At a time that online meetings and video calls have been a norm, having a good mic and camera is a must to make your presence better. However, not all computer set-ups are equipped with good audio and video and not everyone has the budget to make a full “studio-like” set-up. But, there are options to have both mic and camera built into one like the Rapoo C280 (Lazada | Shopee).
The Rapoo C280 is a budget webcam that features:
- Video Resolution: 2560 x 1440 max resolution (1440p)
- Viewing Angle: 85o view
- Frame rate: 30fps
- Connectivity: USB 2.0
- Color: Black
- Audio Input: Omnidirectional dual noise reduction microphone
- Supported Platforms: Windows, Mac OSX, Android 5.0 or higher
- Automatic Light Correction
I tested the Rapoo C280 on my Macbook Air M1 for Zoom meetings and here are some quick points of my actual usage.
Easy to setup and use
The Rapoo C280 is an easy as a plug-and-play computer accessory. As soon as I plugged it on the USB port, my laptop automatically detected the webcam.
The good thing about this webcam is that it is easy to mount, either clip it on top of a monitor, stand it on a table or mount it on a tripod. This way, you can choose the angle of which you want to take your video of, compared to the built-in webcams on laptop which are primarily facing towards you on eye level.
Compatibility
I am using a Macbook Air M1. Running a hardware or software on OSX system can sometimes be a hassle. But not with this webcam, it was a breeze. I did not have a hard time finding it while using different apps like Zoom, OBS and Google Meet (via Chrome).
Privacy
Rapoo C280 has a simple yet effective idea to make sure that no unwanted video can be streamed accidentally. Of course, that is, if you slide the cover in front of the lens.
Video and Audio Quality
For a webcam, to be used for online meetings and video calls, the Rapoo C280’s video and audio quality is adequate.
Most of the current built-in webcams on laptops have either 720p or 1080p resolution. Rapoo C280 has a 1440p resolution.
Here are some of the screenshots of a Zoom meeting using Rapoo C280. I was using a florescent light source on my upper right side.
If you are looking for an external webcam with mic-capability for your online meetings and video calls, then you can shop for the Rapoo C280. As of writing time, this webcam is available at Shopee and Lazada at Php 1,339 only and at PC Express for Php 1,795.
