Logitech has just unveiled a rather unique webcam – the Logitech Reach. The new webcam features a flexible, articulating arm that can redefine how we share non-digital content during presentations, classes, conference calls, and live streams.
Source: Logitech
The inspiration behind the Logitech Reach stemmed from a simple observation. People were encountering difficulties when sharing non-digital content, often settling for less-than-ideal setups, a combination of various products, or complex production tools. Logitech set out to eliminate these challenges, enabling a seamless and interactive “show and tell” experience.
Source: Logitech
The Logitech Reach boasts a range of features designed to make sharing content easier and more engaging. The camera offers 1080p video quality at 60fps with glass optics, 4.3x lossless zoom and smart autofocus.Users can effortlessly move the camera along the horizontal plane using a simple gesture, ensuring content is displayed cleanly and smoothly. Built-in guidance indicators maintain the image’s orientation throughout and a pivoting camera head.
The Reach offers a hassle-free plug-and-play experience via USB for extensive compatibility with most computers and conferencing or streaming platforms. It can be used in full desktop mode on a table or in a compact stowed mode, paired with the low-profile edge clamp, making it adaptable to any workspace.
Early Access and Campaign
Logitech recognizes the diverse range of use cases for the Logitech Reach and is offering early access to this revolutionary device through the Indiegogo Enterprise platform. Early adopters can enjoy a discounted price, and their valuable insights will help shape the future of Logitech Reach across various environments. No exact pricing has been announced so far.
We are fans of Sony’s products. There is hardly a product in their stables we do not like or would not recommend. This one, we find a little difficult to recommend. It is not that we do not like it; we do. We think that it is a product targeted toward a rather niche group of people.
Welcome to the Sony ZV-1F, a compact camera from Sony that comes with a fixed lens. It is based on Sony’s rather brilliant and highly popular ZV-1. The most interesting thing about the ZV-1F, we think, is that it features a 20mm fixed lens.
It will set you back MYR 2,599, about MYR 800 less than the ZV-1, making it more accessible. It is still a premium product though. While the ZV-1F lacks a few features, it is lighter than the camera it is based on too, which is always welcome even for compact cameras.
Other than having a fixed lens with large aperture, it seems like there is little else that is special about this ZV-1F. In that case, why bother with the Sony ZV-1F? Should you pay attention to it? We dive in to find out.
Design
The ZV-1F looks strikingly similar to Sony’s ZV-1, which should not come as a surprise at all. The only difference is that the Sony ZV-1F packs a fixed lens that does not tuck in or unpack when you turn it on.
It is a compact camera, there is not much to say in terms of design here. It is a rectangular aluminum box with a bump in front for a grip mound, and a short tube that houses the lens. For the money you pay, you get a tiny light package. While it is a little on the lighter end, it still feels like a quality product.
We appreciate the swiveling display. It is useful if you plan to use the camera for vlogs, replace your webcam, and even take self-portraits. Since it is based on the ZV-1, it takes on all the accessories that the ZV-1 works with as well, that includes the remote grip. While the test unit you see here is black in colour, there is also a white colour option if you want.
Hardware
Internally, you get mostly the same components from the Sony ZV-1. You get the same image processor, the same 1-inch sensor, and even the same battery and memory card slot configuration. You can charge the camera with USB Type-C cable too. There is more to the USB Type-C port to just charging too.
Specifications
Sony ZV-1F
As tested
Sensor
1.0-type Exmor RS CMOS 3:2 aspect ratio Approx. 20.1-Megapixel
Electronic Shutter (1/4″ – 1/32000) Contrast-detection AutoFocus ISO125-ISO6400 (up to ISO12800) up to 16fps continuous shooting
Video Recording
XAVC S 4K: 30p 100M/60M, 24p 100M/60M XAVC S HD (Full HD): 60p 50M/25M, 30p 50M/16M, 24p 50M, 120p 100M/60M
Miscellaneous
USB Type-C charging/data transfer Battery Pack NP-BX1 Bluetooth 4.1 WiFi 802.11b/g/n 2.4GHz Band
Features
Everything on the ZV-1F is simplified to ensure that you get access to its most important features. There is still a zoom toggle on the camera. It is not optical zoom though, just digital zoom.
