Not All Webcams Are Created Equal [From the Screen of Stone]

Almost all laptops computers and tablets have built-in webcams. However, most of these have 720p resolution (the equivalent of "standard definition" for television). A web cam with 1080p HD ("high definition") resolution will yield a noticeably sharper image, particularly for the situations that are common in video conferencing where the face fills most of the frame. Furthermore, that 1080p resolution needs to be supported at a 60 Hz refresh rate. Slower refresh rates (e.g., the 30 Hz rates used by some webcams) result in "jerky" motions when the person moves. A good webcam will have an auto focus feature. This keeps the face (or whatever else is the primary object in the field of view) automatically in focus regardless of the distance from the camera or of any motion. Many webcams also come with software that allows zooming and centering the image.