Elgato FaceCam webcam review

A specialized webcam from one of the world's biggest streaming brands

Elgato FaceCam review
(Image: © Jessica Weatherbed/Digital Camera World)

Digital Camera World Verdict

The Elgato Facecam succeeds in being a webcam designed specifically with streamers in mind, by stripping out features that most streamers and professional broadcasters find cumbersome, such as autofocus and a built-in microphone. With 1080p resolution at 60FPS and fantastic software controls, this is a great product for a specialist market, though everyday folk just looking to buy a webcam may want to steer clear.

Pros

  • +

    Uncompressed 1080p at 60FPS

  • +

    Software allows DSLR-like controls

  • +

    Fixed-focus lens

Cons

  • -

    No HDR

  • -

    Raw video is over-saturated

  • -

    Incredibly expensive for a webcam

Why you can trust Digital Camera World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out how we test.

The Elgato Facecam looks aesthetically as if someone smashed together a DSLR camera with a traditional webcam, which is actually a pretty apt description of the performance you can expect from the product. For most streamers, webcams have a shelf life. If your broadcast takes off and you gain a larger following, the next step for many is to upgrade your existing equipment such as from a gaming headset to a dedicated USB or XLR microphone. 

One of the biggest investments is usually to upgrade away from using a webcam to a professional camera such as the Sony ZV-1 or the Sony A6100, both of which are popular amongst Twitch users and YouTubers. The leap in quality from something like a Logitech C920 is worth every penny, but it left a gap in the market for professional streaming webcams to occupy.

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Jessica Weatherbed

Jess writes about computing at Techradar, where she covers all aspects of Mac and PC hardware, including PC gaming and peripherals. While she loves all areas of computing tech, broadcasting and gaming-related hardware such as webcams, USB microphones, VR headsets and mechanical keyboards are certainly a special interest subject. You find her bylines at Creative Bloq and Space.com, and she has previously been interviewed by the BBC as an industry expert.