4K 30p Video Recording
The Sony ZV-1F is made for vloggers. The sensor captures videos at up to 4K 30p, just not at 10-bit 4:2:2 colours, though that is nothing to complain about. Having 4K capability also means that you are getting more details in your videos for great looking vlogs.
One Less Frame to Think About with Fixed Lens
While most consensus would say that having a fixed lens on a compact camera is a bad thing, we think there are some benefits. Having a fixed 20mm lens means you know how your frame looks every time you turn on your camera. In that case, you just know where to stand to get the right image through.
At its native zoom length, your frame is perfect for selfies at an arm’s length. If you find that the frame is too tight, you can invest in a cheap selfie stick, or get the remote grip attachment from Sony. Your vlogs are even more instantaneous than ever before since there is no zoom to mess with.
The Might of Sony’s Accessories
Sony has various mic attachments that work with the proprietary hot shoe mount on top of the camera. The hot shoe mount is a blessing in modern compact cameras. It allows you to play with all sorts of attachments that may not even be from Sony.
Of course, if you do not want your set-up to be a cable mess, you go with Sony’s various clever accessories. We mentioned that you can work with Sony’s remote grip that is connected via Bluetooth. You can have a shotgun mic too for better directionality. You can even work with Sony’s XLR expansions too if you want.
The Webcam Replacement You Want
The ZV-1F’s USB Type-C port is your charger and data outlet. Here is where the ZV-1F becomes one of the best tools for content creators too. You can turn the Sony ZV-1F into a 4K webcam without a capture card.
It is also rather simple to work with. You only need to connect the ZV-1F to your PC via USB cable. On the camera itself you select streaming mode. You do not even need to have Sony’s proprietary software for this to work. You can even turn the camera into your designated microphone for clearer audio.
Obviously, using the ZV-1F as a streaming camera or webcam offers better image quality over regular webcams. It is also significantly more expensive than regular webcams. It is an investment to get better quality images and streams.
Sony Imaging Edge
Using the Sony Imaging Edge suite on PC allows you to control your camera remotely and transfer photos and videos off your camera without ever pulling the SD card from your camera. If all you want from the ZV-1F is a webcam replacement, you can go ahead and skip the software for your PC. For your smartphone though, Sony’s Imaging Edge can be quite useful.
On the smartphone, you can use the app to control your camera and use it as a remote display, a rather nifty and useful feature when you just want to place your camera on a tripod and record away from the camera. Using the Imaging Edge app as well, you can take photos using the camera directly saved to your smartphone device. Same goes for 4K videos.
Made for Social Media
Within the camera itself, you can technically shoot videos that are optimized for social media. Well, there is shooting vertically, which is nothing special technically. There is something else you can do on the camera.
Before you transfer your video clips into your smartphone, you can choose and cut out 15-, 30-, and 60-seconds clips within the camera itself. You not only save storage space on your SD card, but you also cut out all editing nuances from your smartphone itself. It allows you to easily pick out clips and put them together before posting them on TikTok, Instagram, or even Facebook.
Performance
You get a 1-inch sensor that shoots at 20.1 Megapixels. You can also record videos in 4K resolution. The lens shoots at 20mm wide angle. The image quality from the ZV-1F is very similar to what you get from Sony’s ZV-1. This should not come as a surprise though; they share the same imaging sensor and even the same image processor. The only difference between the two is the lens on the ZV-1F.
Imaging
Without the zoom lens, you lose the flexibility of adjusting your frame from where you stand. In that sense, some might struggle with it when you need a larger or smaller frame for their photos. For self-portraits, the frame is tight enough to properly frame your face within that arm-length. if you do want to capture a self-portrait with a larger group, you might want to space your friends out a bit behind you.
