Elgato Facecam Pro vs Logitech Brio
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Specifications
Design and Mounting Options
Image Quality
Verdict
Specifications
Logitech Brio
Max Frame Rate and Resolution: 4K 30 FPS or 1080p 60 FPS.
Video Format: MJPEG. YUY2 and NV12 available at 1080p 30 FPS or less.
Connection: USB 3.0. USB-C to USB-A cable included.
Sensor and lens specifications are not given, but the lens has autofocus.
Elgato Facecam Pro
Max Frame Rate and Resolution: 4K 60 FPS
Video Format: MJPEG. NV12 available at 1080p 60 FPS or less.
Connection: USB 3.0. USB-C to USB-C cable included.
Sensor: 1/1.8” Sony STARVIS CMOS.
Lens: Autofocus, f/2, 21 mm (full frame equivalent). True focal length is not listed.
Design and Mounting Options
Facecam Pro on monitor.
Both the Logitech Brio and Elgato Facecam Pro come with monitor mounts. The Brio’s can be snapped off by pulling it down and to the side, while the Facecam Pro’s can be screwed off. Both webcams have 1/4” tripod threading.
The wire included with the Facecam Pro is about 71.5 inches. The Brio’s is 85 inches. The Brio also has (bad) microphones built into the device unlike the Facecam Pro. Only the Brio comes with a privacy cover.
Image Quality
Both webcams were recorded using OBS with manual settings. With the Facecam Pro, you can control your settings using Elgato Camera Hub and save them to the device itself. With the Brio, you have to control them using the UVC controls in OBS and they reset whenever you unplug the webcam or restart your computer.
Sharpness
While both the Brio and Facecam Pro are in the highest tier of sharpness when it comes to webcams, the Facecam Pro produces the clearest looking image. The amount of video noise in the shot is far less than the Logitech Brio. This is one benefit of the Facecam Pro’s sensor size.
Color Accuracy and Dynamic Range
Mirrorless camera reference shot.
At their highest resolutions and MJPEG compression, the Brio’s colors are far more accurate than the Facecam Pro’s. This can be seen in the white balance and skin tone. (Yes, that’s the actual color of the wall.)
The reds and pinks become a bright magenta on the Facecam Pro. While the Brio does lean too red overall, it still does a better job than the Facecam Pro.
Both webcams can also send through uncompressed footage at lower resolutions (and frame rate and the Brio’s case). This improves the colors on both, but the Brio matches up with my Sony ZV-1 reference footage much better. Unfortunately, at these lower resolutions, the sharpness will be hindered on these webcams significantly.
Dynamic range is great on the Brio and Facecam Pro. Even though I have bright lights immediately in front of me in these shots, neither gets overexposed easily and they reveal decent texture in my dark clothing. The Brio has far more noise in the blacks, however, so I give the dynamic range win to the Facecam Pro.
Verdict
It took 5 years to finally dethrone the Logitech Brio as the best looking webcam on the market, but the Elgato Facecam Pro is the better device. A lot of this comes down to frame rates.
The Facecam Pro can do 4K 60 FPS compared to the Brio’s 4K 30 (or 1080 60). Also, the Facecam Pro’s uncompressed 1080p 60 FPS footage has colors almost as good as the Brio’s YUY2, but the shot is smoother since it can push out double the frames. Noise is also far less on the Facecam Pro.
This said, I still do not recommend the Facecam Pro to most people. The launch price of $300 is way too close to legit mirrorless cameras like the Sony ZV-1F or Canon M200 - especially if you get those used. I bought my Brio for $150, and it’s not like it’s getting blown out by the Facecam Pro. The Brio is not as good quality, but it’s a far better value.
