Webcams have arrived as a tool for the average household. With the rapid proliferation of broadband internet service and the plethora of video messaging programs available, it's no wonder that numerous high-end webcams can be found on the market. We recently checked out some of the best and brightest offerings from Microsoft and Logitech and were impressed by their high resolutions and advanced features. Of course, cheaper models are available, but the following top-shelf webcams justify their higher prices by offering sharp performance, advanced movement tracking and great software bundles.


Logitech QuickCam Orbit MP

Logitech's QuickCam Orbit MP is one of the most distinctive webcams we've ever seen. It can be used as a traditional "ball" QuickCam, but it's most entertaining to add on the 9-inch extender and let the camera look you in the eye. The Orbit MP will follow you as well, tilting and panning 190 degrees horizontally and 100 degrees vertically. If you like to pace while video chatting, the Orbit MP has you covered.

The Orbit MP offers excellent 1.3-megapixel resolution, a built-in microphone and an assortment of odd and amusing video effects to alter to your onscreen image. At an MSRP of $130, it's among the more expensive webcams out there, but the Logitech QuickCam Orbit MP is also one of the most novel.

Logitech QuickCam Orbit MP

Logitech QuickCam Ultra Vision Special Edition

Compared to the quirky Orbit MP, the Logitech QuickCam Ultra Vision Special Edition is a more traditional webcam. Its sturdy monitor clip flexes and adjusts to allow it to rest atop either a CRT or an LCD monitor, and it features an unobtrusive design that won't take up any desktop space. It doesn't have the same range of motion as the Orbit MP, but the Ultra Vision can still pan and tilt to keep you in frame, and its large lens gives it a 75-degree field of view.

The Ultra Vision includes the same sharp resolution, built-in microphone and robust software bundle as the Orbit MP, and it adds programmable buttons on each side of the lens housing that give you fast access to often-used communication software. It also shares the Orbit MP's $130 high-end suggested price tag, but with the Logitech QuickCam Ultra Vision Special Edition, you get what you pay for.


Microsoft LifeCam VX-6000

Microsoft has also gotten into the high-end webcam game with its LifeCam VX-6000. This webcam offers 1.3-megapixel resolution and a built-in microphone for carrying on conversations sans headset, but with its ball shape and sturdy desk stand, its design is very traditional. Conveniently, the stand can fold out to attach to the top of an LCD display.

The VX-6000 works with any video chatting software, but it's designed for Microsoft's own Live Messenger, as you can use the Live Call button atop the webcam to quickly connect with one of your Messenger contacts. At an MSRP of $100, the Microsoft LifeCam VX-6000 is less expensive than the Logitech desktop offerings, but the video effects in the software aren't as extensive.


Microsoft LifeCam NX-6000

A portable version of the VX-6000, Microsoft's LifeCam NX-6000 features an even sharper 2.0-megapixel video resolution, and it can capture software-enhanced photos of up to 7.6 megapixels. All that, and the NX-6000 fits snugly into a carrying case not much larger than a Dixie cup.

The NX-6000 clips securely to your laptop screen, and the wide-angle lens provides a large 71-degree angle of view. It can even pan and tilt to track your movements, which is a nice touch for a notebook webcam. The NX-6000's lens pops inside the camera for protection and compaction during transport. At a suggested price of $100, the Microsoft LifeCam NX-6000 is expensive, but its performance is worth the cost.

Microsoft LifeCam NX-6000 webcam

Logitech QuickCam for Notebooks Pro

Logitech's high-end portable computer webcam, the QuickCam for Notebooks Pro, doesn't offer pan and tilt face tracking, but it does have a sharp 1.3-megapixel sensor and some unique features. For starters, this miniscule webcam weighs in at only 1.7 ounces, so it's extremely portable. Logitech includes a crush-resistant carrying case and a headset for private conversations, and there is a built-in microphone for normal chatting as well.

This webcam also comes with an approximately 12-inch-high desktop stand, so you can use it just as easily with your desktop computer. It's a great unit if you have multiple PCs. And at a suggested retail price of $90, the QuickCam for Notebooks Pro is the least expensive of the high-end models we tested.