Creative Webcam Live!Cam Optia

usability, design, price, size

88% of the reviews on Amazon.co.uk give this product a positive rating.

design, usability, price

reliability, size

74% of the reviews on Amazon.com give this product a positive rating.

2-megapixel sensor. Lens rotates to let you shoot what's in front of you, not just you. Fun, diverse selection of bundled software.

Slow, annoying autofocus. Face-tracking feature barely works. So-so image quality.

The sleek, cylindrical Optia AF relies on a ball-and-socket joint that lets it rotate 270 degrees and pivot roughly 15 degrees. That means you can adjust the lens to point at someone sitting next to you without having to move your monitor, and you can...

Integrated clip so you can attach it to a notebook, Good-quality video in moderate lighting

Lacks integrated microphone, No auto-focus

Bottom line: The Optia is pretty inexpensive, and the video is pretty nice--for a Webcam

Durable design, Remote monitoring, motion capture & time lapse, Intuitive control center software design, Smart customization fixes almost every problem, Face tracking and animations work well

Remote monitoring doesn't work with every FTP server, Video quality lags behind other webcams, Auto focus and face tracking struggle to adjust when facing bright lights, Audio and video don't sync up properly, Noise reduction makes audio sound thin

Looks good ; Great software bundle

Expensive and not really a great performer

It may look good but it doesn't really deliver. Wait for something better to come along

Auto-focus, easy to install, good results

Auto focus can go a bit crazy, need a fast computer

Easy to use and potentially impressive results, as long as you've got the machine to match, mean that for the £60 this will set you back you can't go wrong.

Looks good, Great software bundle

Expensive and not really a great performer

It may look good but it doesn't really deliver. Wait for something better to come along

If you're after a webcam that offers fun for all the family and peace of mind where younger children are concerned, then the Creative Live! Cam Optia Pro fits the bill. But it's not cheap.

Can do remote monitoring and time-lapse video ; Ball-and-socket joint provides flexibility ; Camera rotates 270 degrees ; Stand works equally well on top of desk or atop a monitor

Image quality struggles in low light ; Buggy software ; Face tracking feature is useless

Creative backs the Live Cam Optia AF with a one-year warranty.

Can do remote monitoring and time-lapse video; ball-and-socket joint provides flexibility; camera rotates 270 degrees; stand works equally well on top of desk or atop a monitor.

Image quality struggles in low light; buggy software; face tracking feature is useless.

If remote video surveillance or time-lapse photography is something you want to do with a Webcam, the Creative Live Cam Optia AF is a good pick. For all others, Logitech has a better (and slightly cheaper) Webcam.