• Box Contents - Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000, USB cable (6-feet), QuickCam Software CD including Logitech Video Effects, one-click video e-mail, QuickCapture for photos, Windows Live Messenger, Skype with free full-screen video calling, video-enabled AIM, Yahoo! Messenger, HP Photosmart Essential application for capturing, editing, customizing, and printing images (Web download required) and Quick-start guide
• Conveniently clips to virtually any flat-panel monitor or notebook
• Logitech Video Effects - Personalize your conversations with hundreds of avatars and face accessories that mirror expressions and motion using Fun Filters to add playful photographic effects such as fisheye, '50s Movie Reel, neonize, and more
• Universal monitor clip mounts easily on any type of display or notebook computer
• Carl Zeiss optics

• Logitech 931690-0403 VX Revolution Cordless Laser Mouse for Notebooks (Black)
• Logitech Pro 9000 Webcam Bundle
• Logitech Cordless Desktop LX 710 Laser
• Logitech 970223-0403 X-540 5.1 Speaker System (Black)
• Logitech 970285-0403 X-240 2.1 Speakers (Black)

Enjoy image-perfect detail and clarity plus motorized tracking. Ultra-wide field of view and intelligent face tracking keeps you right in the middle of the action. Get more detail and clarity from Logitech's glass lens designed in collaboration with Carl Zeiss, the global leader in camera optics. Your images stay razor sharp, even in closeups. HD video and images have never looked so real at 960 by 720 pixels. A true 2-Megapixel sensor, with up to 8-megapixel photos. RightLight 2 Technology adjusts intelligently to produce the best possible images in dim or poorly backlight settings. Integrated microphone with RightSound Technology lets you enjoy crystal clear conversations, free from annoying background noise. Autofocus system Ultra-high resolution 2-megapixel sensor with RightLight 2 Technology Color depth - 24-bit true color Video capture - Up to 1600 by 1200 pixels (HD quality, Video 960x720 pixels) Frame rate - Up to 30 frames per second Still-image capture - 8-Megapixels with software enhancement Built-in microphone with RightSound Technology System Requirements - Windows XP, Pentium 4 or compatible processor 1.4 GHz, 128 MB RAM, 200 MB free space, 16-bit color display adapter, Windows-compatible sound card and speakers (full-duplex sound card recommended), USB port and CD-ROM drive / Also works with Windows Vista

As Internet connections have matured to faster and faster broadband pipelines, webcam manufacturers have been keeping pace with higher resolutions and improved optics to take advantage of the larger bandwidth. And more than just communicating over chat and VoIP, webcams are increasingly used to broadcast Truman Show-esque live video feeds of one's every move (such as at Justin.tv) as well as high-quality mini-movies uploaded to sharing sites. And that's where the Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000 really shines, with its 2-megapixel image sensor, smooth-tracking autofocus, high-end Carl Zeiss optics, and HD video capabilities (with the capability of recording video at 960 by 720 pixels).

The combination of Logitech's RightLight technology and 2-megapixel Carl Zeiss optics produce improved clarity and lighting (Pro 9000 on the left, MacBook integrated camera on right--both captured in the same lighting conditions).

Add a variety of special effects from filters (above) to facial accessories (below).

First, a little about Logitech's touted technological and optical advantages. Designed by Carl Zeiss (known for high-end film and digital camera lenses), the Pro 9000's optics use a five-element lens arranged into four optical elements. As a result, the lens focuses the light onto the sensor with maximum detail and minimal aberrations. The 2-megapixel lens also offers an autofocus mechanism that automatically adjusts as your face moves about. It also incorporates Logitech's RightLight and RightSound technologies, which improves the webcam's image quality under difficult lighting conditions and provides noise cancellation, respectively.

We found the autofocus feature to be much smoother than another similarly specced webcam from Creative that we previously reviewed (which felt stuttery to our video chat partners), and the RightLight feature was able to render an image of our face in both highly backlit and low-light situations--something that other webcams we've tested have completely failed at. And the combination of RightLight, Carl Zeiss optics, and the two-megapixel sensor helped to enrich both the clarity and the color of our images.

