WebCam Blurry When There's Movement

[Neil]

I just purchased a Logitech QuickCam Messenger webcam, and am running it on
a Dell Inspiron 6400 running Windows XP Pro. The webcam supposedly takes
videos at 30 fps.

I just recorded a couple of videos, using Windows Movie Maker. In Movie
Maker I selected "Video for local playback," which records to a WMV file at
2.1 Mbps, at 640 x 480, and at 30 fps. However, the video came out blurry
whenever there was movement.

I then recorded using my Fuji FinePix A345 digital camera, which records at
15 fps. The video I made with the digital camera at 15 fps was clear when
there was movement. It wasn't blurry at all.

So what am I doing wrong? It seems that 30 fps should be plenty fast to get
clear video. Yet the video is blurry whenever there's movement. (See

for an example of one of the videos I
recorded.)

Thanks for any assistance.

Neil
Here are the specs for the PC I'm using:
- Intel Core 2 Duo processor T5600 (2MB/1.83GHz/667MHz)
- 1GB, DDR2, 533MHz RAM
- 128MB ATI MOBILITY RADEON X1300 HyperMemory
- 30 GB of available hard drive space

 

[Si Ballenger]

I just purchased a Logitech QuickCam Messenger webcam, and am running it on
a Dell Inspiron 6400 running Windows XP Pro. The webcam supposedly takes
videos at 30 fps.

I just recorded a couple of videos, using Windows Movie Maker. In Movie
Maker I selected "Video for local playback," which records to a WMV file at
2.1 Mbps, at 640 x 480, and at 30 fps. However, the video came out blurry
whenever there was movement.

I then recorded using my Fuji FinePix A345 digital camera, which records at
15 fps. The video I made with the digital camera at 15 fps was clear when
there was movement. It wasn't blurry at all.

So what am I doing wrong? It seems that 30 fps should be plenty fast to get
clear video. Yet the video is blurry whenever there's movement. (See

for an example of one of the videos I
recorded.)

Thanks for any assistance.

Neil
Here are the specs for the PC I'm using:
- Intel Core 2 Duo processor T5600 (2MB/1.83GHz/667MHz)
- 1GB, DDR2, 533MHz RAM
- 128MB ATI MOBILITY RADEON X1300 HyperMemory
- 30 GB of available hard drive space

Be aware that some cam specs say they will record at 640 x 480,
and at 30 fps, but they don't actually say that it can do both at
the same time. Read the specs carefully. The 30 fps might be at a
smaller frame size like 320x240.

 

[Neil]

Well, even if it were 15 fps at 640x480, that would still be fast enough to
not be blurry when there's movement.

Turns out the problem was this Low Light Boost feature the software has,
which was ON BY DEFAULT! Low Light Boost sets the camera to (get ready for
it...) 5 fps. That's right. 5 fps. And it's on by default. And there's no
note or warning in the software that it affects performance. And there's no
mention of this in the Logitech documentation. Even in an article they have
on their web site, updated last month, stating how to correct for fuzzy or
blurry images, they make no mention of the Low Light Boost issue. They even
recommend using it in that article if the light is low, without any mention
of the effects of using it. 5 fps.

So, I turned off Low Light Boost, and the problem went away. Amazing how "in
the dark" they keep people about the problems with Low Light Boost.

 

[kim]

Well, even if it were 15 fps at 640x480, that would still be fast enough to
not be blurry when there's movement.

Turns out the problem was this Low Light Boost feature the software has,
which was ON BY DEFAULT! Low Light Boost sets the camera to (get ready for
it...) 5 fps. That's right. 5 fps. And it's on by default. And there's no
note or warning in the software that it affects performance. And there's no
mention of this in the Logitech documentation. Even in an article they have
on their web site, updated last month, stating how to correct for fuzzy or
blurry images, they make no mention of the Low Light Boost issue. They even
recommend using it in that article if the light is low, without any mention
of the effects of using it. 5 fps.

So, I turned off Low Light Boost, and the problem went away. Amazing how "in
the dark" they keep people about the problems with Low Light Boost.

Damn! to late in seeing this!. I found the same thing with my Logitech
Fusion.
Like you I muddled through all the settings until I eventually turned of
the Low Light boost. Another thing I turned off was 'Color Boost' and
the God awful 'Face Tracking'(which can also cause video to blur). After
turning off those 3 items I ended up with a camera that is very good!

 

[Neil]

My camera doesn't have Face Tracking. But I have the other two off.

The thing that gets me is that those settings are on by default, and there's
no note about them diminishing quality. At least have them initially off,
and let people see what it's like. Then, if they turn them on they can see
the difference. Or put a stinkin' note in there somewhere!

Anyway, this one fellow was very helpful in the Logitech forum, and I just
got a response from someone who works from Logitech. Maybe they'll change
their help text so that others don't have to suffer like us...........

Thanks for the note.

Neil