14 DAY TRIAL // Logitech Brio Stream 4K Edition is a webcam designed for the new wave of people that are creating high-quality content, especially in gaming. That also means that it’s not cheap, but good things never are.
Webcams used to be a poor man's camera, used mostly for video calls. They’ve been around for a long time, but unlike other technologies, they haven’t changed all that much. Sure, they have much better resolution than ever before, and they are integrating some neat features, but they remained the same, for the most part.
The advent of streaming, on Twitch, Youtube, and other platforms is changing the landscape and is forcing companies to bring much better products to the market. People are no longer satisfied with some of the basic solutions available right now, and they are demanding more. Logitech has answered the call, but don’t imagine that they are the only ones, and there is some fierce competition.
This also means that laptop makers will have to up their game accordingly, and we should see integrated webcams that are much better than the current solutions. It’s true that some of the so-called gaming laptops are starting to make some headway in the community, so we should get better webcam technology soon.
Features and usage
As the name of the product already reveals, this is a 4K camera. It might seem like a useless feature, but we have to keep in mind that we can already create and upload 4K content on a number of platforms. It’s not a bad idea to have a camera that can actually capture video at this resolution.
But before getting to its technical features, we have to talk a little bit about the way that it clips in place. It has a large design, so it uses a wide base. Its construction allows users to place it on thin and thick displays, so it shouldn't be a problem. Furthermore, it’s a rather heavy camera so it can stay still by itself, if necessary.
We also have to address the somewhat misleading examples that Logitech is using on the official website to explain some of the features. While it’s easy to understand why companies are using such an example, it’s also bothersome, to say the least.
For example, the 4K image is shown to be much clearer than the 1080p or 720p versions, and there is a difference between two images captured at 30 and 60FPS. That’s not how things work.
To be fair, the image quality is really good, especially if you have a dedicated light source, on the higher settings. As for showing me images to illustrate the difference between 30 and 60FPS, that’s just a rookie move. The difference is not visible in screenshots, only in action.
Of course, the fact that the camera supports HDR is a real plus, if you care about this kind of features, and you should. As I was saying before, the quality of the image is now more critical than ever.
Some technical specs
If you don’t care about all of the features that the Logitech Brio Stream 4K Edition is offering, you can just plug it in and it will work just fine. But you have to know that you can take full advantage of the camera by fidgeting with the settings. Of course, you’re going to need the Logitech Gaming Software to access those settings.
Once you get that installed, you will notice that the software is separating Camera Controls and Video Settings, and for a good reason. The Camera Controls allows users to select between Streaming, Video Call, and Custom.
As you can imagine, the Custom is what we’re after. From there, users can choose to prioritize Frame Rate or Exposure, to activate the HDR option, and to select the proper FoV (field of view). It’s even possible to adjust the viewport, but that’s only possible when zooming in.
The Camera Settings is not that exciting, although it does have four live filters called Zombie, Cartoon, Black & White, and Sickness. With the exception of Black & White, all the others have some terrible names. There is a Custom filter as well which provides access to Brightness, Contrast, Saturation, Sharpness, and White Balance.
If you also have a Logitech keyboard, especially one of the newer ones, you can bind the filters to particular button combinations to quickly switch between them.
I also have to mention that the camera comes with carrying pouch, a privacy shutter (really nice touch), a removable clip, and a 12-month Premium XSplit license.
The Good
The video quality is excellent, and I found it to be much better than expected. Also, Logitech is not just throwing 4K at the user without something to back it up, and it shows. Having the ability to record and stream in 4k, in a reliable way, is not something to be discarded.
I also have to give them props for providing a privacy shutter, especially now that we live in a time when Mark Zuckerberg is covering his webcam with scotch tape.
One last thing good thing to say is that is that it’s also working with Windows Hello. This means that you can use the webcam to login into Windows. It might not feel like a big deal until you do it for the first time. Of course, it only works with Windows 10.
The Bad
The second thing on the list is the name for the filters. Really Logitech, is this the best you can do? I have no idea how this came to be, but one of the filters is called Sickness. I rest my case.
Finally, there the issue of lag. While Logitech’s promotional video makes it seem like it’s all perfect, it’s not. Even with great lighting in the room, you might still notice some lag, when the subject is moving. It’s not a terrible problem, but it’s there.
Conclusion
The camera does have some minor issues, but the bottom line is that offers great quality, adequate software support, and some nice additions. The only thing that you need to keep in mind, and which is usually true for all cameras and webcams, is the lighting quality. You can never have enough light in the room.
What will convince people to get the camera is not necessarily the image and capture quality, but the inclusion of 12 Month XSplit Premium license. It’s really good software, and makes the camera worth it.
