Looking for a webcam that can record HD quality video without the faded, pasty look common to older models? The $79.99 (direct) fixed-focus Logitech Webcam C600 pairs 720p high-definition widescreen video with the company's RightLight 2 technology, which automatically adjusts the image to compensate for dim or poorly lit settings. It's a great choice for recording spur-of-the-moment videos, as well as making Skype, AOL, and other IM-client-related video calls, and it's our latest Editors' Choice webcam.

Design, Installation, and Software
The C600 resembles classic Logitech webcams—it looks like an eight ball with a hole in it. The camera's housing is made of black plastic, but the 2-megapixel sensor is paired with a glass lens. A built-in mic sits on top, while a six-foot USB cable is permanently attached to the back of the cam. Logitech claims that its universal clip mount fits notebooks, LCDs, and CRT monitors. The black plastic clip has three surfaces, with two smooth, solid-feeling hinges, and two rubber pads. The C600 can also sit upright on a desk or shelf. I mounted the Webcam C600 on couple of LCD monitors with no trouble, though it was a little unsteady when clipped to the lid of a Toshiba Qosmio X505-Q850 gaming laptop.

To get started with the C600, you need a Windows XP, Vista, or 7 PC with at least 512MB of RAM and one free USB 2.0 port. Logitech recommends a dual-core CPU with 1GB of RAM and broadband Internet with 256 Kbps upload speeds for the best video-calling experience. The C600 doesn't work with Macs, though that's less of a problem since many recent Apple models include a built-in iSight camera. The software CD contains a setup program for the Webcam C600, plus Logitech Vid, a proprietary video-calling program that works with any Logitech webcam. (Owners of older Logitech webcams can download the app for free from Logitech's Web site.) The webcam also works with AIM, Skype, Windows Live Messenger, and Yahoo Messenger clients.

Installing the software only takes about a minute. Fire up the Logitech Webcam C600 client, and you'll see numerous icons for snapping photos and recording video at various resolutions (including 720p HD). You can also adjust the pan, zoom, face tracking, and tilt settings from the Settings page. The Video Effects section offers fish-eye distortions, avatars like cats and sock puppets, sunglasses and other face accessories, and other cute mods that fit themselves around your live cam image. A privacy shade lets you display one of three landscape images whenever you want to stop the video feed; separate icons exist for muting audio and video. Finally, the installer also adds a Webcam Resource Guide icon to the desktop, though really it's a glorified help section with shortcut links to Logitech's site.

Performance
The C600's image quality measures up well. No webcam I've tested looks as good as an equivalent-megapixel digital camera, but beginning with Logitech's 2-megapixel QuickCam Pro 9000 back in late 2007, quality has jumped considerably. The Webcam C600 continues that trend, with natural color balance and flesh tones, and fast adjustments to changing light conditions. (RightLight 2 really works.) The C600 also looked great in Skype 4, with sharp focus and a natural looking video feed that approached live standard-definition television, at least over a fast broadband connection.

The C600 lacks the Carl Zeiss optics of Logitech's higher-priced webcams like the QuickCam Orbit AF and the Webcam C905. In my tests, this didn't seem to matter, aside from slightly flat color in lower-light environments. Recorded videos with the C600 weren't quite as vibrant as those captured with a second-generation Flip MinoHD; the C600 isn't a replacement for a dedicated camcorder. On the audio side, the built-in mic features Logitech's RightSound noise-canceling technology for muting consistent background noise. It successfully muted a fan I had running in the background without adversely affecting voice quality. Recorded voices were warm and full-bodied in my tests.

One big limitation is in frame rate; Logitech is slightly disingenuous in this area. The company advertises "up to 30 frames per second video (with recommended systems)." But there is no option to adjust frame rate with the bundled software; all recorded videos are at 15 frames per second. I saw 30 fps in both Skype and in Pinnacle Studio 14, but only at 640-by-480-pixel VGA resolution in both cases.

There's plenty of competition in the webcam market. If you're more concerned about looks, the aluminum-bodied Microsoft LifeCam Cinema looks slick and costs the same $80. But its audio and video performance doesn't quite measure up. If you're planning on using your webcam with a laptop, the $60 Hercules Dualpix HD720p costs less and offers real 30-frames-per-second recording. Just don't count on its bundled software, as it's difficult to use and riddled with bugs, and the webcam's image quality doesn't match the C600's. Overall, the Logitech Webcam C600 is a solid choice, and it's our top pick for desktop and laptop use.

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