This is a crazy idea to be sure. In a normal video production, the rule of thumb is that you shoot in the highest possible quality and THEN downgrade it in post. There’s little point to shoot with a webcam even if you have sequence that needs to LOOK like a webcam.
My webcam is a Logitech Communicate STX (admittedly an USB 1.1 cam). I’ve tested its throughput and the stream hits about 300Kbps on my FMS console at its highest resolution. Is this bad? Or rather, how bad is it?
Low-budget filmmakers’ favorite cam right now is the Panasonic HVX200. Two reasons for this warmth and affection: 1) support for variable frame rates; and 2) ignoring HDV standard and hitting a higher note with DVCPRO HD (100Mbps).
Hmm, comparing 300Kbps to 100Mbps seems insane. Yet, one look at Youtube and you’ll probably see that the next generation of filmmakers will probably go as low as it’s economically possible. When you consider the distribution channel (be it youtube or google video), it’s obvious it doesn’t matter what you shoot with.
Just as a reference though, you need to look at a Canon’s security camera – I’m sure it will work out as a “webcam” as well (above).
bandwidth, FMS, google video, hvx200, logitech, media, video, webcam, Webcams, youtube