Still, once familiar with your frame, you can get the ZV-1F to work very nicely for you. The images you get from the compact camera are detailed enough that it will look good on any social media platform. If you dig deeper and zoom in on the photos, you can see that the photos are much sharper in the central region, where Autofocus works. At the edges, the focus seems to be a little softer. With portraits, you get a natural looking depth-of-field (bokeh) effect, which is always nice.
In terms of colours, in auto mode, photos produce rich colours. There is a very slight orange tinge to the photos though. It adds to the vividness of the images and colours, but it does take away some neutrality to the photos. While it means that your photos are ready for social media almost immediately taken by the camera, you might have a slightly harder time if you are looking to colour grade your photos. You can still take RAW photos though.
Small Camera, Big Videos
One of the biggest attractions to this camera is its 4K video capabilities, though only at up to 30p. You can also get those crisp slow-motion videos in Full HD at 120p. That also means that you get an extra layer of flexibility in terms of your creative shots for your vlogs.
While you are not getting 4:2:2 10-bit colours from the ZV-1F, you are not missing out on too much especially if you share your contents on social media. Most of the time, shooting vlogs is a run and gun thing. In that sense, the colours look good and accurate enough without colour grading.
At the same time, recording 4K videos with the ZV-1F gives you a clean crisp image with plenty of details. You even get a nice depth-of-field effect that you get from more expensive lens. It is a fast lens though at f/2.0 allowing that cinematic bokeh in your background and putting the focus on the subject.
AF, but no Eye-AF
We find this a little disappointing. Not because the AutoFocus function is not great. It is a fast autofocus system they have here that easily keeps up with you in a shoot. It lacks the eye-AF system that is so useful on the ZV-1.
Without eye-AF, you only get a regular autofocus system that can reasonably keep up with you. In most vlogging situations, the AF system is clever enough to detect your face and follow it. It is fast enough though for you to work with once it gets a lock-on.
It is not perfect. We had some trouble getting it to focus on our test subject, a toy car. Since the focal distance is at a minimum of 7.6mm, we thought we could get the toy car to be in focus even when we close the distance between the camera and the subject. We had to pull away from the subject most of the time to get the subject in proper focus. We also had to tap on the screen to get it to focus on our subject when it is off center.
At MYR 2,599, the ZV-1F compact camera is not exactly a budget option. While it is more accessible than the ZV-1, it is still a lot of money for what some might describe as nothing more than a glorified 4K webcam. It does not pack Eye-AF, it does not have a zoom lens, and the lack of weight might not inspire plenty of confidence.
The thing is, there is still plenty to like about the ZV-1F. The ZV-1F is ridiculously light. It is not much more compact than the camera it is derived from, it is about the same size and therefore just as compact.
Because it is lighter than the camera it is based on, it feels quicker to work with. You do not need to spend on heavy duty tripods too. Since there are no zoom lenses to unpack, you are quicker to get to your photos or videos. It is an excellent webcam and mic combo replacement too.
At the same time, you are getting everything that is also great about the ZV-1. The ZV-1F can record videos at 40K 30p. It takes photos at the same 20.1 Megapixel as the ZV-1. If you think the ZV-1 takes great photos, you will be pleased with this one too.
In the right hands, the ZV-1F is a powerful entry-level and compact content creation tool. As a webcam replacement, the ZV-1F offers a much higher quality feed over regular webcams, even if you stick with 720p streaming over USB. It is also your mic replacement, on a budget. At the same time, taking the camera out for a vlog or taking a quick photo is easy. Since it connects to your smartphone wirelessly too, you can make quick work of any photos or videos you take on the ZV-1F before posting it on social media. You even cut an entire editing process out of your workflow with the built-in modes made specially for social media format contents. It is content creation made super easy.
