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The Logitech Brio 500 is not your ordinary 1080p webcam. This device has proven that image quality is not only about resolution. However, it does come with a slightly steep price tag.
What Makes the Logitech Brio 500 Stand Out?
The Logitech Brio 500 is a full HD 1080p webcam designed for both personal and professional use. This release from Logitech comes after a decade of focusing on webcams for creators.
While there are other 1080p webcams in the market, what sets the Brio 500 apart is not just about resolution. This device boasts a 90-degree field of view (configurable to 78º or 65º), dual microphones, a built-in privacy shutter, and Logitech’s RightLight 4 image adjustment technology.
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The Brio 500 is available in three colors – off-white, rose (pink), and graphite. It retails at $129, which is slightly more expensive than other 1080p webcams.
Design: A Modern Take
The Logitech Brio 500 sports a modern design, housed in a wide, cylinder-shaped plastic chassis. The chassis is made with post-consumer recycled plastic, making this webcam a certified carbon-neutral device.
The Brio 500 also comes with a built-in privacy shutter. The shutter is designed to slide upward to reveal the camera when you twist the right end-cap. This feature provides an added layer of privacy without disturbing the camera’s position.
Performance: Lighting Up Your Image
The Logitech Brio 500 adjusts exposure and white balance excellently to produce a nicely-lit, balanced image. The webcam’s auto-white balance and auto-exposure are remarkable, especially for a device in its price range.
The Brio 500 also features the RightLight 4 technology, the latest evolution of Logitech’s RightLight technology. This feature uses face-tracking and other elements to ensure the subject is evenly-lit in less-than-ideal lighting situations.
Low-Light and Overexposed Performance
Despite being in a dark room, the Brio 500 can provide an image where both the subject and the background can be seen clearly. While the lack of light may affect the detail of the image, the Brio 500 still produces a decent-looking overall image.
In an overexposed setting, the Brio 500 does an excellent job of keeping the subject well-lit even as the background appears over-exposed. While not perfect, the overall image looks very good, and the subject’s skin appears evenly-lit and un-grainy.
Microphone
The Logitech Brio 500 comes with built-in dual microphones with beamforming noise-reducing technology designed to pick up your voice even if you move around in front of the camera. The mics were able to easily pick up voices, even from a few feet away, providing a fuller and richer sound.
Software and Features
The Brio 500 works with Logitech’s Logi Tune software. You can use this software to update the Brio 500’s firmware, turn on features such as “RightSight” (AI auto-framing, still in beta) and “Show Mode” (makes things on your desk more easily readable/visible), and change the field of view.
Final Thoughts
The Logitech Brio 500 is an impressive webcam that promotes a balanced and well-lit image even in less-than-ideal settings. With its eco-friendly design, easy-to-use built-in privacy shutter, and excellent microphone quality, it has a lot to offer.
While the price point might be a bit high for some, the Brio 500 offers more than just resolution. If the price seems too steep for a 1080p device, consider checking out the Dell Pro Webcam WB5023, which offers excellent auto-exposure and auto-white balance at a slightly lower price.
My Experience with the Brio 500
In search of a webcam, I sought one with a top-notch microphone, superior low light image clarity, and an adjustable field of view. My quest led me to experiment with a plethora of brands, from economical Chinese makes to Anker. Eventually, I tried the Brio 500.
Here’s the thing about webcams and good microphones – they’re almost like mythical creatures. They commonly fall into two categories: either too remote or muffled, or excessively harsh and overmodified. I had a fondness for my Anker Powerconf C200 due to its image quality, design, and cost-effectiveness. However, its microphone gave a robotic sound to my voice. The Brio 500, on the other hand, produces natural sound quality that isn’t too dissimilar from a standalone microphone.
The image clarity of this device is truly remarkable. Although it delivers ‘only’ HD resolution, and not 2K/4K, which to be honest is excessive for the average user, it hits the sweet spot with the ideal balance of sharpness that isn’t overly harsh and a well-rendered color tone. What sets this camera apart is its ability to automatically adjust your face in dim lighting conditions without any noticeable granulation or degradation of quality, a feature I’ve found lacking in other webcams I’ve tried. This aspect was particularly significant for me since my workspace is located in a dimly-lit corner of a loft room.
I appreciate the flexibility of modifying the Field of View (FOV), particularly during group interactions. However, I am under the impression that this feature is realized through digital enlargement rather than an authentic zoom function. An additional feature exists called RightSight mode, which manipulates the camera to ensure your face consistently occupies roughly the middle of the frame. For the most part, this mode operates effectively, but my preference leans towards a stationary camera since I typically remain fairly static during calls – isn’t that the norm? The device also allows for rotational and angular adjustments, but it’s crucial to secure the screw properly to ensure it maintains its adjusted position effectively.
The auto focus feature is superb, and up to now, I haven’t encountered any issues or delays with the webcam adjusting its focus on my face, even in somewhat dim surroundings or under severe overhead lighting. The Anker model, to be specific, often required a couple of seconds to pinpoint my face and would occasionally shift focus arbitrarily, irrespective of my own stillness.
Additionally, there’s the Show Mode function which grants you the ability to tilt the webcam downwards to inspect a document on your workspace. Although I haven’t deemed it necessary to use this function as of yet, it strikes me as somewhat contrived. However, I am confident that someone out there will find this feature beneficial!
The LogiTune software is user-friendly and provides the flexibility to modify the picture clarity along with several other features. The initial versions of the software did exhibit some glitches, namely, failure to save your personalized settings. Therefore, it is recommended to keep the software updated via online sources.
After investing considerable time in research and evaluating all the Logitech cameras on YouTube, it appears that the Brio 500 stands out as one of the best. If you’re not particularly interested in 4K resolution, then this webcam is ideally suited for your needs. I personally purchased two units, one for myself and daughter to use at home and another for my online business activities in my home office.
I hope this article/overview helps in your buying decision. All of these webcams are good at certain levels. The above statement is my personal experience and thoughts of the Logitech Brio 500, which in my opinion is the best webcam for the money.
To read up on other great webcams, check out our Gaming Webcam Category.
Note: Prices and product availability are subject to change. Always check for the latest price and availability before making a purchase.
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