John Maddex interviews Fr. Luke Veronis, author of Go Forth: Stories of Mission and Resurrection in Albania.

Bobby interviews Fr. Vassilios Papavassiliou, the author of the new Conciliar Press book Meditations for Great Lent: Reflections on the Triodion.

Bobby interviews James Helmy, the translator of Words for Our Time: The Spiritual Words of Matthew the Poor.

Bobby interviews Fr. James Guirguis, the author of the new Ancient Faith Publishing book Ask for the Ancient Paths: Discovering What Church Is Meant to Be.

Bobby interviews Fr. Vassilios Papavassiliou, author of the new AFP book Meditations for Advent: Preparing for Christ’s Birth.

Bobby interviews Nika Boyd and Heather Hayward who are the author and illustrator, respectively, behind the new AFP children’s book H Is for Holy: An Orthodox Christian Alphabet.

On this week's Ex Libris, the podcast of Ancient Faith Publishing, host Bobby Maddex interviews Nick Muzekari, the author of the new AFP children's book A Gift for Matthew.

Bobby Maddex interviews Elissa Bjeletich and Caleb Shoemaker, the authors of the new AFP book Blueprints for the Little Church: Creating an Orthodox Home.

Bobby Maddex interviews Fr. Evan Armatas, priest at St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church in Loveland, Colorado, the host of the AFR live Sunday-night call-in show Orthodoxy Live, and the host of the AFR podcast Transforming Our Lives in Christ. And now he has published his first book with Ancient Faith Ministries titled Toolkit for Spiritual Growth: A Practical Guide to Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving.

Fr. Wilbur takes us through Psalm 28(29) where the prophetic vision of the worship of the Trinity is made manifest.

Psalm 73 (74) asks the great "Why" question of humanity. That question is answered in a cave in Bethlehem as the God of the universe takes on flesh for our salvation.

John Mark talks about character formation and what to look for in higher education opportunities.

Dr. John Mark Reynolds discusses the value in finding proper education.

Dr. John Mark Reynolds talks about poet Mary Weston Fordham and reads one of her poems.

Is euthanasia really the best way to alleviate the suffering of those dealing with serious mental illness?

If you’re a remote worker, or even work remotely part-time, you can step up your video conference game by investing in a good webcam. Built-in cameras on laptops and desktops have improved in recent years, but you typically still get higher quality and more personalized controls with an external webcam. And if you plan on video chatting with friends across the country or game-streaming regularly, you’ll want the best webcam experience possible. But there’s a lot of junk out there, as is typical in an overcrowded space. In this buying guide, we'll dive into the best webcams that will help you look sharp, no matter where you're dialing in from.

Factors to consider before buying a webcam

Resolution and field of view

While some newer computers have 1080p webcams, most built-in cameras have a resolution of 720p, so you’ll want to look for an external webcam that has a higher resolution. FHD webcams will give you better video quality; ideally, you’re looking for something that can handle 1080p at 60fps or 30fps. If you’re considering a cheap 720p webcam, make sure to get one that supports at least 30fps (most will) or, even better, 60fps. However, if your primary concern is better picture quality during video calls, 1080p is the way to go.

Some webcams can shoot in 4K, but that’s overkill for most people. Not to mention most video conferencing services like Zoom, Google Meet and Skype don’t even support 4K video. When it comes to streaming, Twitch maxes out at 1080p video, but YouTube added 4K live streaming back in 2016. Ultimately, with 4K webcam shots having such limited use, most people can get by with a solid 1080p camera.

Field of view (FOV) controls how much can fit in the frame when you’re recording. Most webcams I tested had a default field of view of around 78 degrees, which captured me and enough of my background to prove that I really need to organize my home office. On cheaper webcams you’ll usually see narrower fields of view (around 60 degrees), and those aren’t necessarily bad. They won’t show as much of your background, but that also means you won’t be able to squeeze as many friends or family members into frame when you’re having Zoom birthday parties. On the flip side, more expensive webcams may let you adjust the field of view to be even wider than average, and some even offer features like digital zoom.

Autofocus and other “auto” features

Webcams with autofocus will keep the image quality sharp without much work on your part. You should be able to move around, step back and forth, and remain in focus the whole time. Some standalone webcam models let you manually adjust focus, too, if you have specific needs. Devices with fixed focus are less convenient, but they tend to be more affordable.

In the same vein is auto framing, a feature that some high-end webcams now offer. Similarly to Apple’s Center Stage feature, the camera automatically adjusts to keep you in the center of the frame even as you move around. This used to be a feature only available on the most premium webcams, but now you can find it on sub-$200 devices.

You’ll also see other “auto” features listed in webcam specs, most notably auto light correction. This will adjust the camera’s settings to make up for a dimly lit room. If you don’t have bright lights, or often take calls in places where you can’t control the lighting, this feature will be valuable. Alternatively, you might consider using your mirrorless camera as a high-quality webcam solution, taking all of the benefits and features with you (albeit in a cumbersome package).

