Today consumers are looking for more pixels- more pixels in digital cameras, more pixels in cell phones and more pixels in webcams. The perception is that more pixels result in better quality. This approach neglects the importance of framerate and response to lighting, which can be more problematic for webcams than camcorders.
Take the typical high-end webcam. It can capture a 1280*1024 HD video stream at roughly 1.3 Mega pixels per frame. However, what the manufacturer won't tell you is that the webcam can only capture 7 frames per second, if you are lucky (in my experience it's closer to 5). The result is not a video, but a slideshow.
So if even high-end webcams can't produce a high-definition video experience, what are your options? Buy a camcorder. Even an inexpensive camcorder has better optics than the best webcams, and it will not require a 100 watt lamp to get an acceptable frame-rate. The camcorder can be connected to your computer using a firewire, and will produce a close to TV-quality video stream. As usual, the more you pay the better quality you get. But inexpensive camcorders are quite sufficient for most desktop video scenarios.
You can find a reasonably priced camcorder that connects to your computer for as low as $200. However, if you plan to use your camcorder for more than video conferencing, you might consider investing in a higher end camcorder that provides more features.
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