Acer OrbiCam webcam: Is it any good?

I'm interested in users opinions of the quality and usability of the Acer OrbiCam webcam that comes with the Aspire 5672, TravelMate 8204, and other Acer notebooks. My brief experience with the OrbiCam on an Aspire 5672 was fairly dissapointing because the frame rate was extremely slow. I've read that the slow frame rate problem can be remedied by adjusting the camera settings but that this introduces problems in conditions with less than ideal lighting. Thoughts?

Finally, I'm assuming that the OrbiCam will work with MSN messenger. Can anyone confirm this?

Thanks

 

It works with Skype and other messengers, so it should work with MSN without problems. Quality is very good, comparable to Logitech webcams (it's made by Logitech actually) and white balance is much better. Auto settings tend to lower the frame rate (slower shutter speed) rather than increase gain. It makes the frame rate to slow in low light conditions. New Logitech webcams usually increase a gain, so frame rates (shutter speeds) stay relatively higher. You can increase the gain and shutter speed manually - it will keep frame rates high. Maybe they will change something with new driver, right now - that's the only way (or you can always buy bright USB lamp ).

 

Cool. Thanks for the info. I'm currently using a logitech quickcam orbit and have been pleased with the quality. Glad to know the OrbicCam will be similar.

 

can anyone post their webcam settings for me? i cant seem to get a good balance of picture quality and frame rate

 

There is no chance to post one "correct" settings! Light conditions are always different and there are diffrent settings for different light conditions - it's like photography or shooting the video... Learn how it works and you will know how to set it.

 

I found the cam very good - better than most cameras. I was on msn messenger the other day on camera conversation and it worked perfectly. The only problem i have now is that my laptop is making a high pitched noise each time i turn it on - can anyone help with that?

 

I think it's sufficient for normal videoconferencing needs. It's not the best but it's not meant to do high-end stuff anyway. I'm quite pleased with it

 

I own an acer aspire 5672 notebook, but i have a problem getting the webcam to even work most of the time. It does'nt matter how much times i have uninstalled & reinstalled the driver & software. Whenever i use or preview the camera in any application you hear the windows disconnection sound & connect sound & i have to do it over & over until it starts to work. It can be very annoying. I am asking if any one has experienced this problem.

Brian

 

Hey Brain, I'm having the same problem as you. I still can't figure out if it's the driver problem or hardware. Let me know if you find the fix.

 

Hi, I own the 8204 and use the webcam to talk to friends/family often. The quality in my opinion isn't all that great but better than a lot of those webcams which comes with those thin Sony Vaio's.
The framerate is indeed pretty bad especially when using it online (i.e. MSN, AIM, Yahoo Messenger (have not tried it on Skype)).

I have found it to be a bit better playing with the camera settings to get it to be smoother however this means losing quality.

It's funny, my younger brother has an MDG Apton notebook which by all means is one of the cheapest looking laptop's i've personally come across lol but the camera is amazing, very clear & smooth, the price of his laptop wasn't anywhere near the 8204's.

 

uncheck the orbicam software in start-up>msconfig. as this will cause a conflict when you try to use the orbicam.mine was a pig for ages until i stopped it from running at start-up. now its a joy even doing videos with it now

 

I purchased an Acer Aspire 5100 with an orbicam in it about a year and a half ago. The camera quit after owning it for just one year. I'd click on the Orbicam application and it would turn the camera light on but there would be no picture. It does not work with any online message programs anymore either. Shortly after, I began having USB troubles. I've uninstalled/reinstalled drivers over and over to no avail. All in all, the Acer name is crap in my opinion - I'll never buy this name again.

 

too bad your camera and USB problems didn't arise inside the 1 yr warranty period... becasue if nothing else... acer will swap an enitre motherboard as a method of problem solving, but i guess you didn't have the chance to get it covered under warranty.....

just wanted to say that i can respect your position and how you got there,,, and that is a bit too common, a ramdom failure 14 - 20 months after sale

 

Benzor and Wind1314, my 5672 was still under extended warranty when its webcam started doing this. They replaced the entire screen (hinge problem) and orbicam. Now, i cannot get a driver that loads and runs the webcam. It comes on when the screensaver promo runs so i know the camera works, but i can't use it and Acer techsupport wants me to do a fresh install on my three year old laptop which i have no desire to start reinstalling a hundred apps.

Methinks that your webcam has an intermittant connection somewhere around the screen bezel or hinge.