Logitech C920 Webcam Review
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-Specifications
-Image Quality
-Before you buy
-Verdict
Specifications
The Logitech C920 records in 1080p 30 FPS. Although the native Logi Capture app allows you to set it to “60 FPS”, this really just make the webcam duplicate each frame.
It has a 78 degree field of view. This is the same as Logitech’s Streamcam (my review). The Logitech Brio (my review) has a 90 degree field of view.
It has a built in microphone, though not a very good one.
The C920 does not have a privacy cover, but the newer variant, the C920S is the exact same webcam with a privacy cover added.
Has a standard thread at the bottom for mounting to a tripod.
Price: I bought my C920 $50, but prices have spiked due to low supply.
Logitech C920
C920S image from Logitech’s website.
Image Quality
For a webcam over 8 years old, it’s impressive (and a bit embarrassing) how well this does compared to its modern competition. Like most cameras, it struggles mightily in low to moderate lighting settings with a grainy and dark image. Trying to use software settings to brighten up the image in low light will result in frame rate drops. However, with enough light this thing looks very good for the price. I’ve reviewed some lights on this website that I use in the following shots such as the Elgato Ring Light, Key Light Air, and the LimoStudio LMS 103 Lighting Kit.
The image overall is relatively soft and a bit dim compared to higher end devices. Soft details like freckles and clothing textures get smoothed out quite a bit.
Color accuracy is quite good, and it does even better than the much more expensive Logitech Brio and AVerMedia PW513 (my review) in many situations.
With adequate lighting and optimized settings in OBS (my guide), the C920 works well for streaming on Twitch, Zoom meetings, and even a main camera for beginner YouTubers. If you want something sharper and better in lower lighting, the Brio is worth looking into.
C920 In low light.
C920 with two Elgato Key Light Airs and LimoStudio LMS103 Lighting Kit.
The autofocus is very quick and keeps you in focus well as long as you're not running around, but if you're streaming games that shouldn't be a problem. If you want to take stills or selfies, works nicely for that as well.
Before you buy
On the software side, the Logitech C920 is the most consistent of any of the other webcams I’ve used. I’ve done extensive testing of some of the leading webcams on the market (my comparison), and even the webcams I rank higher than this one have some pretty annoying bugs even if they’re rare. The Brio very occasionally flickers, the Streamcam won’t always do 60 FPS, and the AVerMedia PW513 has software issues documented from other users online.
The C920 does has one big niche case bug. If you connect TWO C920s to your computer, you can’t access the settings for both of them. Your PC sees them as the exact same device, so whichever one you choose to modify, it will only modify one of them. The other can’t be changed. There’s no current workaround that I know of, so if you’re looking into getting two webcams for different angles, this might not work out.
C920 with Elgato Ring Light and LMS103 Lighting Kit.
Verdict
I recommend the Logitech C920 as a strong budget option for every day use in Zoom meetings and Twitch streaming. It is very important to pair this with good lighting to unlock its full potential. If you already have good lighting, and want something sharper than this with a wider field of view, I highly suggest the Logitech Brio which I’ve compared directly with the C920.
Logitech C920 https://amzn.to/2HmeWHn
Elgato Key Light Air https://amzn.to/2VW9zEX
LimoStudio LMS103 Umbrella Lighting Kit: https://amzn.to/2LvYWAK
