Webcams bring new levels of personalization to calls with friends, families, and coworkers. Today, video communication has become bigger than ever. Webcams have seen a huge surge in demand globally due to increases in social media and work from home. People are turning to webcams for their improved video and audio hardware. Today I will be reviewing the ASUS C3 webcam. Will this be your next web camera? Check out this review to find out.
Why do we need web cameras?
If you have a laptop with an integrated webcam you might be wondering why anyone would need an external web camera. In the world of cameras, sensor size plays a huge role in image quality. The sensor size of a camera determines how much light it can collect, which has a direct correlation with image quality. While laptops do come equipped with cameras, their small size often results in a lower image quality. On the other hand, external webcams come with larger image sensors leading to a better image quality, colour, and resolution.
Another benefit of external webcams is their ability to include features that aren’t found in laptop cameras. For example, higher end web cams come with features such as autofocus and microphones that can reduce ambient noise. All together, there are advantages to use external webcams as part of your video and audio set up.
ASUS C3 delivers a great image quality and is easy to set up
The ASUS C3 webcam is a mid-tier webcam that provides fantastic video and audio for an affordable price. The C3 comes with a HD 1920×1080 video resolution at 30 fps, autofocus, and beamforming microphones.
ASUS skipped the bells and whistles and made the unboxing experience very simple. When you open the small box, you are immediately greeted by the C3 webcam and its documentation.
Using the ASUS C3 was incredibly easy with little to no set up. The C3 connects to your computer via a USB-A port and is designed to be plugged and played. Unlike other webcams, the ASUS C3 doesn’t require you to download any software or install any drivers in order for it to work. I tested the C3’s compatibility on my Windows, Mac, and Chromebook laptop. I was surprised to see that on all devices, the ASUS C3 was instantly recognized and usable. The only setup that I had to do was set the C3 as the default camera and microphone.
When the C3 is in use, you will notice a small white LED on the front of the camera light up. For privacy, I would’ve preferred that ASUS include a hardware cover for the camera when it is not used.
The ASUS C3 webcam can be easily mounted
ASUS made mounting the C3 web camera very simple. Using the included clip, the ASUS C3 can be mounted on your laptop, computer monitor, or on the table. The C3’s clip moves up to 90 degrees so that you can easily adjust the vertical angle of the camera. The C3 also comes equipped with a ¼” thread on its base. This allows the webcam to easily be mounted on a tripod. As someone who does a lot of streaming, the ability to mount a webcam on a tripod is essential. It gives streamers the flexibility to find the perfect height and angle when mounting your camera.
In addition to easy mounting, the C3 comes with other fine tuning adjustments. The C3’s base allows for horizontal adjustment by tilting the camera towards the left or right side. The base also allows you to rotate the camera up to 360 degrees. Unfortunately, the base does not allow fine tuning of the camera vertically. Instead, all vertical adjustment must be done by changing the angle of the camera clip. In my real world use, I found this to be somewhat inconvenient. Finding the ideal angle required a combination of adjusting the camera clip and moving my laptop screen.
The ASUS C3 webcam offers a superior image quality
When comparing the C3’s video quality to my laptop’s internal camera, the C3 is a clear winner. Because the C3 has better all around hardware, it shows a significant improvement in video and audio quality. The larger camera sensor creates a better image fidelity and its 1920 x 1080 resolution leads to more fine details.
When you look at the C3’s image processing too, it’s clear that ASUS added a filter to the video output. Colours in the video are cooler with an emphasis towards green hues. While I do like the pre-set colour filter, it would be nice to have the option to apply custom colour tones to the image.
Another strength of the C3’s camera is its field of view. The ASUS has a 78 degree field of view which is significantly wider than the standard web cams. On most standard webcams, I feel like I can’t freely move around without some part of my body disappearing from the frame. The ASUS C3’s wider view means that you can fit more of yourself (and friends) into the video without having to back up or push the camera further away.
