Thanks to technology and the Internet, there are a multitude of entertainment options available online. A well-known entertainment and monetization avenue is video game streaming through channels like Twitch, Youtube and Facebook. There are currently thousands of users sharing their gaming passion in different genres from a first-person shooter, role-playing to multiplayer online battle arena games through online live game streams.
Live game streaming is a good way to show your audience your gaming skills. While it’s mostly about gameplay, the quality of your equipment will also affect the overall enjoyment of your followers and fans. One of the most important considerations in live streaming is choosing the web camera that you will use for your live videos.
Here are some of the cameras available:
Logitech C920 HD ($50 to $100)
- Full HD 1080p video calling (upto 1920 x 1080 pixels) with the latest version of Skype for Windows; Webcam...
- 720p HD video calling (upto 1280 x 720 pixels) with supported clients; Full HD video recording (upto 1920 x...
The Logitech C920 by Logitech International S.A. was released on January 2012. It’s a webcam that’s known for HD quality videos, and dual mic for clear calls and recordings. The C920 is one of the most well-known entry-level webcams used by game streamers and YouTubers. It has great definition and good quality even during low lighting instances. It has a wide field of view or FOV that’s useful for taking videos of groups, and zooming without a quality drop.
The C920 app can let you pan the cam, zoom in and out, take photos and videos and adjust the settings of the camera. However, the downside is that the webcam itself doesn’t have its own lighting, it’s also known to be problematic on Mac, and the auto color setting looks washed out.
Pokimane uses a Logitech C920 webcam for streaming. View more of Pokimane’s streaming and ASMR setup here.
Asmongold uses a Logitech C920 webcam for streaming. View more of Asmongold’s streaming setup here.
Razer Kiyo (around $100)
- FULL HD RESOLUTION — Experience crisp, detailed video and audio recording in 720p 60 FPS / 1080p 30 FPS....
- CONVENIENT, BUILT-IN LIGHTING — Features a 5600K daylight-balanced ring light around the camera that...
The Razer Kiyo by Razer Inc. was released in June 2018. Its most distinguishable feature is the ring light at the front portion of the webcam. The ring light is its main feature, that allows great lighting even during low-light situations. The Kiyo also has a great autofocus function and a good-looking modern design. It is capable of recording 1080p resolution at 30 FPS and doing live streaming 720p resolution at 60 FPS.
Kiyo is a good game streaming web camera overall but it may be too pricey for its quality. It also has been known to have issues while streaming with the OBS software, and it may result in an overly-bright output due to the ring light. The ring light may also result in unnatural saturation against the background.
Logitech BRIO ($200 to $250)
- SUPPORT WORK FROM ANYWHERE WITH SYNC: Whether employees are in the office, at home, or somewhere else, Sync...
- Ultra 4K HD resolution: 4 times the resolution of a typical HD webcam; look your best and enjoy professional...
The Logitech BRIO by Logitech International S.A. was released on February 2017. It’s a high-quality webcam that can support 4k or Ultra HD quality video, boasting of great image quality and HDR recording. Some of the interesting features include the infrared sensor for facial recognition support, Rightlight 3 technology that prioritizes the face of the user from the background, a zoom that’s up to 5x and the 4k image sensor.
BRIO is definitely a good webcam for game streaming, however, it’s quite expensive compared to the other cameras on this list. Some of the known concerns are the auto-focus problems and the still image capture option is not supported.
Shroud uses a Logitech BRIO webcam for his streaming setup. View more Shroud PC Specs here.
Microsoft LifeCam HD-3000 ($40 to $65)
- Widescreen with 720p HD video chat and recording
- Noise reducing microphone
The Microsoft LifeCam HD-3000 by Microsoft Corporation was designed to be a cheaper webcam alternative to its LifeCam series. It has a simple plug-and-play function, and it arguably has the best quality for its price. If you’re a beginner and you want to give streaming a try without having to invest too much on equipment, you might want to use this webcam. It’s capable of taking a 1280×720 resolution 720p videos at 30 FPS.
The LifeCam HD-3000 also has a built-in multi-directional and noise-canceling mic for clear transmission during video calls. One of the problems with the LifeCam HD-3000 is that it has white balance problems when the auto adjust function is activated.
Logitech C922 Pro Stream ($70 to $110)
- Web Camera specifically designed and optimized for Professional quality video streaming on social gaming and...
- Stream and record vibrant, true-to-life HD 1080P video at 30Fps/ 720P at 60FPS. Compatibility- Windows 7,...
The Logitech C922 Pro Stream webcam by Logitech International S.A. was released on September 2016. Its sleek design allows you to easily attach the webcam on top of any surface. The C922 also comes with a tripod in case you don’t want to mount the camera on your monitor. It is currently one of the most popular mid-priced game streaming webcam available. It can let you stream 1080p resolution at 30 FPS, and it has an H.264 video compression feature.
One of the most distinguishing factors of the C922 webcam is its background removal feature that automatically removes the background even without a green screen or sheet. You also have the option to replace your background through the use of 3rd-party software. There have been some incompatibility issues with Windows 10 that would require you to manually setup its drivers.
Imaqtpie uses a Logitech C922 webcam. View more of Imaqtpie’s streaming setup here.
Ausdom AW620 Pro ($50 to $70)
The Ausdom AW620 Pro by Ausdom was released on February 2018. It’s a high-definition webcam with a clip-on design for easy monitor mounting. The AW620 Pro is compatible with almost all of the known operating systems and it’s also compatible with the OBS streaming software. It’s compact and lightweight, with a manual focus knob so you can customize the focus you want.
The AW620 Pro offers 1080p HD streaming at 30 FPS, with its own built-in microphone with noise reduction features. Although it’s a pretty decent webcam for its price, it has been known to have problems with dim lighting situations and it has a strange light substitute on occasions that the lighting is not natural.
AUKEY PC-LM1A ($40 to $65)
The AUKEY PC-LM1A by AUKEY was released on September 2017. The webcam can accommodate a high-definition 2048×1639 resolution at 30 FPS with its 3.2-megapixel camera. It has smooth audio and video recording capabilities and auto-light adjustment for low-light situations.
The PC-LM1A can support H.264, YUV, and MJPEG video formats, with a manual focus distance of up to 10 inches and an 80-degree field of view. It has a flat design that’s similar to the C922 webcame. One of the downsides to the PC-LM1A webcam is that the picture output is occasionally distorted.
Conclusion
A webcam is a great option for live streaming, although you can also have other video camera options such as DSLRs or digital single-reflex cameras and 4k cameras. For an entry-level streaming career, webcams can offer a solid video experience at a significantly lower cost than other types of video cameras.
Webcams are handy and they are also pretty useful; however, if you want to step up your game, you may consider buying the more expensive types of cameras for a higher definition live streaming experience for your audience. Good luck with your game streaming!