Microphones

Most webcams have built-in microphones that, depending on your setup, might end up being closer to you than your computer’s own mics. Check to see if the model you’re considering has mono or stereo mics, as the latter is better. Some even use noise-reduction technology to keep your voice loud and clear. While audiophiles and streamers will want to invest in a standalone microphone, most others can get by using a webcam’s built-in mic.

Design

There aren’t a ton of fascinating breakthroughs when it comes to external webcam design. Most are round or rectangular devices that clip onto a monitor or your laptop screen. Some have the ability to swivel or screw onto a tripod stand and others can simply sit on your desk beside your computer. But unless you really like having people stare up your nose, the latter isn’t ideal. We recommend clipping your webcam to your monitor and ensuring that it’s at or slightly above eye level.

A few webcams go above and beyond by adding hardware extras like built-in lights and lens covers, too. The former can help you stand out in a dark room, while the latter makes it so hackers can’t view you through your webcam without your knowledge.

Price

Most external webcams that are just good enough to be a step up from your computer’s built-in camera cost between $60 and $150. If the webcam has the same resolution as the internal one on your laptop, you should look out for other specs like auto light correction, a wider field of view or an extra-long connecting cable that can provide a step-up in quality or ease of use.

Spending $150 or more means you might get advanced features that tend to be present in a pro webcam like 4K resolution, vertical and horizontal recording options, stereo mics, customizable video settings and more. But unless you’re spending hours on video calls each day or streaming multiple times each week, you can settle on a budget webcam and safely skip most of those high-end options.

How we test webcams

We primarily test webcams by putting them through as much real-world use as possible. We examine their design, how flexible they are and how easy they are to reposition, and make note of how heavy they are and if that affects their ability to stay put while sitting on top of a screen. We use each webcam for at least a week straight as our primary camera for all video chats, and we make sure to use the device in different lighting environments to test low-light performance. We also use any built-in microphones as our primary audio inputs on video calls as well. Finally, although most of these webcams are plug-and-play, we test out any proprietary software that’s intended to work with each webcam, tweaking things like field of view, video resolution and effects, and using any special features like Show Mode on Logitech webcams.

Best webcams for 2024

Others webcams we tested

Logitech C920s Pro HD

Our previous top pick, the Logitech C920s Pro HD webcam remains a solid option for those with less than $100 to spend and really only need a basic 1080p camera to upgrade their setup, or something affordable to make them look better on those inevitable Zoom calls. It has a 78-degree field of view, decent microphones and handy privacy shutter built in. The Brio 500 took the top spot away from this model thanks to its advanced light correction, auto-framing and Show Mode.

It’s 2024, and chances are you know at least one person who works remotely in some fashion. While the WFH life has its perks — nobody likes a long commute — it certainly comes with its own set of challenges, from lacking pro-level equipment to dealing with household disturbances. If you’re looking to give a gift to someone who spends much of their time in their home office, we’ve rounded up a few techy gift ideas that should make their days a little more delightful, or at least easier to manage.

Check out the rest of our gift ideas here.

Part of becoming a healing presence is to share our lives with others without the expectation of reward or acknowledgement. Dr. Rossi shares the story of Johnny Appleseed as an example.

True forgiveness comes from the heart and Dr. Rossi tells us what that looks like.

Dr. Rossi recorded an adaptation of his talk that he gives to youth on sex, lust, and marriage. His talk usually lasts a couple of hours but he has condensed it here to 45 minutes. Its well worth listening to!

Dr. Rossi talks about the pre-marital communications period and how important it is to understand your future spouse.

Dr. Albert Rossi interviews Dr. Grant S. White, Assistant Professor of Liturgical Theology at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, on the topic of the Liturgy and a person's search for meaning in turbulent times.

Dr. Albert Rossi shares some movie recommendations for all to enjoy and discuss.

Dr. Albert Rossi follows up on his podcast, "Everyone Is Doing The Best They Can," by asking us to consider the importance of forgiveness of one's self as we engage in repentance towards joy.

Dr. Albert Rossi considers how to respond to the unforeseen events in life through Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow's morning prayer. O Lord, grant that I may meet the coming day in peace. Help me in all things to rely upon Thy Holy Will. In every hour of the day, reveal Thy will to me. Bless my dealings with all who surround me. Teach me to treat all that comes to me throughout the day with peace of soul, and with the firm conviction that Thy will governs all. In all my deeds and words, guide my thoughts and feelings. In unforeseen events, let me not forget that all are sent by Thee. Teach me to act firmly and wisely, without embittering and embarrassing others. Give me the strength to bear the fatigue of the coming day with all that it shall bring. Direct my will. Teach me to pray. Pray Thou Thyself in me. Amen.

Dr. Albert Rossi reflects on the ways we seek to sooth our souls and bodies.

Dr. Albert Rossi explores the meaning of a quote by St. Therese of Lisieux.