QuickCam is a line of webcam video camera products by Logitech.
The original QuickCam was developed by Connectix in 1994 for nationwide commercial sale and was the first widely marketed webcam-like device, although its original advertising did not use the term "webcam" or refer to the World Wide Web, then in its infancy. Originally, a graduate degree research project in the early 1990s between various California School and East Coast School, the QuickCam was originally an RS-232 color CCD camera with the capability of switching mode between 256 color to 16 gray scale which improved the frame rates from 15 to 60 frame/s. Both the Apple and Windows version software were sponsored by DARPA and Department of Veterans Affair in a head-to-head contest. The Windows version was complied under both MS Visual Studios (Microsoft Academic Alliance) and Borland C/C+ compilers for both Windows 3.11 and Windows 95. Video conferencing via computers already existed at the time, and client-server based video conferencing software such as CU-SeeMe was gaining popularity. Eventually, it evolved from an RS-232 connector to a parallel connector then eventually to a USB connection. It is now considered one of the top gadgets of all time.[1]
The initial model was available only for the Apple Macintosh, connecting to it via the serial port. It produced 16 shades of gray at a resolution of 320×240 pixels, and could record video at about 15 frames per second; it cost $100.
The software that originally shipped with the camera included QuickMovie for recording motion pictures and QuickPICT for capturing still images.
The QuickCam product line was acquired by Logitech in 1998. The company has gradually decreased support for the Macintosh platform, with only one current model officially supporting Mac or including Mac drivers.[2] This could largely be the result of Apple building webcams into their laptop and desktop computers, negating the need for external third party devices. Many recent models implement the USB video device class standard and work under Mac OS without additional drivers.
Today, Logitech QuickCam is one of the world's most recognized webcam brands.
StevesAntFarm.com is the longest continuously running webcam using a QuickCam. Started in January 1995 and continues to this day.
In October, QuickCam was elected to Time Magazine's Top 100 Gadgets of all Time[1]
This list is non-exhaustive.
| Camera | Image | Year | Category | Sensor resolution | RRP (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connectix QuickCam | 1994 | General | 320x240 4bpp Greyscale | $100 | Sold over 500,000 units from 1994 to 1997.[3] | |
| Connectix Color QuickCam | 1996 | General | 320x240 24bpp | $199 | ||
| Connectix Color QuickCam 2 | 1997 | General | 320x240 24bpp | $199 | Improved sensor and optical system, optimised for indoor use[3] | |
| Connectix QuickCam VC | 1998 | General | 320x240 | $99 – $129 | VC for "Video Conferencing". First USB QuickCam; also supports parallel ports.[4] | |
| Connectix QuickCam Home | 1998 | General | 320x240[5] | $130 | Only USB.[6] | |
| Connectix QuickCam Pro | 1998 | High-End | 640x480 | $150 | USB and Parallel.[6] | |
| Logitech QuickCam Express | 1999 | General | 320x240 @ 30 frame/s[7] | $49 | .[6] | |
| Logitech QuickCam Web | 1999 | High-End | 640x480 @ 30 frame/s[8] | Only USB.[9] With built-in microphone.[10] | ||
| Logitech QuickCam Pro 3000 | 2000 | High-End | 640x480 | |||
| Logitech QuickCam 3000 | 2001 | Business | [11] | |||
| Logitech QuickCam Traveler | 2001 | Notebook | 640x480 @ 30 frame/s[12] | $99–$149 | First "laptop" QuickCam.[13] | |
| Logitech QuickCam Pro 4000 | 2002 | High-End | 640x480 @ 15 frame/s[14] | Can take interpolated 1280x960 stills. | ||
| Logitech QuickCam Zoom | 2002 | General | 640x480 | $99 | Features a digital zoom that focuses on the user's face. Re-released as "QuickCam Zoom Silver" in 2003. | |
| Logitech QuickCam for Notebooks | 2002 | Notebook | ||||
| Logitech QuickCam for Notebooks Pro | 2002 | Notebook | ||||
| Logitech QuickCam Sphere | 2003 | Flagship | 640x480 | First motorised pan/tilt QuickCam. Known as "QuickCam Orbit" in North America | ||
| Logitech QuickCam Messenger | 2004 | General | ||||
| Logitech QuickCam Express 2 | 2004 | General | ||||
| Logitech QuickCam Communicate | 2004 | General | ||||
| Logitech QuickCam Cordless | 2004 | Speciality | ||||
| Logitech QuickCam for Notebooks Deluxe | 2005 | Notebook | ||||
| Logitech QuickCam Chat | 2005 | General | ||||
| Logitech QuickCam Fusion | 2005 | General | ||||
| Logitech QuickCam Pro 5000 | 2005 | High-End | ||||
| Logitech QuickCam Sphere MP | 2005 | Flagship | Motorized pan/tilt. Known as the "QuickCam Orbit MP" in North America | |||
| Logitech QuickCam Ultra Vision | 2005 | High-End | ||||
| Logitech QuickCam Connect | 2006 | General | ||||
| Logitech QuickCam Communicate STX | 2006 | General | ||||
| Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000 | 2007 | High-End | ||||
| Logitech QuickCam IM | 2007 | General | ||||
| Logitech QuickCam Sphere AF | 2007 | Flagship | Known as "QuickCam Orbit AF" in North America. | |||
| Logitech QuickCam Vision Pro | 2008 | Macintosh |
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