Webcam goes dark

I just started using my webcam, and discovered a problem. The picture is fine when I first bring it up (Using the preview or skype) but then the picture gets extremely dark. The screen is not black, but its almost like the brightness is going down to 0 or something. I then have to close and reopen the preview or skype and I will have the picture back with light for an unknown amount of time, until it does it again. Before it would only do this maybe once every 20 minutes, now it's only giving me a few seconds of video before doing it. I searched online and found another thread where people reported the same problem.


Other posts:


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Gateway notebook webcam - autoadjusts brightness?

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I recently bought a Gateway M-6866 (Pacific Blue model) laptop (OS: Vista) with a built in webcam. Its brand new, but the first time I used the webcam, it looked perfect for about 30 seconds, then suddenly went dark. Not completely black, but so dark it looked like there was no light in the room, even when I had it right by the lamp.

I checked the settings and properties and everything on the Camera Assistant Software, and when I hit apply it goes back to bright for about 3 seconds, then adjusts again.

It does this on Skype AND on the preview window that comes with the software, so I know its not just where Im using the webcam, since it does it regardless. I see nothing about it being supposed autoadjust to light settings, and even when I have the brightness and gamma all the way up it still changes back and forth between light and dark (less drastically dark than normal settings but still not a stable brightness level).

Any idea how to fix it from doing this?
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yes i have this same problem, and i would like an answer as well.
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I know this post is a bit old, but im having the same problem. Anyone figured out how to fix this .?
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There were no replies, simply 3 people asking for help and now I appear to be #4.

Has anyone else had this problem or does anyone know a fix?

 

Mine does this too, but only when the room is somewhat dark to begin with.

 

I have the same problem with my integrated webcam, I tried a lot of different drivers and never fixed it. The problem seems to be with the "autolight" function of the camera... anyway I got sick of it and bought a logitech c905 last year...

 

I'm having the same problem.

Does anybody knows how to fix it?

 

After some digging around and disbelief that there is an apparent lack of controls for this webcam, i found a possible fix that requires you to edit the registry. (Or perhaps I can save that registry section for those of you who don't know or feel comfortable going into the registry.)

I only saw improvements and no horrible darkness after editing the registry to only allow a max frame-rate from the camera. I have it set to 9 at the moment, and forced the night-mode on in the registry as well - it seems a little overly bright but right now, i just care that anything can be seen .

Unfortunately, testing it via Messenger, it went dark after a bit . Even though when i tested it with just the camera software, it was fine no matter what the lighting condition was. For now, Ill post what i have figured out in the registry - maybe somebody else can pick it up from there.
(I dont know if there is much that can be done from the registry at this point though.)

Registry path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\CEC_CM_SW\SettingValue\
And from there, its : FRate.

I forgot what the initial value was (probably 30 or 25). But, think of it as a lux setting like on a camera - for the camera to gain more light in a given frame, it must spend more time acquiring light on that one frame. This will in turn : Make that frame brighter, but incur blurring as a result. Ill poke around and hopefully get a more permanent solution, i just hope this helps a little bit here as a few people seem to have this problem too.

 

Mine does too. When that happens i flick a lighter in front of it till it picks up the light and then it works again. cheap and lame fix but it works.. Only happens when in a dark room though.