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 interviews Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon, the author of Reclaiming the Atonement: An Orthodox Theology of Redemption - Volume One: The Incarnation.

Bobby Maddex interviews Fr. Lawrence Farley, the priest at St. Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church in Langley, British Columbia, and the author of the new Ancient Faith Publishing book The Empty Throne: Reflections on the History and Future of the Orthodox Episcopacy.

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. Michael Shanbour, the author of the new AFP book Know the Faith: A Handbook for Orthodox Christians and Inquirers.

Bobby Maddex interviews Angela Doll Carlson, the author of the new AFP book Garden in the East: The Spiritual Life of the Body.

Bobby Maddex interviews Elizabeth Crispina Johnson, the author of the new AFP children’s book In the Candle’s Glow.

Host Bobby Maddex interviews Amandine Wanert, the French artist who just recently illustrated the beautiful AFP picture book In the Candle's Glow, written by Elizabeth Crispina Johnson.

Bobby Maddex interviews Presv. Constantina Palmer, the author of the new AFP book The Sweetness of Grace: Stories of Christian Trial and Victory.

Bobby Maddex interviews Laura E. Wolfe and Nicholas Malara, the author and illustrator, respectively, of the new Ancient Faith Publishing children’s book Sasha and the Dragon.

Bobby Maddex interviews Fr. Lawrence Farley, the author of the new AFP book A Song in the Furnace: The Message of the Book of Daniel.

Bobby Maddex interviews—live!—Elissa Bjeletich and Kristina Wenger about their new AFP book Tending the Garden of Our Hearts: Daily Lenten Meditations for Families.

Bobby Maddex interviews Angela Doll Carlson about her new AFP book The Wilderness Journal: 365 Days with the Philokalia. This is the second of the live call-in editions of Ex Libris!

On another live version of Ex Libris, Bobby Maddex interviews Melinda Johnson, the author of The Barn and the Book.

On this new episode of Ex Libris, the podcast of Ancient Faith Publishing, host Bobby Maddex interviews John Sarantakis, the author of the new AFP children's book Anthony, the Great.

On a new Ex Libris, the podcast of Ancient Faith Publishing, host Bobby Maddex interviews Fr. John Strickland, the author of The Age of Paradise: Christendom from Pentecost to the First Millennium.

Bobby Maddex interviews Gabriel Wilson, the author and illustrator of the new AFP graphic novel titled The Cross and the Stag: The Incredible Adventures of Saint Eustathius. For merchandise related to the novel and more information about its author, please click here.

Bobby Maddex interviews Summer Kinard, the author of the new Ancient Faith Publishing book Of Such Is the Kingdom: A Practical Theology of Disability.

Bobby Maddex interviews Dr. Nicole Roccas, host of the podcast Time Eternal and the author of the new AFP book Under the Laurel Tree: Grieving Infertility with Saints Joachim and Anna.

Bobby Maddex interviews Dr. Philip Mamalakis, the author of the new AFP book Parenting Toward the Kingdom: Orthodox Christian Principles of Child-Rearing.

Bobby Maddex interviews Benedict Sheehan, Xenia Sheehan, and the poet Sydney Lea about the new AFP book The Shield of Psalmic Prayer by the late Donald Sheehan.

In the first ever live video edition of Ex Libris, the podcast of Ancient Faith Publishing, Bobby Maddex, Station Manager of Ancient Faith Radio, interviews author Gaelen Gilbert, illustrator Ned Gannon, and editor Jane G. Meyer about the new AFP children's book, Laurel and the Wind.

Bobby Maddex interviews Fr. John Strickland, the author of the new AFP book The Age of Division: Christendom from the Great Schism to the Protestant Reformation. This is volume two of a four-volume series called Paradise and Utopia: The Rise and Fall of What the West Once Was.

Bobby Maddex interviews Megan E. Gilbert, the author and illustrator of the new AFP book A Mother’s Prayer.

Palm Sunday and Holy Week present opportunities for us to see Christ exalted, holy, and victorious!

Fr. Wilbur introduces his new podcast by talking about the depth of the Psalms and how the Church views the Psalms in terms of the Historical, the Christological, and the Liturgical.

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

The 20/40 Young Adult Ministry of St Joseph Church, Houston, hosted Dr. John Mark Reynolds, Provost of Houston Baptist University (and Orthodox Christian) on four Fridays in March.

The 20/40 Young Adult Ministry of St Joseph Church, Houston, hosted Dr. John Mark Reynolds, Provost of Houston Baptist University (and Orthodox Christian) on four Fridays in March.

The 20/40 Young Adult Ministry of St Joseph Church, Houston, hosted Dr. John Mark Reynolds, Provost of Houston Baptist University (and Orthodox Christian) on four Fridays in March.

The 20/40 Young Adult Ministry of St Joseph Church, Houston, hosted Dr. John Mark Reynolds, Provost of Houston Baptist University (and Orthodox Christian) on four Fridays in March.

Dr. John Mark addresses questions about the perception of God appearing nastier in the Old Testament than the New Testament.

Dr. John Mark Reynolds introduces The Saint Constantine School, a new K-College Orthodox school.

Dr. Reynolds talks about the strength and endurance of Christian beauty.

Dr. John Mark Reynolds discusses the importance of finding balance in the church.

Dr. John Mark Reynolds speaks on the divide between pride and humility as they relate to self esteem.

Dr. John Mark Reynolds talks about the separation of education and entertainment.

Dr. John Mark Reynolds asks Bishop Thomas questions about angels, demons, miracles, house blessings, weeping icons, and other topics.

Dr. John Mark Reynolds talks about how Christian education and the secular world can work together.

The killing of Cecil the Lion is a bad thing. On a new "Human Exceptionalism," Wesley J. Smith explains why while differentiating between animal rights and animal welfare.

Two items in the news lately have captured Wesley's attention.

Is the "right to die" more important than religious liberty?

Does it matter what happens to our bodies after we die? The Orthodox Christian faith says, "Yes!"

Do the words that we use to describe the various stages and conditions of human life really matter?

Do "doctors of death" need any specialized training to diagnosis and prescribe lethal drugs to patients who want to die?

Wesley J. Smith shares the story of his friend, Robert Salamanca, who died peacefully with dignity of ALS.

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

To what extent should efforts be made to work for the healing of those with significant illnesses, like polio, rather than letting them die with assistance?

Should we be working to prevent all suicide, or should we support and encourage "some" suicides?

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.