Ultimate Guide: Logitech Brio 4K Webcam
The Logitech Brio 4K Pro camera is still the most costly and technologically sophisticated model in the company’s consumer webcams. It was first released in 2017 but has been updated since then. The resolution is 4K, has a large field of vision and great dynamic range, and can achieve faster frame rates at lesser resolutions.
Design
The black, stadium-shaped metal body of the Brio, together with its glass front, gives the impression that it is a luxury product. It’s the best style for designing an external webcam there is. The design is understated and unobtrusive, allowing it to fit in with any computer configuration without calling undue attention to itself.
In contrast to most other Logitech webcams, which all have a single USB cable soldered to the device, the Brio features a USB C connector on the back of the device. This allows you to switch out the USB C to the USB A cable that is supplied, which is 2.2 meters long and uses the USB C standard, for a different cable that uses the USB A standard.
The Brio has a clip-on mount, enabling the camera to sit horizontally on a surface or stand vertically above your computer monitor. If you peel out the clip, you’ll see that there’s a screw hole there that’s 1/4 inch in diameter. This allows you to connect it to other objects like tripods and light stands.
The clip does not have a screw thread on top, even though it is already linked to the screw mount. It is little more than a nub that can be snapped into position using two slots cut into the plastic.
Features
The Logitech Brio is a serious webcam for serious video conversations in terms of its features and specifications. It has a 4K sensor, two omnidirectional microphones with noise canceling, HDR, and RealLight 3, which is Logitech’s intelligent exposure technology. Additionally, it can produce 60 frames per second at a resolution of 1080p and even 90 frames per second if the resolution is reduced to 720p.
A webcam may have a long and impressive list of functions, but at the end of the day, the vast majority of those characteristics will not be sent to the person on the other end of a video chat.
Because most video conferencing software is limited to producing a maximum resolution of 1080p at 30 frames per second, you won’t need higher frame rates or higher resolution unless you’re using this to record information that will be post-edited. In many cases, depending on the available bandwidth, they transmit at even lower resolutions.
Configuration and user interface
The Logitech Brio is a webcam that does not need any further setup. After ensuring that one end of the cable is inserted into a USB-A port on your computer or laptop and the other is inserted into the USB-C connector on the camera, you are ready to begin using the device. The camera’s built-in auto-focus is reliable, providing excellent color accuracy and automated white balancing right out of the box.
The Logitech Capture program must be installed on your computer to access the camera’s settings. It is a simple software that gives you control over the resolution, frame rate, exposure, field of view, zoom, and anti-flicker settings, among other options. If you wish to increase the resolution to 4K, you should be aware that to do so; you will need to connect using a port that is compatible with USB 3.0 and utilize software that is designed to work with a 4K resolution.
You can also record 4K video with the help of the Logitech Capture software, which also gives you the ability to record your screen together with a second source and gives you a choice between four distinct picture-in-picture modes.
Video quality
The 13-megapixel sensor seems to catch a little more information than its cheaper 1080p equivalents. Small writing that might normally be difficult to make out is clearer, and tiny textures are a bit easier to differentiate between one another.
Additionally, the ability to toggle between different fields of vision (FOV) is made possible by the sensor’s better resolution. The field of vision on the Brio is fairly expansive at 90 degrees (the field of view on most of the other Logitech cameras is 78 degrees), which indicates that it can catch a significant portion of the area immediately in front of it.
You can reduce the field of view (FOV) to either 65 or 75 degrees by using the camera settings software provided by Logitech or by utilizing Logitech Capture. The optimal FOV for focusing on a person is 65 degrees.
Picture Quality
However, the image quality of the Brio as a whole is truly excellent, and a significant portion of that success may be attributed to the RealLight 3 and HDR technology developed by Logitech. The difference is instantly apparent when you compare a picture taken with this camera to one taken with a less expensive webcam. Brilliant highlights often blown out on other webcams keep their detail and need far more light before they begin clipping into a pure bright white.
In the same vein, this camera does an excellent job of picking up detail in low-light environments, which most webcams cannot. It still gets extremely grainy as it attempts to compensate for the lack of exposure, but even in situations with only a sliver of light, I could still pick out objects and people in the scene.
Audio Quality
It includes two microphones that face the front for stereo sound. These are excellent, up to around one meter but only have rudimentary background noise reduction; to accomplish it correctly, you will need an additional microphone and onboard intelligence.
Takeaway
The Logitech Brio is a webcam that offers everything you might desire, even if it’s not everything you need. It satisfies all of the requirements, including excellent video and audio and the capacity to change the video picture in ways you could never have imagined.
It’s not cheap, and some individuals may not even see the value in getting it. But you won’t find another webcam that has as many capabilities as this one.
PROS
4K images with HDR
90-degree viewing angle
Works with Windows Hello
CONS
Lacks optical zoom
Cannot record 4K
High price