Webcam Program Reviews
Edited by Earl on Mar-01-2010
Go right to reviews or continue reading.I looked for a webcam program that meets these specifications:
- Motion
Detection triggers video recording.
This feature is good for security applications. When a person walks in front of the camera, they trigger the motion detector, automatically starting the video recorder.
-
Sends text message to my cell phone when motion is detected.
- Uploads video
to a web server by FTP.
This feature allows remote monitoring. It also acts as a backup. Without this option, if a burglar breaks into your house and steals the computer that you recorded your video to, you'll lose the video with the computer. However, if you back up your video to a remote location, you can download it from another location, even if your surveillance computer is gone.
- Non-proprietary
format for video recording.
The videos should be viewable on any operating system, including Linux, Windows, and Macs. The videos should be in a format that can be edited years from now using freely available tools. Acceptable video formats include: AVI, MPG, MPG4, OGM.
Programs are sorted from favorite to least favorite.
1. Blue Iris2. VisionGS BE
3. Webcam Monitor
4. Active Webcam
5. WheresJames
#1 Blue Iris
review updated Mar-01-2010Price: $50 for full version
Downloaded from: blueirissoftware.com
This was the best program that I tested, but not the cheapest.
Pros
-
Can connect multiple cameras at the same time. The cameras can be camcorders, webcams, network IP cams, analog cards, or your PC desktop.
I was able to successfully connect 2 camcorders to the program at the same time. According to the documentation, you can connect up to 25 cameras. However, you would need a powerful computer to be able to handle that much input at one time. My test computer maxed out on the CPU cycles (100% CPU usage) for just 2 cameras when they recorded video. The test PC has a Pentium 4 2.5 GHz CPU with 1 GB RAM. My test computer is probably an average one, so the average user might find it difficult to add more than a couple cameras.
-
Program detects motion. When motion is detected, Blue Iris can trigger an alarm. Instead of an alarm, you can choose for the program to send you an email, or start up another program or script. I set up my installation to send me a text message on my cell phone whenever the program detects motion. It has worked reliably, with no false alarms so far.
-
Records video in a non-proprietary format. I like that I can record videos to AVI format. I can edit those videos using the software of my choice.
- There are frequent updates. This shows that the software is actively maintained and improved.
Cons
- Must get online to validate your software license. This limits the number of computers you can run this software on with a single license. If you want to use this program on more than one computer at the same address, you might run into problems.
- Worked only with Windows. I would like to see this program on Linux.
Getting PTZ function to work
-
My PTZ webcam, one that has the capability to move itself,
could not be moved with Blue Iris when I first got started. The Blue
Iris website indicates that
it supports the PTZ control for other camera models, but not mine,
which I feel is a popular model. I have the Logitech Quickcam
Orbit/Sphere MP.
This webcam worked fine with the program for everything else, but Blue Iris could not access the PTZ movement control.
I sent an email to Blue Iris and received a prompt reply from Ken. He gave me two points which solved this issue.
First, he said to choose the DirectShow option in the PTZ settings.
Second, the Logitech Quickcam Orbit/Sphere MP requires an update to the Logitech software, which allows the camera's PTZ to work with 3rd party software, like Blue Iris.
I downloaded new software from Logitech.com . I was running version 10.4. This update brought me to 11.5.
Now I can access the PTZ function of my webcam using Blue Iris. It's pretty cool to be able to remotely move the camera from another computer on the web.
Updating might disable your program
Edited on Mar-01-2010, by EarlBlue Iris popped up a notice saying there was a new update that required that the old version of Blue Iris be uninstalled. Blue Iris uninstalled itself and loaded back up in demo mode and put a watermark on my video stating that my version of the program was not registered. I actually paid for the full version of the program, so I knew this was some mistake.
I sent Blue Iris an email and received a prompt response. It looks like during my testing on multiple computers, I activated the license key too many times. After explaining my issue, Blue Iris reset my key and now the program is again working as it should (and on only one computer).