It’s become a norm to want a webcam that can do more than just video conferencing. Razer started its journey in the webcam with the original Kiyo and Kiyo X webcams. However, with their releases, they’ve realised that current users, and in particular, streamers have unique requirements for their cameras. With that in mind, they ventured to bring DSLR-like quality to their already powerful webcam series with the Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra.
Source: Razer
The Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra comes equipped with the large 1/1.2-inch Sony STARVIS 2 sensor. The sensor is able to capture even more light and detail with its large 2.9 μm pixel size. It also comes with a large f/1.7 aperture lens which allows four times more light into the sensor for crisper details even in low light conditions. There’s even a manual shutter to physically block the sensor.
The Kiyo Pro Ultra comes with a processor that powers its high-resolution capture. The processor converts raw 4K 30fps or 1080p 60fps footage into 4K 24fps, 1440p 30fps or 1080p 60fps directly into your stream. The AI-powered face-tracking autofocus also allows you to focus on creating content while the camera keeps your shots on point and in focus. It also gives artfully blurred bokeh while keeping key details in focus and crisp.
The webcam is also able to dynamically adjust and refine lighting for better picture quality. The Kiyo Pro UItra also corrects over or under-exposed areas. It also supports HDR at 30fps bringing better detail and more vivid colours when streaming. Razer’s Synapse app provides users even more control of the webcam with the ability to fine-tune and tweak settings like ISO, shutter speed, pan, tilt and more. The webcam is also simple to use with its plug-and-play capabilities needing only a USB 3.0 connection.
Pricing & Availability
The Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra will be available starting on January 5, 2023. It will retail for USD$299.99 (MYR1,312.05) or EUR 299.99 (MYR1,408.69).
Logitech has released its latest webcams with the Brio 500 series. The new series of 1080p webcams offer light correction, auto-framing, noise-cancelling mics and a versatile, movable mount.
Be your best self with Logitech’s Brio 500 webcam. Image source: Logitech
No more bad angles with magnetic mount design
In its launch video, Logitech has promised that customers can “Be your best self every video call” with the Brio 500 series webcams. Perhaps the most unique feature is the “Show Mode”. The “Show Mode” allows you to share your desk by simply tilting the webcam. Logitech has improved the mount design to accommodate this movement. The webcam attaches to the mount magnetically and clamps onto your monitor with an adjustable foot lined with microsuction tape. The mount also has a round attachment point to the webcam. This makes it easy to turn the camera horizontally to get the best recording angle for your video call.
The Brio 500’s unique magnetic mount allows for better video call angles while maintaining grip. Image source: Logitech
Better video and audio for video calls
Logitech’s Brio 500 series offers 1080p video calls with a bonus of improved lighting and framing. The new webcams come with Logitech’s latest RightLight 4 technology which automatically corrects lighting in both over lit and poorly lit scenarios. RightLight 4 also performs auto-framing, helping the camera stay centered on you. This is particularly helpful in situations where movement is required such as presentations. To access RightLight 4 and other “advanced meeting experiences”, Logitech requires the download of their Logi Tune software for free. On top of these features, the Brio 500 also has AI-based face image correction for greater clarity during video calls. As for audio, the webcam has dual microphones with beamforming noise-reducing technology. This offers greater call clarity and is capable of capturing your voice even when you move around in front of the webcam.
Other features and pricing
Brio 500’s in built privacy shutter. Image credit: Tom’s Hardware
The Brio 500 includes a built in-privacy shutter that works by rotating the right-end cap on its cylinder-shaped body. Logitech has also developed this webcam series with sustainability in mind. The plastic parts are certified post-consumer recycled plastic, with varying proportions between 54% to 68%, used in its different color offerings. It is available in three colours; graphite, off-white and rose. The Brio 500 series is available in Malaysia now. Retail price as per the official Logitech website is RM609. It is also available in store with authorized retailers and resellers.
Lenovo is no stranger to creating solutions for mobile work. Their new ThinkVision lineup takes a step in empowering working from anywhere. The new lineup is not just made of traditional monitors but also mobile ones that allow users to complement their workflow with an extra display. In fact, the new lineup could be the perfect complement for the new ThinkPad X1 Extreme.
