Microsoft LifeCam HD-3000

The LifeCam HD-3000 is a mid-range Microsoft webcam that's just a step down from the LifeCam Studio. Like the Studio, this LifeCam is a plug and play webcam, which makes it particularly easy to set up and use. Once connected to your computer, the webcam software and drivers are automatically downloaded—all you need to do then is install them.

Hardware & Design

Unlike the sleek aluminium finish of the LifeCam Studio, the HD-3000 is made from shiny black plastic. Both webcams do, however, have a similar flexible rubber-finish stand which can be easily stood on a desk, a CRT monitor or an LCD monitor. However, this webcam doesn't have a vertical tilt function. You can therefore angle the webcam to the right or the left, but not up or down, which means you'll either need to tilt your computer screen or bend the stand to make sure you're in shot.

The LifeCam HD-3000 has an autofocus function and a 720p sensor that can film at up to 30 frames per second (see below). The HD-3000 also has a mono microphone with a noise-reduction filter.

Image Quality

A quick glance at the tech specs may lead you to believe that this webcam films in 720p resolution at 30 frames per second. Unfortunately though, that's not the case! In fact, it can film up to 30 frames per second, but only in a resolution of 640 x 360 pixels. In 720p resolution you'll have to make do with a framerate of 10 fps, which isn't really enough.



In a well-lit room, the 720p image lags and is quite annoying. You're therefore better off sticking to the 640 x 320 pixel mode, which is smoother and more responsive. That's not the only problem we encountered either, as the HD-3000 also tends to overexpose images. Light zones are therefore soon bleached out to white, which means detail is lost in white and bright areas of the picture.



In low light, image quality is pretty good. However, as is the case with most webcams, ghosting effects are only too visible. In these conditions, white shades are no longer overexposed but blacks and dark shades block together into dark masses, wiping out detail in such parts of the picture.

Audio Quality

We soon noticed that the noise-reduction filter wasn't really up to scratch when using this webcam for video chat. Background noise is only too audible and sometimes even sounds like it's intensified. Needless to say, that's not particularly pleasant! Plus, the general audio quality is pretty so-so. Voices are audible and recognisable but they sound a bit too metallic for our liking. The Logitech HD Pro C910 does a much better job.