras 

For those who missed out on the INCREDIBLE deal... Newegg has them for $55 + shipping, brand new.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16830108132

(Which is still a pretty good deal!)

[hydrowx]

Ware the wrath of our ATTACK BUNNY!

That's no ordinary rabbit....

[carterlake]

I forgot to mention in this thread that Chris at Cape Weather also uses this camera and is the inspiration for my buying it.

Also, those who want to compare my 4000 side by side with the Notebooks Pro can view my WU archive. Just click on say the 18th or so's picture and you can scroll through them day by day.

One issue I may have is that I now have the image so big that if your connection is slow, the bottom part of the image gets cut off... I'm thinking of offering the stream in Flash as an alternative but I can't remember where the free flash player was from. Is WD using a flash player these days?

[daveq]

Just hooked mine up this morning.  You can see the image here.  I've had the Logitech 4000, Philips 900NC and the M$ Lifecam.  This one has the best picture IMHO.  Thanks for pointing this camera out.

--Dave

[munrobaggins]

Wow...shock horror  ...I managed to find those refurb Logitech cameras here in the UK at and mine arrived this morning.  They are, as usual, more expensive here than the USA, but the image quality does seem outstanding.  I've yet to set it up for an outside view as I need to get another USB extension lead, but I soon hope to resolve that problem.

My thanks to Carterlake for making the initial find..

[Bashy]

Hi

How does this one differ, would the quality be any difference with the glass lens?
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/129806