Logitech Webcam Software is a free Windows application from Logitech that serves as the control and capture hub for its USB webcams. It takes photos and records video from the camera, then keeps the results in a gallery for sharing. It also watches a room through motion-triggered recording and gives access to camera settings such as zoom, focus and low-light correction. It is legacy software for Windows XP, Vista and 7, with later builds adding Windows 8 support. Logitech wrote it for its QuickCam and C-series webcams of that period.
The Launcher as a starting point
Opening Logitech Webcam Software brings up the Launcher, a front page with shortcuts to the program’s own tools. It also links to other webcam applications installed on the PC, including Logitech Vid HD where present. When more than one Logitech camera is connected, users also switch the active camera from the Launcher. The same page provides settings and a help dashboard with manuals and how-to videos. An application area lets users download further Logitech-approved webcam apps.
Quick Capture for photos and video
Quick Capture is the recording window. It shows the live camera image and has separate controls for taking a still photo and starting a video recording. The webcam controls are available from the same window. Its preferences include a video recording quality setting, and recording resolution depends on the camera: 1080p capture requires one of Logitech’s HD webcams. Recording in HD raises processor load, so older PCs may see lower frame rates.
Gallery, editing and uploads
Everything captured with Logitech Webcam Software lands in the Gallery. From there users can open a photo or clip, attach it to an email, edit photos or splice videos. One-click upload sends files straight to Facebook or YouTube. Twitter upload was added later, although some services ask for an account and Twitter posting needs extra software. Logitech Webcam Software compresses clips recorded with effects as MJPEG rather than H.264, which can make them slower to upload.
Motion-triggered recording
Motion Detection turns the webcam into a simple watch camera. While it runs, Logitech Webcam Software records automatically whenever it sees movement in the frame. The user sets how sensitive the detection is and how long each recording lasts. The software saves the clips to the computer for later review.
Webcam Controller settings
The Webcam Controller holds the image and camera adjustments, and users can open it during a video call in another program. Its main controls are:
- Privacy shade replaces the live picture with a photo, hiding the user’s video without ending the call.
- Pan, tilt and zoom reframe the image; on the motorized Orbit AF camera the program drives physical pan and tilt at 640×480 and above.
- Follow my face keeps the user centered in the frame as they move.
- RightLight corrects the image in poor or uneven lighting.
- Focus switches between automatic and manual focus on cameras that support it.
Further options, such as white balance and gain, sit in advanced settings and the driver’s property page. Logitech Webcam Software also installs a virtual driver that lets the camera feed two programs at once, for example a video calling client and one of the Logitech webcam apps.
Video effects and masks
Earlier releases of Logitech Webcam Software include a Video Effects module with avatars, face accessories, filters and custom masks. Users build masks in a separate tool, Video Mask Maker. Effects work best at 640×480 and are not supported at 1080p. Later releases removed Video Effects completely, so which effects are available depends on the build installed.
Cameras and later Windows releases
Logitech Webcam Software covers QuickCam models such as the Pro 9000, Communicate and Orbit, and C-series webcams including the C170, C905, C910 and C920. Windows 8 users can instead install Logitech Camera Controller, a separate app for the newer Windows interface. It works only with the C170, C270, C310, C525, C615 and C920. Logitech uses other applications for its current webcams. Logitech Webcam Software is therefore mainly relevant to owners of these older cameras on the Windows versions it was built for.
