Home > Consumer Reviews > Microsoft LifeCam VX-5000 (Blue)

My family live, literally on three continents. The only way to keep in touch is using the phone or one of the VOIP services on the computer. I was skeptical about using a web cam but after some research ordered this one. It is simplicity itself to set up and rests on the top of my monitor. It has a flexible foot and does not need permanent attachment so I am able to lift it off and pan around the room with it.
The set up itself is extremely simple and the picture quality is, so I am told by those who can see me, outstanding, a clear picture as though it were a full size video camera instead of something that is barely 2 inches square.
I highly recommend this little magic box!

For the price it was a good buy. Video is good, but a little jerky. That probably has more to do with the laptop I am using it with not the LifeCam. Focus and sound were good. So far I like it.

If you read the description of this item, it does exactly what it says it does. It's not the greatest cam in the world, but if you just want to get on every once in a while and say hello to family members, then this will work. It would get 5 stars if it clipped to the monitor a little better. Simple to use and install.

This is a quality webcam with good resolution, focus, and low-light performance. Color balance is not very good at incandescent light or warm compact-fluorescent light (which is most commonly sold), but otherwise webcam performs well. It can also make various animated faces out of your face image through the supplied Microsoft software, something kids and kids-at-heart might like, though this feature requires a fairly fast computer. The webcam worked with Windows Live Messenger and Google Video Chat with no problem. It has a flexible base that you can bend to place or attach it onto different objects. I haven't tried its USB microphone, used my built-in laptop microphone instead. It has a blue privacy light that lets people know they are on camera. Probably it is not the best webcam out there but yet a very good one, and it is certainly recommended if you can find it for around $30.

I have a Dell computer running XP and the Microsoft camera works flawlessly with this configuratiion. The built-in microphone would work better if it were a little closer but then the camera would be too close. All in all its a great camera for the money.