Papalook PA452 webcam
A decent upgrade for most in–built Mac cameras
$69.99 From Papalook, papalook.com Features 1920x1080 pixels (30fps), stereo mic with noise cancellation, manual focus
Papalook’s webcam is reasonably priced and offers high definition video capabilities with a simple plug–and–play setup.
It sports a wide frame with the camera lens sitting directly in the center. The camera’s base is designed to clip onto the top of your monitor or MacBook lid, with a stabilizer on the back that keeps it all in place. The webcam can be rotated a full 360° horizontally, and you can make minor tilt adjustments too. The camera connects via a non–removable USB 2.0 cable, with a USB–A connector.
Papalook’s camera captures and records video in 1080p HD resolution at 30 frames per second. The camera has a 65° wide–angle lens with an F2.0 aperture, and is made of four-layer glass. The PA452 doesn’t have autofocus, instead relying on turning the lens manually on the camera itself.
The image quality is good in typical room lighting conditions, with enough details for video calls, and it was able to keep up just fine with motion. Images in a dark room were decent but not spectacular; they’re bright enough to be usable in a pinch. Overall, the PA452’s image quality is just a little above that of modern MacBooks.
Moving over to audio, the PA452 includes built–in noise–canceling microphones that are positioned on each side of the lens. The webcam does not have any on–board speakers, so there’s no upgraded audio experience to be found here.
The only real complaint is the LED front lights, which don’t seem to serve a purpose — thankfully they can be turned off.
THE BOTTOM LINE. Good video and audio, but the lack of autofocus prevents it from being a standout webcam. CHRIS CLOSE