I’ve got a Microsoft VX-3000 webcam for 3 reasons:
- 640x480 sensor
- Is cheap (U$S 35 here)
- Is listed as supported on the Gspca/Spca5xx, Spca5xx-LE WebCams Driver Compatibility Chart
Is marked in Support column with Yes in green, and 3 stars… Now I see why 3 and no more, it have some video quality problems that I will describe in this post.
Before describing the problem, I must tell that is the 3rd day searching the web for a solution and no luck. Only a thread in a Ubuntu forum with no solution.
Also I can’t find a Bug Report area for the gspca drivers.
This is the scenario an the problem:
My hardware
Processor: Pentim 4 1.8Ghz
USB version: 2.0
Webcam: Microsoft VX-3000 (LifeCam)
lsusb:
Bus 003 Device 003: ID 046d:c517 Logitech, Inc.
Bus 003 Device 002: ID 03f0:2f11 Hewlett-Packard
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
**Bus 001 Device 004: ID 045e:00f5 Microsoft Corp.**
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
My installed software
SO: openSUSE 10.3, KDE 3.5.7 “release 72.9”
Kernel: 2.6.22.17-0.1-default
USB Controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] USB 2.0 Controller
Webcam driver package: gspcav1-kmp-default, version: 20071224_2.6.22.17_0.1-10.2 i586
The problem
The webcam is recognized, after plug it this is the dmesg result:
usb 1-3: new full speed USB device using ohci_hcd and address 5
usb 1-3: new device found, idVendor=045e, idProduct=00f5
usb 1-3: new device strings: Mfr=0, Product=1, SerialNumber=0
usb 1-3: Product: USB camera
usb 1-3: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
/usr/src/packages/BUILD/gspcav1-20071224/obj/default/gspca_core.c: USB GSPCA camera found. SONIX JPEG (sn9c1xx)
/usr/src/packages/BUILD/gspcav1-20071224/obj/default/gspca_core.c: [spca5xx_probe:4275] Camera type JPEG
/usr/src/packages/BUILD/gspcav1-20071224/obj/default/gspca_core.c: [spca5xx_getcapability:1249] maxw 640 maxh 480 minw 160 minh 120
Then when I try some program so see the video output the quality is bad, as I would describe:
gqcam
This is the most versatile program I’ve found to test the webcam video outupt.
When started, it uses the small format, and video is very dark, colors distorted:
http://www.pbueti.com.ar/web/images/vx3000/shoot01.jpg
Seems that nothing I do with controls help to get my face visible. Something happens allways, in gccam and the other programs I’ve tested… When touching any paramenter (brightness, hue, etc), contrast is reset to a fixed level, then when touching contrast control is goes to the set position).
In half size same kind of problems.
In full size the image is accepable, but same problem with contrast control:
http://www.pbueti.com.ar/web/images/vx3000/shoot02.jpg
This is the only program and format with I can get a decent video output.
Skype
In Options - Video Devices I’ve a Test button, when pressed I see this:
http://www.pbueti.com.ar/web/images/vx3000/shoot03.jpg
Similar to half quality but seeing only a portion of the sensor capture surface.
In a video call, sending video looks similar, but after a few seconds the image starts scaling, camera led blinks almost 5 times and at the end video seems to be ok: I can see myself almost gqcam in full size, but the other person only see a distorted frozen picture of me vertically inverted.
Kopete
Going to Settings -> Devices -> Video I see video output exaclty like gqcam half size, and controls react with the same problem touching contrast.
Conclusion
If someone can share it’s experience in order to try to solve this problem I can run necesary tests and submit the results here.
Also if someone know where to report the bugs of gspca controller I’ll do it.
Thanks, Scot.
