Why Is External Webcam Better Than My Built-in Laptop Camera?
Updated at Jun 14th 20241 min read
In today's business world, instant virtual communication with colleagues, partners, and customers is revolutionizing collaboration. Video calls, video conferencing, and unified communications are replacing face-to-face meetings, cutting down on business travel and boosting productivity through instant collaboration. Seeing the person you're communicating with enhances the connection experience significantly. To make virtual interactions closely mimic in-person meetings, choosing a high-quality external camera for laptop is crucial.
However, many people believe that built-in cameras are more convenient and come with several advantages. This creates a dilemma for users trying to decide whether to invest in an external camera or rely on their laptop's built-in camera. To help make this decision, let's compare and analyze the differences between external and built-in cameras, considering factors such as image quality, flexibility, and overall user experience. Keep reading to determine built-in webcams vs external cameras, which is right for you.
What Is Built-In Camera? How Does It Work?
Almost all the laptops on the market come with a built-in webcam today just with various specs. Though some laptop manufacturers have optimized the performance of the built-in webcams, still, your picture may look dark and grainy especially in less-than-optimal lighting conditions.
The webcam fits in the top edge of the bezel around the screen, so it's at just the right height for video chatting. A microphone is usually set next to the webcam so people can hear you at the same time. Built-in webcams require no additional setup with all of the relevant software and drivers preinstalled by the manufacturer.
What Is an External Camera? How Does It Work?
You may ask: "Why should I invest in an external web camera when my computer already has one?" A webcam is a video camera that feeds or streams an image or video in real-time to or through the Internet, which has more space for electronics offering better resolutions, better quality photos and videos, and better quality audio.
External cameras are small cameras that typically sit on a desk, attach to the laptop, or on a stabilizer like a stand or a tripod, which requires to be installed manually. While most external cameras require very little for the initial configuration and mostly work on as soon as they are plugged in.
Webcam vs Laptop Camera Comparison
The external camera deserves a higher price due to its outstanding performance and functions that an embedded webcam doesn't possess. Affordable webcams start at around $30 and totally exceed the quality of your average built-in webcam. Decent mid-range options cost around $60 to $100, while the best webcams cost $100 to $200.
Here is a comparison chart for External Webcams vs Built-in Webcams:
Dimensions | External Camera | Embedded Webcams |
Size of Components | Small-sized embedded webcams have small components, influencing the level of camera performance and image quality. | With fewer space constraints, external webcams typically have higher quality components, providing better resolution, speed, fluidity, color balance, and noise reduction. |
Lens | DO NOT have room for a multipiece lens stack, affecting the image quality. | Have a multi-piece lens stack, greatly enhancing the level of image quality. |
Light Sensitivity | DO NOT adjust or fine-tune in lower light environments, causing reduced image quality. | Some can fine-tune in lower light environments, generating better quality images. |
Stereo Quality Sound | The quality of microphones embedded in computers varies, according to microphone location and the overall computer solution. | Some external cameras have built-in stereo microphones offering a high definition-like audio experience. |
Focal Length | The limited focal length will make images in shorter distances not as crisp. | Some have autofocus functions and can adjust the focal length for near or far — the subject is always in focus. |
Field of View | Most suitable for one-on-one communications. | Allow a wider field of view — more than one person can participate at any endpoint. |
Mounting Way | The built-in design skips the installation step but makes the movement of the laptop less convenient obviously. | The external design provides more flexibility to the installation, on the desk, attach to the laptop, or on a tripod are all available. |
Certifications | Embedded webcams are often not designed to perform to certification standards for video calling platforms. | Some external cameras are designed to work seamlessly with commonly-used video calling platforms, ensuring the cameras offer enhanced features to enable an optimized video & audio experience. |
Laptop Webcam vs External Camera PROs & CONs
Built-in Webcam Advantages
Cost-saving Choice: Assuming that you already own a laptop with a built-in webcam, no additional costs increased.
Easy to Use: Built-in webcams are all setup and ready to go when you get your laptop with all the necessary software and drivers installed. They are already installed at a suitable height for video calls, no need to adjust them or find the right angles.
Built-in Webcam Limitations
Unsatisfactory Effects: The resolution and sensors on built-in webcams will make your picture look grainy to others.
Less Flexibility: You can't adjust the angles or pick it up or even move it when needed.
Unfriendly Maintenance: The embedded webcams are part of your computer, which will be harder to troubleshoot or fix if something goes wrong.
External Camera Spotlights
Higher Resolution: Even the best built-in webcams won't exceed 720p resolution, while most webcams offer at least 1080p Full HD and often 4K resolution for much greater picture quality.
Clearer Audio Performance: Some external cameras have a compact all-in-one design with speakers and mic arrays making your calls natural-sounding.
Wider Field of View: External cameras often offer wide angle and zoom options, so you can adjust the shot as necessary.
Smarter Auto Adjustment: Most external cameras have the technology to adjust for poor lighting, so your picture won't be dark and grainy if your light conditions aren't ideal. And some support human tracking, which can automatically keep you framed front and center in all your videos.
Better Flexibility: You can tilt or twist the head of an external camera more easily than you can turn around your entire laptop.
External Camera Downsides
Extra Expenses: Unlike built-in webcams that come as part of your laptop, you need to buy your external camera separately.
Additional Installation: Although generally straightforward, there's still a degree of setup required with external cameras — you may need to install some drivers or software to get it running.
Why do we need an external camera?
As mentioned earlier, external cameras for laptops offer superior performance, providing better picture and audio quality. High-quality video is crucial for producing top-notch content, whether for business meetings, live broadcasting, or content creation, as clearer visuals and sound enhance the experience and leave a positive impression.
For businesses, investing in high-quality external cameras is essential to enhance virtual collaboration, boost productivity, and create near-real face-to-face communication experiences. For individuals, whether for live creation or online learning, external cameras are the best choice for higher-quality video and device compatibility.
Therefore, when considering the choice between built-in and external cameras, the advantages of an external camera, such as superior image and sound quality, flexibility, and ease of use, make it a worthwhile investment for both businesses and individuals.
Conclusion
After knowing the differences between built-in vs external webcams, it's time to decide which is right for you. Do I need a Webcam? Objectively, external cameras offer better video quality with more features you won't find in a built-in model. Even so, some people are happy with their basic built-in webcams now, or they only use their webcams infrequently. It'd be just fine with the built-in offering their laptop already has.
If the picture and sound quality are of paramount importance, then a high-end external camera will suit your needs better than a standard internal webcam via its wide-angle lenses, stereo microphones, and advanced auto-focus capabilities. If you regularly use a webcam for work or to communicate with your friends and family and are unhappy with the quality of the built-in webcam now, then you should definitely consider buying an external camera.
If you're looking to buy an external camera, FS is a brand you can rely on. The FC270 Series network camera ensures you stay in top shape during a video call, no matter where the work takes place. High performance cameras compensate for light imbalances. Advanced audio eliminates distractions. Multiple designs and features combine to provide a more practical, actionable experience that is compatible with all your favorite applications. For example, the FC270 is affordably priced but features a high-quality sensor and a 4-layer lens that delivers high-definition 1080p full-color images. With a 96° horizontal field of view, it offers a true widescreen experience. The more high-end products, such as FC270-4K and FC270S, can provide you with higher quality video and more intelligent features such as integrated design and intelligent voice algorithms. You can visit FS.COM to learn more about webcams and solutions.