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| D-Link DSB-C300 |
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Hardware Reviews December 1999 • Vol.2 Issue 12 |
D-Link DSB-C300 | ||
 The DSB-C300 from D-Link Systems sets itself apart from other Web cams on the market with its unique Z-shaped design. While we are all in favor of cameras with modern, sleek designs, we would have been more pleased with the DSB-C300 if its image quality would have matched its stylish contour. There's no denying the DSB-C300's shape is eye catching. The camera's main body sits atop a tilted stand that fits into a flat mount that sits on top or next to a monitor. The main body is about the size of cellular phone and fixes to the stand securely enough. The problem with the camera's design is that the main body only swivels up and down and not from side to side. In addition, the camera is much too light, causing it to jostle around on the monitor top whenever the stiff USB (Universal Serial Bus) cord is slightly bumped. In addition to being frustrating, the camera's light weight forced us to spend considerably too much time readjusting it. Coupled with the frustrating design is an overall image quality that ranks as only average. Although the colors that the DSB-C300 produced were fairly accurate, most images and video were too dark and grainy compared to other Web cams we've seen. In addition, the camera rendered a distracting red tint and lack of focus in most still images and video we captured. Despite the disappointing quality, the camera does produce video that flows smoothly. Video is captured at a high resolution of 640 x 480 pixels; although, video flows much smoother at 30fps (frames per second) at 320 x 240 pixels. The camera includes automatic gain control and brightness features, an appreciated built-in shutter button to take still shots around the desktop area, and a bundled microphone for capturing audio. Installing the camera was easy even though it only shipped with a quick installation pamphlet for printed documentation. On the positive side, the DSB-C300 is very affordably priced at only $57 and bundles with adequate software. Although we found the camera's design to be frustrating and cumbersome and the images and video to be not as sharp and crisp as we would have desired, we're willing to live with those imperfections at this price. by Blaine Flamig
$57 D-Link Systems (800) 326-1688 http://www.dlink.com
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