I wasn’t anticipating a lot from the brand new Elgato Facecam MK.2. It is apparently probably not a sequel, and can simply go on to interchange the present Facecam we liked so effectively. It is also a bit cheaper than the unique cam launched at: The brand new one is beginning at $150 whereas the MK.1 got here out at $200.
However it’s nice. Actually nice. Just about a greater webcam than the primary in each facet, and I’m massively digging the brand new HDR mode the Facecam MK.2 employs. In my residence workplace house, with a pair vibrant home windows dealing with the facet of my display, it is ace not having these completely blowing out the picture each time I leap on a name within the daytime.
It is not messing round attempting to be some 4K monster of a cam, however what the Facecam has all the time supplied is a unbelievable uncompressed 1080p stream. And it does it with aplomb. That was true with the MK.1 and is completely so on this up to date Facecam MK.2.
Given the target market for Elgato gear is the streaming market, that selection is a brilliant one. Why choose the next, however compressed decision that people aren’t going to embed of their stream anyway? What you actually need is a decrease decision, however artefact-free video stream. To that finish, the MK.2 is once more providing 1080p60 uncompressed, with 720p120 included in a bunch of different resolutions and body charges decrease down the size.
Facecam MK.2 specs
Supported resolutions: 1080p60, 1080p30, 720p120, 720p60, 720p30, 540p120, 540p, 60, 540p30
Optics: Elgato Prime Lens
Focus: Fastened (30 – 120cm)
Subject of view: 84°
Sensor: Sony STARVIS
Connection: USB Kind-C
Dimensions: 84 x 38 x 61mm
Value: $150 | £150
The brand new Facecam continues to be utilizing the identical Sony STARVIS CMOS sensor, and nonetheless delivers an awesome image, regardless of the MK.2 having a noticeably smaller ‘eye’ in contrast with the primary mannequin. However that works for me, as a result of one of many first belongings you’ll in any other case discover is that it’s miles smaller as a complete.
The unique is sort of a chonky factor. A boxy beast of plain black plastic with simply the concentric rings across the lens to mark out any element. Now, I am not going to faux the brand new design is a few beautiful reimagining of what a webcam may be—it is nonetheless primarily a black plastic field—however the shrinking down of the primary physique may be very welcome. As is the redesign of the stand/monitor hook.
To be clear, it is extra the change in how the Facecam connects to the stand that has been improved. The unique nonetheless simply screwed on, however in a means that meant it all the time needed to be somewhat too unfastened to have the ability to face ahead or be moved round to face you. The brand new model continues to be fairly primary, however the easy screw mechanism now lets you shift the digicam round extra freely and likewise stops it standing too proud atop your monitor. This, in accordance with Elgato, delivers a extra eye-level stream.
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Elgato has additionally built-in the privateness protect into the system now, so no extra casting about looking for the place you place the lens cap if you wish to ensure the beady eye of the Facecam is not spying on you. It is one other low-tech answer, with only a sliding display that you would be able to pull throughout. As soon as you have pried it over with a fingernail. That is my solely actual concern with the redesign, the truth that it has such a small tab means it may be fairly awkward to shift the display throughout.
However the Facecam has all the time been extra concerning the picture that it captures than what the {hardware} seems like, and that is higher than ever. Not solely is the MK.2 able to delivering the identical degree of picture high quality as the unique cam, nevertheless it’s additionally obtained that new HDR mode.
Elgato may be very up entrance about the truth that the HDR mode doesn’t routinely make every part look higher, and that it’ll rely in your setup. However for me, I undoubtedly want the stream I come out with. To realize HDR seize it quickly takes completely different exposures after which combines the high and low publicity photographs to provide a picture that ought to comprise extra element at each ends of the spectrum.
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HDR does additionally lock out sure parts, with 720p120 seize disabling HDR, and it signifies that among the extra tremendous grain controls obtainable from inside the Digital camera Hub software program do not work as they need to. Elgato calls these cases “a conceptual challenge” reasonably than a technical one, as creating discrete sliders for every publicity degree within the HDR seize mode would find yourself as a reasonably tough person expertise.
None of that takes away from the actual fact the Elgato software program is among the finest round, and hyperlinks in fortunately with Nvidia’s Broadcast software program, too. There are a bunch of various controls obtainable to the person, which allow you to tailor the picture to your preferences. And, whereas I am not some video savant, I can tweak the settings on the fly to get an awesome picture regardless of the place I’m, or once I’m utilizing it.
And even when, conceptually, the tremendous grain tweaks for managing the picture in HDR mode aren’t obtainable, tweaking the brightness does minimize out among the initially moody, overly cinematic high quality of the HDR picture.
There are different additions to the MK.2 surfaced by the Digital camera Hub software program, too, with the zoom, pan, and tilt choices permitting you to carry the picture in tighter round you if the 82° FoV is a bit too extensive on your tastes.
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Purchase if…
✅ You need an awesome 1080p webcam: The MK.2 is a resolutely 1080p60 cam at max, however the uncompressed footage delivers the minimal of artefacts.
✅ You wish to tailor the picture to the nth diploma: The Elgato software program is great, permitting for an enormous quantity of customisation, and the HDR seize could make a giant distinction to the ultimate picture high quality.
✅ Auto-focus drives you mad: There is not any fixed flickering between focal lengths with the fastened focus of the Elgato optics.
Do not buy if…
❌ You simply need an affordable webcam: The Facecam MK.2 is cheaper than the MK.1 was at launch, nevertheless it’s definitely not low-cost.
❌ You are not operating Nvidia and need entry to AI and AR results: The Elgato requires an Nvidia RTX 2060 or above to present you all of the toys.
However one thing which has stayed the identical is the dearth of auto focus. The Facecam’s fastened focus system would possibly sound like a detrimental initially, however the truth that it is designed to take care of focus from 30cm to 110cm signifies that you are not going to get that annoying expertise of a webcam always battling to determine what it needs to be specializing in. I’ve obtained the Razer Kiyo Professional Extremely which I exploit within the PCG workplace, and that’s all the time re-focusing throughout use.
One different factor I’ve seen utilizing the MK.2 rather than the Razer within the workplace, nonetheless, is that it actually does not just like the strip lighting above. At residence, it is grand, however in PCG Towers there’s a noticeable flicker to the picture regardless of whether or not you are operating in 50 Hz or 60 Hz modes. Switching to 50 Hz did assist in Google Meet, however not when recording natively on my machine.
Nor may I allow any of the funky background blurs or eye contact results. I am operating an Intel Arc A770 in my workplace PC, and Elgato requires an Nvidia RTX 2060 or higher to present you entry to these, which additionally means AMD GPU house owners will probably be overlooked within the chilly.
However it’s now my go-to cam for residence use, as a result of it is clearly delivering a picture past what the unique Facecam MK.1 can, even in darker environments. And it is doing all of it in a simpler, much less awkward package deal, too. Son whereas Elgato would possibly maintain that this isn’t a real sequel to the Facecam, it is however an enchancment on all fronts.
Cannot wait to see what it does have deliberate for a correct Facecam 2…
