I wasn’t anticipating a lot from the brand new Elgato Facecam MK.2. It is apparently not likely a sequel, and can simply go on to switch the present Facecam we beloved 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 side, and I’m massively digging the brand new HDR mode the Facecam MK.2 employs. In my dwelling workplace area, with a pair vivid home windows going through the aspect of my display screen, it is ace not having these completely blowing out the picture each time I soar 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 at all times provided is a implausible uncompressed 1080p stream. And it does it with aplomb. That was true with the MK.1 and is totally so on this up to date Facecam MK.2.
Given the target market for Elgato gear is the streaming market, that alternative is a brilliant one. Why decide a better, 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 dimensions.
Facecam MK.2 specs
Supported resolutions: 1080p60, 1080p30, 720p120, 720p60, 720p30, 540p120, 540p, 60, 540p30
Optics: Elgato Prime Lens
Focus: Fastened (30 – 120cm)
Area of view: 84°
Sensor: Sony STARVIS
Connection: USB Kind-C
Dimensions: 84 x 38 x 61mm
Worth: $150 | £150
The brand new Facecam continues to be utilizing the identical Sony STARVIS CMOS sensor, and nonetheless delivers an amazing 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 is smaller as a complete.
The unique is kind 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 fake the brand new design is a few gorgeous reimagining of what a webcam will be—it is nonetheless basically a black plastic field—however the shrinking down of the principle physique could 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 manner that meant it at all times needed to be a little bit too unfastened to have the ability to face ahead or be moved round to face you. The brand new model continues to be fairly fundamental, 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 keeping with Elgato, delivers a extra eye-level stream.
Elgato has additionally built-in the privateness protect into the gadget now, so no extra casting about looking for the place you place the lens cap whenever you wish to make sure the beady eye of the Facecam is not spying on you. It is one other low-tech resolution, with only a sliding display screen which you could 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 screen throughout.
However the Facecam has at all times been extra in regards to the picture that it captures than what the {hardware} appears 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, but it surely’s additionally received that new HDR mode.
Elgato could be very up entrance about the truth that the HDR mode doesn’t mechanically make every part look higher, and that it’ll rely in your setup. However for me, I positively favor the stream I come out with. To realize HDR seize it quickly takes totally different exposures after which combines the high and low publicity pictures to supply a picture that ought to comprise extra element at each ends of the spectrum.
HDR does additionally lock out sure components, with 720p120 seize disabling HDR, and it signifies that a number of the extra positive grain controls out there from inside the Digicam Hub software program do not work as they need to. Elgato calls these situations “a conceptual subject” quite than a technical one, as creating discrete sliders for every publicity degree within the HDR seize mode would find yourself as a fairly tough person expertise.
None of that takes away from the very fact the Elgato software program is a number of the finest round, and hyperlinks in fortunately with Nvidia’s Broadcast software program, too. There are a bunch of various controls out there to the person, which allow you to tailor the picture to your preferences. And, whereas I am not some video savant, I will tweak the settings on the fly to get an amazing picture regardless of the place I’m, or after I’m utilizing it.
And even when, conceptually, the positive grain tweaks for managing the picture in HDR mode aren’t out there, tweaking the brightness does minimize out a number of the initially moody, overly cinematic high quality of the HDR picture.
There are different additions to the MK.2 surfaced by the Digicam 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 vast in your tastes.
Purchase if…
✅ You need an amazing 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 superb, 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 inexpensive webcam: The Facecam MK.2 is cheaper than the MK.1 was at launch, but it surely’s definitely not low-cost.
❌ You are not working Nvidia and wish 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 shortage of auto focus. The Facecam’s fastened focus system would possibly sound like a destructive initially, however the truth that it is designed to keep up focus from 30cm to 110cm signifies that you are not going to get that annoying expertise of a webcam consistently battling to determine what it must be specializing in. I’ve received the Razer Kiyo Professional Extremely which I exploit within the PCG workplace, and that’s at all times re-focusing throughout use.
One different factor I’ve observed utilizing the MK.2 instead of the Razer within the workplace, nevertheless, is that it actually does not just like the strip lighting above. At dwelling, it is grand, however in PCG Towers there’s a noticeable flicker to the picture regardless of whether or not you are working 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 working an Intel Arc A770 in my workplace PC, and Elgato requires an Nvidia RTX 2060 or larger to present you entry to these, which additionally means AMD GPU house owners will probably be neglected within the chilly.
However it’s now my go-to cam for dwelling 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 more practical, 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…