Vaio SB: Strange Webcam Behavior

When I use the ArcSoft Webcam Companion or Skype to power on the webcam, the picture is fuzzy, bright, and the framerate is horrid. It looks like around 3 fps.

When I go into Webcam Settings, this dialogue box pops up:


You'll notice that the 'PowerLine Frequency (Anti Flicker)' option is set to 50 Hz. Here's the weird part: I click on the drop-down and re-select the 50 Hz option that it supposedly was already set to:


I hit apply, the image darkens, sharpens, at most importantly, the framerate shoots up to expected values. I'd guess 24 fps or so.

So, now the picture is great, if not a little dark. But after turning the webcam off, the picture reverts back to the awful quality the next time I turn it on. I'd have to go into webcam settings and do what seems to be nothing to improve the picture. Anyone else have/resolve this problem?

Before: http://tinypic.com/r/29qijd2/7
After: http://tinypic.com/r/21cv9c4/7

 

No one? Can anyone replicate the issue?

 

For me, it doesn't work. However, simply disabling the auto white balance does the trick (for me, at least)

 

That also works for me. The thing is though, whenever the webcam turns off and I turn it on again later, the setting is saved but the picture is still choppy. It seems like I have to 'reload' the webcam each time it is turned on to get the good picture...

 

Ah, I am experiencing that, too

 

Necrobumping. This happens to the SA (with the HD Exmor camera) as well? Strange...

I would like to do some rudimentary recording with this cam, but, as with the before video, the frame rate is awful and the picture is dark and bad in the after video.