A quality webcam is a great investment, especially now that working from home is becoming the norm and streaming is getting more popular by the day. Some webcams are great during the day, when lighting is not a problem, but will perform badly when it’s night time or when used in poorly lit areas. You want to avoid these and choose one that will work fine and produce good quality images even in low light conditions. To help you with that, we’ll be taking a look at some of the best models that work perfectly fine even in low light conditions—the Logitech C270, Razer Kiyo, Logitech Brio and the Microsoft LifeCam Studio. Read on to find out which one is the best overall webcam.
Navigation
Best Webcam For Low Light Conditions Comparison Chart
| Logitech C270 | Razer Kiyo | Logitech Brio | Microsoft LifeCam Studio | |
Deal Finder  Logitech C270 HD Webcam Get 720p HD video calling on instant messaging apps with the Logitech C270 HD Webcam. Features a universal clip, noise-reducing mic, auto light correction and 3 MP snapshots. We are reader supported. When you buy through our links we may earn an affiliate commission. | Amazon product | Amazon product | Amazon product | |
| Price | Deal Finder Logitech C270 HD Webcam Get 720p HD video calling on instant messaging apps with the Logitech C270 HD Webcam. Features a universal clip, noise-reducing mic, auto light correction and 3 MP snapshots. We are reader supported. When you buy through our links we may earn an affiliate commission. | Amazon product | Amazon product | Amazon product |
| Dimensions | 3.15 x 8.43 x 6.06 inches | 3.66 x 5.08 x 1.06 inches | 4.01 x 1.06 x 1.04 inches | 4.45 x 1.57 inches |
| Weight | 0.17 lbs | 0.66 lbs | 0.38 lbs | 0.28 lbs |
| Lens | Standard | Standard | Glass | Glass |
| Resolution and Framerate | 720p 30fps | 1080p 30fps 720p 60fps | 4K 30fps 1080p 60fps 720p 90fps | 1080p 30fps 720p 30fps |
| Field of View | 60º | 81.6° | 65º, 78º, 90º | 75º |
| Autofocus | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Lighting | RightLight | Built-in ring light | RightLight 3 | TruColor Technology |
| Built-in Mic | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 2 years | 1 year | 1 year | 3 years |
Logitech C270
The Logitech C270 is best for those on a tight budget.
The Logitech C270 is a budget webcam that is a great option if you just want to upgrade your laptop’s built-in camera or if you want a webcam while spending the least amount. It comes with a max resolution of 720p and a 30fps framerate that is more than enough for video conferences.
The design of the Logitech C270 is simple and it sports the rectangular form factor that Logitech webcams have been known for. It is made of plastic and it is very light, weighing at only 0.17 lbs. The webcam comes with a mount that allows it to sit on top of your screen. However, since it is very light and it only sits on top of your monitor or laptop screen, it might fall off if you accidentally move your laptop or adjust your monitor.
At its price point, the Logitech C270 is one of the best webcams that you can get. It produces quality images if there is sufficient lighting and audio quality is more than enough. In low light conditions, the brightness of the image produced is quite good due to Logitech’s RightLight technology, even though the overall image quality is not the best. This is a great entry-level camera that’s perfect for people on a very tight budget.
Razer Kiyo
The Razer Kiyo has a built-in ring light that’s great for low light conditions.
The Razer Kiyo features a rather unique design that certainly allows it to stand out among its competitors. It has a ring light that surrounds its camera lens and this is a major factor why we chose it as one of the best webcams for low light conditions.
It is a lightweight camera with a folding design, so it is easy to pack and very portable. The mounting hardware on this camera is pretty good, allowing you to mount it on top of your screen without having to worry if it will fall off. It sports a 4MP camera that is capable of producing sharp and accurate images. With the Razer Kiyo, you have the option of streaming or recording at 1080p/30fps or 720p/60fps.
The biggest selling point of the Razer Kiyo is its built-in ring light. It is a 5600K daylight-balanced ring light that is capable of producing enough lighting so that image quality is not compromised even when used in poorly lit environments. Furthermore, it is fully adjustable without having to tinker with any software. The bezels can be rotated to adjust the brightness to your preference. This is a very useful feature if you want good quality images in low light conditions.
Logitech Brio
The Logitech Brio is an affordable 4K webcam.
When it comes to design, the Logitech Brio sports the rectangular form factor that’s common with Logitech webcams. However, it looks sleeker than other Logitech models due to its rounded edges. It also has a more premium look when compared to other Logitech webcams, even though it is made with plastic. The Logitech Brio comes with a detachable USB-C cable and it also comes with an external privacy cover.
Image quality is where the Logitech Brio shines. It is a 4K webcam that’s capable of 4K/30fps, 1080p/60fps and 720p/90fps. If you are a streamer, you have a choice between image fidelity or lowered quality at faster framerates. Aside from several resolution choices, the Logitech Brio also has a few field of view options, three to be exact—65º, 78º and 90º. You can choose a narrow or wide field of view depending on what you want to be seen.
When used in low light environments, the Logitech Brio is very capable of producing quality image that won’t suffer too much from image noise. Equipped with Logitech’s RightLight 3 technology with HDR support, it can auto adjust so that you can look your best in any lighting condition.
Microsoft LifeCam Studio
An older but still reliable webcam.
Even though the Microsoft LifeCam Studio is an older model, it is still very reliable. Back when it was released, it came with features that were unique at the time, but very common now, such as a built-in mic, auto focus and a wide field of view. The design of the Microsoft LifeCam Studio is a simple telescopic form factor that still holds up. One of its most unique design features is that it can rotate 360º, so you can adjust the camera without having to move your screen or monitor.
When it comes to image quality, the Microsoft LifeCam Studio is capable of recording up to 1080p, but streaming is limited to 720p. The audio quality on this webcam is nothing special, but it gets the job done.
As for low light condition performance, this older webcam is very capable. If you want to take still images, you’ll be happy to know that it comes with a built-in flash. With this built-in flash, images taken in low-light conditions will still look good. Another feature that allows the Microsoft LifeCam Studio to perform well in low light environments is Microsoft’s TrueColor technology. With it, the webcam automatically adjusts the lighting and color so that image quality is boosted.
Verdict
The Razer Kiyo and the Logitech Brio stand out when compared to other webcams.
Amazon productWhile all of these webcams are great, our top recommendations for the best webcams in low light conditions are the Razer Kiyo and the Logitech Brio. The Razer Kiyo, with its built-in ring light, is basically designed to be used in low light conditions. This ring light is adjustable, so you can tweak the light in order to get the best image possible during your recordings or streams.
The Logitech Brio is also a great option if you will be using your webcam in low light settings. It supports up to 4K video and it come with Logitech’s RightLight 3 technology for better images. If you have the money, this is a great webcam to get.
FAQs
It depends on what you’re going to be using your webcam for. If it’s for streaming or video conferences, then 720p is more than acceptable. However, if you need better image quality for something like Youtube content creation, then 720p might not cut it.
Yes, it does have a built-in mic. Although it’s not the best, it still does a good job of transmitting audio.
If you are looking for a 4K webcam, the Logitech Brio is very much worth it. It is very affordable without skimping on features, and it produces very good image when streaming or recording.
Yes, but some users report that installing its drivers is not as straightforward as it should be. If you are having difficulties making the LifeCam Studio work with Windows 10, your best bet is to ask Microsoft support for assistance.