Best Budget Cameras for Live Streaming
Streaming, conference calls, and online meetings are all the rage ever since the COVID-19 pandemic began. These circumstances have skyrocketed the price of webcams and caused a shortage of stocks. With that, webcams that are just a perfect balance of cost and performance are hard to find these days.
We reviewed some of the best budget streaming cameras to help you pick a device that can give you a bang for your buck as a novice streamer.
The Aukey PC-LM1 is a budget webcam that packs some decent features. It records at 1080p and covers a wide view with angles up to 65 degrees. Additionally, it does some light quality corrections that improve video look.
The device is quite portable with a durable build quality. It also features two stereo microphones, but the sound is not on a par with streaming standards. Nonetheless, a tiny investment in a microphone can complement the shortcoming. Overall, the webcam has good features, and it’s also easy on the wallet.
Pros
- Reasonable cost
- Full HD video quality
- Decent build quality
Things to consider
- Fixed focus
- Average sound quality
Razer’s Kiyo Pro is a high-end webcam that packs in some advanced features. It records 1080p at an incredibly smooth 60fps and allows you to toggle between three fields of view. Thanks to its ultra-sensitive light sensors, it adapts pretty well in dynamic light conditions.
With all these modern features, Razer specifically markets it for streamers and gamers willing to spend beyond a handsome amount. The camera design is also cylindrical, which is similar to a DSLR lens. Overall, it’s a bit on the pricey side but it’s an elegant and premium webcam.
Pros
- HDR-enabled
- Adjustable FOVs
- Trendy design
Things to consider
- Very expensive
- Requires USB 3.0 po
The Logitech StreamCam sits at a pricey side for a webcam. The camera seamlessly captures 1080p at 60fps. Plus, it comes with autofocus and good color balance features, making it ideal for streaming and conference calls.
The device allows recording 360p, 720p, and 1080p resolutions with either 24, 25, 30, 50, or 60fps, providing greater flexibility. Another cool thing worth mentioning is its Logitech Capture software. The software is quite robust and allows configuring various settings that could greatly impact the outcome.
Finally, The cubic design is quite stylish, available in black or a white and gray combination. It’s also possible to rotate the lens and record in both portrait and landscape. To sum it up, it is a high-end webcam with some excellent features.
Pros
- Smooth recording at 60fps
- Impressive video quality
- Unique design
- Good color balance
Things to consider
- Very expensive
- Lacks variable field of view
The Logitech StreamCam sits at a pricey side for a webcam. The camera seamlessly captures 1080p at 60fps. Plus, it comes with autofocus and good color balance features, making it ideal for streaming and conference calls.
The device allows recording 360p, 720p, and 1080p resolutions with either 24, 25, 30, 50, or 60fps, providing greater flexibility. Another cool thing worth mentioning is its Logitech Capture software. The software is quite robust and allows configuring various settings that could greatly impact the outcome.
Finally, The cubic design is quite stylish, available in black or a white and gray combination. It’s also possible to rotate the lens and record in both portrait and landscape. To sum it up, it is a high-end webcam with some excellent features.
Pros
- Smooth recording at 60fps
- Impressive video quality
- Unique design
- Good color balance
Things to consider
- Very expensive
- Lacks variable field of view
NexiGo’s Streaming Webcam stands out in terms of price-to-performance ratio. With its incredible features, this product is very reasonably priced. It records 1080p full HD at 60fps, and on top of that, it features autofocus and 65 degrees of view angle.
This webcam gives quite decent output in terms of color, sharpness, and light adaptability. The physical design is durable and it also accommodates microphones. However, the sound quality may not be up to par. Despite this, it’s still a very solid device for its price range.
Pros
- Value for money
- Smooth 60fps recording
- Adaptive auto-focus
Things to consider
- Below average sound quality
- Footage gets noisier in low light performance