COMMENTS
Hi, good information, thanks.
i'm using blueiris and the orbit MP and can't get the ptz to work. very frustrating. Ken told me the same things to try but they didn't work for me. i can not figure out why. i'm running 11.4 and can only choose directshow anyway.
i wish it would work, i like blueiris a lot and i've tried many myself.
thanks,
michael
You are running version 11.4 of the Logitech Quickcam software? I am running 11.5. It might be worth a shot to download the latest version. Personally, I would uninstall the Quickcam software first, then install the latest version. What OS are you running it on? I have the PTZ functions working on XP.
Excellent reviews on various webcam programs. My home was burglarized so I am looking for some webcam software that allows me to watch my home when I am away. I have bought the Dlink network camera and when I look at the reviews at Newegg, people complained about Dlink own software and people there recommended either Iris or Active Webcam. Your review steers me toward Iris. But I am a little bit concerned about your statement that Iris uses up a lot of CPU power with more than 2 cameras recorded. I plan to use 3 cameras but my original idea of using a netbook such as the EEE PC to conserve energy is shot now because the eee pc doesn't have a lot of horsepower. So I am wondering if I set the recording only when motion is detected - and can I do this per webcam - will this require less CPU power?
Yes, Blue Iris records video on just those cameras that detected motion. The computer will not start recording video for all camcorders attached to your computer unless they all detected motion. The less recording your computer is doing, the less CPU usage your computer will consume.
It may be the Logitech drivers that are actually eating up the CPU power, not Blue Iris. Most USB cameras do the majority of the image processing in the driver software on the PC, to avoid having expensive dedicated video processing circuitry inside the camera. This image processing takes CPU cycles.
I use Blue Iris with a multi-cam PCI board (4 cameras) that does the image processing on the board. Running all four cameras at once, Blue Iris rarely moves my CPU more than 5%. The only time it starts using any significant CPU is when it records video. Recording all four cameras at once will use about 75% CPU.
Thank you for that informative feedback. I guess if I want to add more cameras to my computer, I should look for a camera with its own video processing.
Great review, thanks a lot. I have been using BlueIris for years and love it. also had the same problem with the Logitech cam. Ken has always been fast with replies. love that.
it's my understanding that the CPU usage shoots up with Motion Detection. it has to compare every image against the next etc... motion detecting on more then one camera sucks up more CPU.
my old single-core pentium struggles with 4 cams motion detecting, but it works. if your netbook is dedicated to this purpose i bet it would be fine for four cams.
The CPU usage depends on various things. Like resolution, FPS, video mode (mjpeg jpeg push, h246 etc.), motion detection configuration.
Comments or questions Blue Iris?
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#2 VisionGS BE
Review updated Mar-01-2010Price $30
Bought online from visiongs.de
This program has lots of cool features for its modest price.
VisionGS successfully sends me text messages on my cell phone when it detects motion. It also successfully sends pictures in emails, which I could view on a Blackberry cell phone. It was successful in uploading pictures to my FTP server every 30 seconds.
The main disadvantage I see with VisionGS compared to Blue Iris regards the video recording feature when motion is detected. With VisionGS, there is no video recorded before motion is detected. You want to know what triggered the motion, right? VisionGS only shows what happened after the motion occurred. The video might not show you what triggered the motion detection alarm.
VisionGS will take still images before the motion trigger. But I would rather have this information included in the video.
The menus are not intuitive to use. Seems like I had to add the same information in multiple locations to get the program to function.
Pros
- Price. The main advantage of VisionGS compared to the #1 program reviewed here is the cost... a full $20 less than Blue Iris. There are quite a few good features included with this program considering its price.
-
Program detects motion. When motion is detected, VisionGS can send you an email, or start up another program or script. I set up my installation to send me a text message on my cell phone whenever the program detects motion. It also archives images to my FTP server.