The ASUS C3 webcam delivers a clear and crisp audio
If you look closely at the front of the ASUS C3, there are microphones located on the left and right side of the camera. These are beamforming microphones that are meant to reduce the ambient noise while emphasizing your voice. In my tests, the beamforming microphones produced a very loud and clear audio. On video calls, l usually find myself speaking louder so that my audience can hear me clearly. However on the C3, speaking at a normal volume was more than enough. While the Asus C3 uses beamforming microphones, it does not have any noise cancellation technology. This means that listeners will still be able to hear ambient sounds around you, such as fans, and the sound of mechanical keyboards typing.
Final thoughts on the ASUS C3 web camera
If you’re in the market for a web camera, the ASUS C3 should definitely be on your list for consideration. The C3 delivers a fantastic video and audio for a reasonable price. Its plug and play nature and cross device compatibility make it perfect for anyone who wants a camera that works in a simple way. Finally, the C3’s small form factor makes it the ideal accessory for anyone on the go. If you don’t mind the preset colour filters and don’t need a noise cancellation system, the ASUS C3 might just be the perfect camera for you. If you’re interested in seeing what other products are available from ASUS, check their products here.
Check to see what is in the background.
Check how your lighting looks on the picture.
Last mirror check? Smile Please and thanks
Checking the sound before the meeting starts.
I have been looking for a good webcam for zoom meetings. Will be beneficial if I can use this to record my Zoom seminars once I start this.
Will save me time from doing an external setup and the hassle of buying of buying a video card.
I ensure all is quiet and the lighting is on point
Choose a quiet place to partake in the meeting.
Always test your equipment before the meeting. It’s really annoying when your waiting for someone who should be already set up and is fiddling around with their camera or microphone
Ensure lighting is adequate (not too dark/bright).
My tip for preparing for a video meeting is to always make sure that the area in frame is clean and tidy, so that you and your coworkers aren’t distracted by the mess.
My one tip to prepare for a video meeting is to ensure you don’t have too much backlighting behind you so you’re not blinding everyone in the meeting!
I make sure my lighting is good. No window behind me.
Make sure I am presentable and have a drink close by. (not booze) Also, checking lighting, video, and audio.
Make sure you have good lighting and that everything is working well
Check to make sure that everything is working properly before the meeting
Always make sure that everything is working properly before starting. Also make sure that your background is clear of unnecessary items/clutter
I make sure I am in a well lite room.
Checking the setting and equipment before the meeting saves so much aggravation.
Check and recheck everything before going on line!
Always allow 5 minutes ahead of a meeting to set up carefully.
my tip is to make sure you have good lighting pointing at the front of your face so that there aren’t awkward shadows cast on your face
Check your equipment before the meeting.
My tip is to test your audio before a meeting.
Have good lighting.
What I do to prepare for my video meetings is check all my technology in advance to ensure it works! This includes my camera, microphone, etc. This will give you time to fix the problem if something isn’t working.
Check your lighting
check all your settings
My tip is having water to sip on at hand, especially if it’s a long meeting
make sure the lighting is good
Prior to a video meeting, I always use the software to test my equipment: video and microphone (test record + playback) to ensure everything is good to go when we are live. It only takes a minute!
One tip that helps me prepare for a video meeting is to ensure that me and my background are good to go – no embarrassments or dumb mistakes
Making sure the microphone works!
Going over my notes beforehand helps me prepare for a video meeting.
Test everything you have control of
Always check your background and yourself
Always check your settings before the meeting
Always check your sound before the meeting starts.
ensure there are no weird filters active before your meeting
When I am hosting the meeting, I always sign in earlier to make sure I have my video and settings are working properly.
Always prep the meeting at least 10 minutes earlier to ensure the video, sound, and settings are working properly.
Check to make sure your camera and microphone are working before the meeting starts!
Psyche yourself up! Confidence is key when communicating
Gotta let the wife know, we’re both working from home and need to coordinate when video meetings will happen so they don’t overlap each other and our respective workplaces.
To prepare for a meeting, I always use the preview first before joining
Be sure you are wearing pants and are not a cat!
Crocs…
Definitely check to make sure the video and microphone are working before I start!
One tip that help me prepare for a video meeting is to connect before and test my settings and how the image look, so I won’t miss the beginning distract by inadequate settings.
test hardware, software and network quality prior to video call.
Test your equipment before the meeting.
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