![]() Throughout the pandemic we all managed with the grainy quality and lackluster audio of our laptop’s own webcam, or the $25 camera we bought when no other was available. But as video calls and meetings continue to be a part of our lives in a way they weren’t pre-Covid, we’re pleased to see Jabra up the ante. It almost goes without saying that one one actually needs to spend $300 on a webcam. Many webcams adjust their exposure to tackle particularly dark or bright rooms, but where they tend to be heavy-handed in their actions, the Jabra creates video that is nicely balanced without feeling artificial. This can be switched off if you prefer, producing a wide, 90-degree view of the subject – useful for gathering several people into the frame at once.Īlso convenient (and pretty smart) is how the camera uses AI to automatically compensate for ambient lighting conditions. But for presentations where the speaker is stood up, the Jabra’s ability to zoom in and track them as they move from side to side is useful. Not everyone will benefit from having a webcam that follows them around – when sat at your desk on a video call, there’s no real need for such a feature unless you’re in a particularly animated meeting. This is where those extra pixels make themselves noticed, and make for a pretty seamless automated zooming and panning experience. And even where it is supported, varying connection speeds, computer processing capabilities and video compression all conspire to prevent viewers from seeing you in true Ultra HD.Īll that said, the Jabra Panacast 20 makes a good use case for 4K, as this means it can intelligently zoom in on the subject and still produce a Full HD image. The jury is still out on whether anyone really needs a webcam with 4K, since the resolution isn’t supported by all video conferencing platforms. That said, some owners might prefer the cleaner, de-badged look. Our only criticism is to do with the Jabra logo on the front, which rubs off surprisingly easily, and was partly removed during out time with the webcam. A hard-sided case is included, which holds the Jabra securely and means it can be thrown into a bag or laptop case without concern. There’s a USB-C port on the rear and a hole underneath for screwing the webcam onto a tripod. So too the lens cover, which is neatly integrated and is moved into position with an exposed slider. ![]() ![]() It’s a universal design widely used by other webcams, like those from Logitech, but Jabra gets the feel just right. The base is stiffly hinged and opens then clamps securely to the top of your monitor. Like that flag bearer of industrial design, the Jabra is smartly designed, with good build quality and a premium feel that sets it apart from its rivals. The cool-to-the-touch metal body and tough build quality reminds us of Apple’s iSight webcam from the mid-2000s. There’s a strong sense of quality here, perhaps more than with any other webcam on sale today. (Image credit: Alistair Charlton/Digital Camera World)
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