While it's true that broadband Internet has gained speed, unfortunately none of the major chat or VoIP programs are can stream the high-definition video (960 by 720 pixels) that the Pro 9000 can capture. Thus, this feature is really only usable for recording video to your hard drive and either uploading to a video sharing service like YouTube or for inclusion into a movie project to be burned to disc. The Pro 9000 also enables you to take still images at larger than its native 2-megapixel sensor via software interpolation (up to an 8-megapixel resolution). Note, however, that shooting at a higher resolution causes a lengthier shutter lag.

The Pro 9000 offers easy plug-and-play operability on either a Windows PC or a Mac--just slide in the USB 2.0 plug, select the camera from your chosen video chatting program (it works seamlessly with Skype, Yahoo!, Windows Live, SightSpeed, and iChat), and you're good to go. While the Pro 9000 works brilliantly right out of the box, you'll only be able to take advantage of software add-ons such using the included QuickCam software (which is for Windows users only).

The QuickCam Control Panel is where you can select from a host of special effect add-ons that range from a selection of avatars (such as a dinosaur or cat) to facial accessories (including a crown and Borg hardware), and a variety of filter effects. The avatars didn't seem especially responsive unless we were overly hyperactive, but the limited face add-ons and filters were more successful (with our favorite being the rotoscope animation effect).

The double-hinged clip on the back of the lightweight Pro 9000 can be articulated to fit both the thinnest notebook screens to thicker LCD TV/monitors. A rubberized is placed right below the camera housing to help prevent slippage, and the camera itself can smoothly tilt up and down about 90 degrees. The Pro 9000 has a single microphone on its right side, and while the left side has a control button that automatically opens the Logitech QuickCam software. And in the middle is a Logitech logo, which is given a red glowing halo when the camera is recording. It uses a single USB connection that does not require external power.

With its arsenal of optical advancements combined with an invitingly affordable price tag and easy portability, the QuickCam Pro 9000 is a great alternative to the standard VGA/1.3-megapixel cams built into notebooks. --Agen G.N. Schmitz

Pros:

• 2-megapixel sensor helps to improve both clarity and color
• Automatic autofocus smoothly readjusts as you move around the screen
• Double-hinged clip easily fit on a variety of laptop and monitor surfaces

Cons:

• While capable of capturing HD-quality video, you can only utilize this for video saved to hard drive

Customer Rating:
Summary: Look no further. Great for MAC OS X 10.4 & later.
Comment: I have been using it for more than one month now. Amazing clarity and colors. No need to change any setting. Right Lite technology and autofocus works well. It is pricey compared to other cams but there is no comparison. This is the best webcam available at this time. also, it works with MAC OS X (10.4 and above). MAC USERS can use vision pro for mac but this one is fine too. Both Pro 9000 and Vision Pro for mac will work only with ichat. THEY (BOTH) WILL NOT WORK WITH YAHOO MESSENGER IF YOU HAVE BUILT IN ISIGHT CAMERA.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Camera!!
Comment: I love this video camera! I use it with Skype and talk to my sister(who lives several states away). The picture is clear and the mic is great on it. It's ALMOST like being there. It's a nice looking camera,as well and very unobtrusive. I highly recommend it. :)

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Customer Rating:
Summary: logitech 9000
Comment: I originaly had purchased another web cam and could not get it to work on my new computer which has windows vista. I purchased the Logitech 9000 and was skeptical that it would work. It is wonderful just put the softwear in and plug the cam in and your ready to use it. Everyone that I chat with commented on the clarity of the picture and the good sound that it has. I would recomend this web cam to anyone with vista, it is fantastic.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Great camera with great picture quality!
Comment: The picture quality is great, and it works well with Skype (the driving force behind the purchase). The mechanism for holding the camera on the laptop is genius and seems that it would work with any laptop and probably most LCD monitors as well. The bundled software is junk, I didn't even bother.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Amazing Product! Buy this b4 Dec 1, 2008 and save $[...]
Comment: The Logitech quickcam Pro9000 is amazing. The sound clarity, and video quality are stunning. We chat with folks back home in India and there is no time-lag. I have seen previous versions of Logitech cams and Microsoft products. This Pro 9000 stands out. I paid $[...] for it from Amazon but now they are offering a $[...] rebate if purchased between 11/25 and 12/1/2008.
At $[...] this is a steal. The Carl Zeiss optics makes a difference. The software has cool features like face recognition, tilt-n-zoom where you do not need to touch the cam to tilt or zoom. Overall, FIVE STAR product.

Will work for both laptop screens and desktop ones.

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