- Executes programs automatically. When motion is detected, it can execute a program. I wrote a test script. My test script opened a movie and began playing it. Unfortunately, VisionGS opens the program every time is detects motion. So every few seconds, another copy of the same movie began playing. There were multiple instanced of the same movie playing at the same time, resulting in an echo and a bogged down CPU. I had to edit my script to only start if it was not already running. The average user may not be into writing their own scripts, so this part of VisionGS is not quite right. There should be an option within VisionGS to execute a script just one time. So this could be a con. For me, I can edit my scripts to get around this.
Cons
- FTP uploads. Could not automatically upload video to my FTP server using this program. VisionGS will upload images, but not videos. The videos get saved to your local hard drive.
- Motion Detection. Video recorded does not include footage of what triggered the motion detection.
- Interface lacks control. There is no fast way to turn on or off the program without being caught by the motion detection as you leave your computer running the program. Program should be more intuitive to use.
The user interface can be tough to navigate. Here are some tips.
How to set up VisionGS to upload a photo by FTP every 30 seconds
If you want your webcam to send a photo to your server automatically, regardless of whether there is motion...Click on the device settings icon.
Click on Capture/Upload...
Then make sure the check box is marked for Capture/Upload automatically
You can choose any time interval you want. In the above example, I chose one picture to be uploaded every 30 seconds.
What is the blue bar that moves at the bottom of the program?
Sometimes the bar is black...
This black bar means that the program is not connecting to the internet. It's in offline mode.
And sometimes the bar is moving and blue...
If the progress bar is blue, that means the program is set up to upload images to the internet.
So, if you want your webcam to be offline, be sure that the progress bar is black. If you want your webcam to upload photos to the internet, it should be blue.
...
More examples and tools available from the VisionGS Workshops.
Comments or questions VisionGS?
Your message:
#3 Webcam Monitor
Version v4.24 tested Jan-22-2008Comments edited Mar-01-2010
Price $70
Downloaded from: deskshare.com
This program has been updated since I tested it. As of March 1, 2010, the program is now up to version 5.24. Just looking at their website, I don't see any compelling reason to choose this program over the other ones tested above. See the cons (below).
Pros
- It takes pictures and video when it detects motion
- Works with Vista. (Many programs, not just webcam programs, do not work properly with Vista, so I was happy this one did work.)
- Worked with a high-definition camcorder using firewire. (I could monitor video in high-def but I did not test recording in high-def.)
- Program emailed me a JPG image when it sensed motion.
- Can only monitor one webcam at a time. Must pay extra for multiple cameras. They have a $90 version of the program, called Security Monitor Pro that allows motion detection and recording from multiple cameras at the same time. But why pay $90 for this when you could use one of the less expensive programs shown above?
- Records video only to the .WMV format. There is no choice to change the video to any other format, like AVI or MPG. This is a deal-breaker for me. I don't want to be stuck with WMV files that require specific software to edit and play back.
- Could only record video at a maximum resolution of 320 x 240 in our test setup. (Sony Handyman Mini-DV camcorder, model DCR-HC21, connected via USB). It's possible another setup could get a higher resolution, though... I don't know.
Comments or questions about Webcam Monitor ?
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#4 Active Webcam
tested Jan-15-2008Price: $49 for Active WebCam Pro (which has motion detection capability)
As of March 7, 2009, I see that the product name may have changed. It now appears to be called Argus DVR.
Pros
Cons
#5 WheresJames Webcam Publisher
tested Dec-2-2007Comments edited Mar-01-2010
Price: free
Downloaded from sourceforge.net
Hmm, looks like this program may have been updated sine I tested it. It is now at version 2.0 beta. Will have to test this again. Have a try yourself and let me know what you think.
Pros
Cons
Comments or questions about WheresJames?
Your message:
Test setup
Operating Systems used:
1. Windows XP Pro
2. Vista Ultimate
Video capture devices used:1. Sony Handyman Mini-DV camcorder, DCR-HC21, connected two different ways: firewire and USB
2. Sony Digital Handyman, DCR-TRV740, connected via USB
3. Logitech Orbit/Sphere MP connected via USB.