Webcam grainy images

November 14, 2005 9:17 PM

What, if anything, can be done about grainy images on webcam ? Initially , the cam was very crisp and clear resolution. Now , has rough textured appearance. resolution sucks. Is the USB cable / connection to blame? Or has Cam been damaged by some impact ?
posted by Agamenticus to computers & internet (6 comments total)

Add more light?
posted by smackfu at 9:25 PM on November 14, 2005

You've likely checked this, but have any software settings for image resolution/quality been modified by someone?
posted by NucleophilicAttack at 9:33 PM on November 14, 2005

Try turning the focus ring around the lens
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 9:34 PM on November 14, 2005

Aperture (if it has one) might be jammed, hence not enough light and it gets noisy by trying to crank up the gain in software.
posted by polyglot at 10:32 PM on November 14, 2005

Clean the lens, too. You can get a cloth to do so from a camera store. If it's a really cheap webcam, then the lens is plastic, and will degrade all on its own over time.
posted by mendel at 6:19 AM on November 15, 2005

Have tried all of these things. I'm thinking it's an internal problem . Seems to be clean lens, ring /focus works/light bright enough. Next I'm moving it to another computer to replicate issue.
posted by Agamenticus at 8:50 PM on November 15, 2005