IN AN AGE where webcams have become
a necessity, it can be a bit of a mission
to actually find the right one. Whether
you're using a webcam to catch up with
family and friends, or you rely on video
conferencing in your professional life,
you need to choose one that can deliver
reliable and clear images and sound.
Typically, many people would turn to a
brand such as Logitech, which has been
in the webcam game since what feels like
the dawn of the internet age. However, one
alternative is a relative newcomer called
Ausdom. Founded in 2014, it specializes
in audio and conferencing peripherals
and is becoming more prominent on the
webcam front. So should you look past
the old trusty favorites and instead turn
to one of the new kids on the block?
Unlike a lot of webcams, which have
been getting larger and bulkier to the
point of not being portable anymore, the
Ausdom AW651 is a small and lightweight
device. But with webcams often being
permanent additions to your setup, this
Ausdom cam is the best of both worlds.
If you need to take it around with you and
use it on a laptop to improve your camera
quality, it’s compact enough to do so, but
its grippy, rubberized mount can also
secure it safely to a monitor in a more
permanent position.
Despite its diminutive nature, the
webcam doesn’t feel cheap. In fact, it
looks pretty sleek, even sitting on top of
a small laptop screen. Our only quibble
with the design is that the specs are on
the front of the cam. Having the Ausdom
logo on the mount section is fine, but it
would look a lot better without it telling
you the facts and figures every time you
glance at it.
Stronger design choices include a
privacy slider on the top of the camera,
which is always good for peace of mind
that you aren't being watched. On the
back of the webcam, there’s a button toConferencing
communication
companion?
Ausdom
AW651 HDR
2K Webcam
8
VERDICT Ausdom AW651 HDR 2K
Webcam
EYES OPEN Compact, sleek
design; crisp video quality; good value;
clear microphone.
EYES CLOSED Poor software availability;
non-detachable USB.
$90, http://www.ausdom.comSPECIFICATIONS
Video resolution 1440p @ 30fps
1080p @ 60/30fps
720p @ 60/30fps
Field of view 75°
Focus type AutoConnectivity Fixed USB 2.0 Type AWeight 0.18lbsswitch the framerate between 30fps and
60fps in 1080p or 720p modes. It’s an
unusual feature, but handy if you haven't
got the software in front of you and want
to adjust on the fly.APP HAZARD
The software is where this Ausdom
camera, as an overall package, is
somewhat lacking. Of course, you can
use the default Windows Camera app or
other third-party software but, unlike
many other webcams on the market,
there's no dedicated Ausdom application.
Ausdom’s instructions promote the
AMCAP capture software, however,
that’s for Windows XP, Vista, 7, and 8
users, so not that useful for those of us
on current operating systems. We tried
it out though and, unsurprisingly, it’s
rather dated. Thankfully, you can change
most of the important settings inside the
default Windows Camera app, though.
So, minor issues aside, how does
this camera perform? Considering the
small lens size, the quality is impressive,
especially using the highest 1440p
resolution. You don’t get the smoothness
of the 60fps achieved at 1080p, but we
would edge towards the 1440p option
on this cam. In a dimly-lit room, the
autofocus and auto white balancing do a
good job of keeping the colors accurate
and the image light and bright.
The dual built-in noise-canceling
microphones also have good pickup
and can block out background noise
pretty well too. Although the Ausdom
doesn’t offer the widest field of view at
75 degrees, it's more than enough to get
you in the frame for a conference call.
If you're using this as a streaming cam,
you’d probably want a wider shot to getmore of your background in the video but,
then again, this camera isn’t aimed at
that market.
For its intended mainstream audience,
it's a pretty valiant effort from Ausdom.
Having a small and light construction
makes it portable, it takes up little
space with its low-profile styling, and
the mount is grippy with plenty of angle
adjustment. You also get a mini-tripod
included in the bag, which secures on
with a typical tripod screw to the bottom
of the camera mount. Also included in
the mix is a rather handy cleaning cloth.
However, the main selling point is its
sub-$100 price tag and 2K capabilities. It
captures a detailed and clear image with
good microphone pickup, and despite the
poor software availability, it’s a great
camera for the price. –SAM LEWISAPR 2022 MAXIMU MPC 85