Their biggest champion for work from anywhere is the new ThinkVision M15 mobile monitor. It’s the most portable and versatile monitor from Lenovo to date. The monitor comes with 15.6 inches of visual real estate. It has a 13.3-inch, Full HD resolution display. The ThinkVision M15 can also be height adjusted for ergonomics. It connects with a single USB type C cable. The monitor also doesn’t take away from connectivity; in fact, it extends it with 2 USB Type C on the body. It can be powered by a 65W power source via USB Type C or simply with a single USB-C cable from a laptop. The external monitor weighs only 0.86kg.
Together with the portable monitor, Lenovo also announced a larger, fixed monitor built for those who want a fixed workspace. The Lenovo ThinkVision T24m-20 is a one cable monitor solution. It can connect via a single USB-C cable and supports power delivery of up to 90W via USB-C. It comes with an array of ports that can be used to daisy chain monitors or extend your connectivity. The 23.8-inch ThinkVision comes with Full HD resolution. It also features Lenovo’s Colour Display Centre software – ThinkColor – which allows you to customise your experience via a simple point-and-click interface.
To complete the line up, Lenovo also announced a new ThinkVision webcam. The new Lenovo ThinkVision MC50 Monitor Webcam is a Full HD solution with built-in microphones. It’s built to complete your setup with a versatile webcam for your video conferencing needs. It comes with dual noise cancelling microphones to ensure that audio pick up is crisp. It also has an red light to indicate if it is turned on. The webcam is plug-and-play not requiring any additional software. It’s also able to tilt and swivel allowing you to adjust just the camera for your setup.
The current pandemic has spurred a revolution in the way we work. The new work from home arrangements may not ever go away instead many experts predict a significant part of the workforce will continue to work from home; or rather anywhere. Video conferences and virtual meetings may be the new norm in the workplace. With that in mind, Dell is introducing their new UltraSharp Webcam.
Dell is looking to give users the best front of screen experience with their first 4K UltraSharp Webcam. The company has poured its R&D into developing an external webcam imbued with nine patent-pending technologies and AI. The company drew inspiration from DSLR cameras aspiring to bring the same quality to a webcam.
To achieve that quality, the company started with the lens and equipped the Dell UltraSharp Webcam with a large 4K Sony STARVIS CMOS sensor complemented with a multi-element lens. This allows the camera to capture more light and detail. With the main hardware covered, they worked on imbuing the camera with software that would help draw out the best video quality. The Dell UltraSharp Webcam comes with Digital Overlap HDR which assists it to capture and reproduce true-to-life images – even in low light.
They also include a variety of AI-assisted technologies that help make sure you’re always the focus. The highlight of which is the auto-framing feature. The feature keeps you in focus and centred all the time. It shifts the frame slowly to ensure that people viewing the video feed don’t feel disoriented by the camera movement. The webcam also comes with software that allows users to choose from 65°, 78° and 90° fields of view to suit their environment and up to 5x digital zoom.
The Dell UltraSharp Webcam also integrates seamlessly with software. The IR sensor embedded in the camera allows it to work with Windows Hello to allow seamless logins. It also comes with Dell’s ExpressSign-in technology to work in concert with Dell PCs. With ExpressSign-in, Dell PCs automatically log users out when they step away from the computer by using the proximity sensors in the webcam. Keeping privacy at the core, the webcam also comes with a magnetic cover to make sure the camera isn’t seeing anything.
All of these technologies come in a sleek, cylindrical body made of aluminium. It also comes with a magnetic mount and tripod that allow users to transition seamlessly between mounting it on their monitors or a tripod.
Pricing & Availability
The Dell UltraSharp Webcam (WB7022) will be available on Dell’s website soon. It will be priced at MYR1,112 in Malaysia and USD$199.99 worldwide.
