Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.webcam (
More info?)
tarquinlinbin wrote:
> On Mon, 19 Apr 2004 12:47:09 GMT, Velvet <velvet@not.a.valid.domain>
> wrote:
>
>
>
>>Many cameras do this. It's a problem in that you can't get relatively
>>inexpensive sensors that can cope with the wide range of conditions -
>>and as most people use webcams inside where they need good response in
>>lower light levels, many max out if pointed outside.
>>
>>Try - reducing the amount of sky/reflective/pale surfaces in the frame,
>>shielding the lens from direct sun falling on it, and putting a pair of
>>sunglasses over it to reduce the light levels hitting the sensor.
>>
>>A lot of the time careful positioning can reduce the amount of
>>white-out, or the time spent in whiteout.
>>
>>Velvet
>
> Yes this is what i had thought. I went over to the creative web site
> though and in the support section, they have seen fit to produce a new
> updated driver specifically aimed at addressing the problem of
> overexposure when used to film outside. I duly downloaded the new
> driver and now find that its even worse!!,,argghh.
>
> I can only assume then that this problem has been flagged to creative
> a number of times by their customers. I have emailed them for further
> but am not expecting much!.
>
> When i look at webcams around the world, many of them are filming
> outside scenes , sunsets ,well known locations etc and yet the
> pictures are very reasonable. I wonder what sort of webcams these
> people use?.
>
> If anyone out there has simiolar problems with the nx pro or has one
> that works great outisde, i;d love to hear from them. Also if anyone
> can recommend a cam they use which works very well in and out ,that
> would be usefull also. I think this one will be getting returned!..
>
> replies via group or email joelough1999@yahoo.co.uk but dont forget to
> change the 1999 to 2003 !.
I use creative webcams - the pc-cam300 iirc. You can see them (feeds 1
and 3) on my website at
http://www.velvetpurrs.com/webcam.html if you
fancy. Feed 1 points ESEish, feed 3 points SW. Both are hit by direct
sunlight at some point in the day, feed 1 tends to be earlyish morning,
feed 3 is some time in the afternoon. Feed 4 is offline currently, and
was served by a very old webcam with a CMOS sensor. The creative cam
300 uses a CCD sensor, which I've found to be far better than CMOS.
(feed 2 is an IR CCTV, not a webcam).
I'm in the UK, but all the feeds have timestamps on if you want to work
out when to check back and compare. At the moment I'm not taking any
steps to shade the cams, just being careful where they are pointed.
Some white-out does occurr, but it's livable with for my purposes.
Velvet