Logitech C270 vs C310 vs C920
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Overview
Build Quality
Image Quality
Microphone Audio Quality
Verdict
Overview
The Logitech C270, C310, and C920 all work immediately when plugged into a computer. They can be accessed by Zoom, OBS, the Windows camera app, or any program that recognizes webcams. The Logitech C920 is also compatible with Logitech Capture, but this is not required and it does not provide any additional control over the device compared to OBS.
Logitech C270
Maximum frame rate and resolution: 720p, 30 FPS.
Field of View: 60 degrees.
Mounting options: Monitor clip only.
Focus: Fixed focus.
Microphone: Mono.
I bought my Logitech C270 for $27. That’s incredibly inexpensive for a webcam. Here is an Amazon link to its current pricing.
Logitech C310
Maximum frame rate and resolution: 720p, 30 FPS.
Field of View: 60 degrees.
Mounting options: Monitor clip only.
Focus: Fixed focus.
Microphone: Mono.
I bought my Logitech C310 for $55, and I’ve seen it often much cheaper than that. Here is an Amazon link to its current pricing.
Logitech C920
Maximum frame rate and resolution: 1080p, 30 FPS.
Field of View: 60 degrees.
Mounting options: Monitor clip and 1/4th inch tripod thread.
Focus: Autofocus and manual focus available.
Microphone: Stereo.
I bought my Logitech C920 for $50. I often see it higher than that, but for current pricing here’s an Amazon link.
Quick specs comparison
The Logitech C270 has very similar specifications to the C310. As I’ll demonstrate, the real difference between the two devices is slightly improved saturation and colors on the C310 and better microphone audio quality.
Here is a table of each webcam’s basic specifications.
| Webcam | Resolution/Frame Rate | Field of View | Focus | Microphone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Logitech C270 | 720p 30 FPS | 60 Degrees | Fixed | Mono |
| Logitech C310 | 720p 30 FPS | 60 Degrees | Fixed | Mono |
| Logitech C920 | 1080p 60 FPS | 78 Degrees | Autofocus or manual | Stereo |
Build Quality
Left to right: C270, C310, C920.
The C270, C310, and C920 can all be mounted on top of monitors and have a 5 foot long USB 2.0 Type-A cable. These are perfect for laptops, but can be a bit too short if you have a desktop computer with a monitor not right next to it.
The C920 has the best monitor clip by far, while the other two just kind of hang off of monitors awkwardly. Also, the C920 can be mounted onto a tripod, ring light, or any device with 1/4th inch threading. It definitely has the best build quality.
Image Quality
Here I’ll be showing several stills of each device in different lighting scenarios, and then I’ll break down each webcam in the categories of sharpness, color accuracy, exposure and dynamic range, field of view, and focus.
Daylight only - Automatic settings
This is what each device looks like in the middle of the day with no studio lighting. I plugged them, actived each in OBS, and set them to their highest resolution without changing any settings. The C310 was able to stay brighter than the C270 more consistently, and the auto-exposure on the C920 fluctuated the least. The C310’s auto-white balance is the best in these shots.
Night, Overhead Light - Automatic Settings
The C920 is the best performer in low light scenarios, but it doesn’t set the bar very high. Each device is taken over by noise and isn’t ideal for even basic video conferencing. A decent light is recommended for any webcam, including these.
Studio lighting - Manual Settings
With studio lighting and manual settings applied, I’ll be able to break down each webcam’s performance more thoroughly. I controlled the settings in OBS, and the lights used are the Neewer 18” Advanced Ring Light, Elgato Ring Light, and Elgato Key Light (my reviews)
Sharpness
The Logitech C920 is decisively sharper than the C270 and C310 which are about even in sharpness. The latter two devices have a lot of pixelation when viewed at full screen and they’re very grainy. They are all satisfactory for basic video conferencing, but only the C920 really is suitable for other types of content creation like YouTube and Twitch.
Color Accuracy
This test defied my expectations. In order, the C310 has the best colors followed by the C270 and C920. The C310 has slightly better saturation and more natural contrast than the C270. The C310’s white balance is also more natural, as can be seen on the back wall.
The C920 is too red and it can’t replicate brown the same way as the C310 and C270. The C920 also makes green appear slightly darker than it should.
I tested both manual and automatic settings for the colors, but auto white balance on each device was actually closer to reality than my tweaking could get. Just like other Logitech webcams, manual white balance unfortunately decreases the amount of yellow each camera has access to.
Exposure and Dynamic Range
Banding on the back wall of the C310.
When using manual settings, the C310 is able to display an overall brighter image than the C270 before bright spots become too blown out. It also has slightly better contrast and saturation compared to the C270, making the latter look a bit dull. The C920 has the best exposure overall as it avoids the banding effect created by bright light reflecting off the background. You can see this most in the day time.
Field of View
The Logitech C270 and C310 are locked to a 60 degree field of view which is uncomfortably close. The C920’s 78 degrees gives you room to sit a lot closer to the device without your face taking up the entire frame. The C920 can be zoomed in slightly in OBS, but the C270 and C310 do not have any zoom settings.
Focus
The Logitech C920 wins in the focus department by default as it’s the only device that has auto focus and manual focus settings. The focus isn’t super fast on the C920 and it can be inconsistent, so I suggest turning it to manual if possible.
Microphone Audio Quality
The C310 has the best microphone while the C270 and C920 are about equal. The C310’s mic sounds clearer than both and it has decent background noise rejection. Still, a dedicated external microphone is recommended when you’re ready to improve your audio. The microphone I used for my video review is the Blue Yeti, but there are lots of cheaper options like the Fifine K669B (Amazon).
Verdict
Left to right on monitor: C270, C310, C920.
The best webcam of this comparison is the Logitech C920. It’s the sharpest, has the widest field of view, best exposure, and it’s the only real viable option if you’re going to be doing content creation with your camera at full screen. If you want the best, I recommend the C920.
However, the Logitech C270 actually has better colors than the C920, and for basic video conferencing it is an excellent budget option. I recommened the C270 if you’re on a tight budget, and don’t care about looking particularly sharp during video calls.
The Logitech C310 is a marginal step up from the C270 in terms of colors and microphone quality. If you can find it for almost as cheap as the C270, it’s not a bad choice. If you spot it for closer to the price of the C920, I’d just get the C920.
Amazon Listings
Logitech C270: https://amzn.to/3ve1tpv
Logitech C310: https://amzn.to/3dJToCV
Logitech C920: https://amzn.to/3cTUoCX
