My webcam suddenly looks wrong and I hate it. Hope me!
January 5, 2022 1:35 PM Subscribe
I bought this webcam on Amazon back at the start of the pandemic when any webcam was nearly impossible to buy. I recently replaced the PC it's connected to and now everything looks wrong and I can't find where I fix this.
It has no software and thus no direct settings. I distinctly remember however changing settings somewhere when I got it, and those changes became universal across all applications.
I recently cracked my motherboard (don't ask) and replaced my PC (but not my monitor.) Having plugged in the same webcam, the viewport has reverted to what I suspect it was originally. I need to change it back to not be wide-angle. I cannot have meetings with that much of my home office in frame, and also its alarmingly close up!
My Windows 10 Camera app has no relevant settings for this that I can find. I also can't find anything in Teams, or in Zoom. Am I missing something or is there something else I should be trying?
It has no software and thus no direct settings. I distinctly remember however changing settings somewhere when I got it, and those changes became universal across all applications.
I recently cracked my motherboard (don't ask) and replaced my PC (but not my monitor.) Having plugged in the same webcam, the viewport has reverted to what I suspect it was originally. I need to change it back to not be wide-angle. I cannot have meetings with that much of my home office in frame, and also its alarmingly close up!
My Windows 10 Camera app has no relevant settings for this that I can find. I also can't find anything in Teams, or in Zoom. Am I missing something or is there something else I should be trying?
Best answer: Zoom does have a setting for this.
In Zoom go to Settings->Video. Immediately under the Camera dropdown at the top of the window (under the preview of your video) you will see two checkboxes "Original Ratio" and "HD". Those control how "wide angle" the view is, at least in Zoom.
If "HD" is checked, your 1080p camera will give a wider field of view. By unchecking it you will get the narrower feed that shows les of your room (and also worse picture quality, which some people like).
posted by The Bellman at 2:09 PM on January 5, 2022
In Zoom go to Settings->Video. Immediately under the Camera dropdown at the top of the window (under the preview of your video) you will see two checkboxes "Original Ratio" and "HD". Those control how "wide angle" the view is, at least in Zoom.
If "HD" is checked, your 1080p camera will give a wider field of view. By unchecking it you will get the narrower feed that shows les of your room (and also worse picture quality, which some people like).
posted by The Bellman at 2:09 PM on January 5, 2022
Response by poster: Thank you both so much! I have my first meeting of the new year tomorrow and was having a mini-meltdown. But I downloaded the local clients for both Skype and Zoom and between them, I once again appear like a functional professional.
(Which is a complete lie, of course, but nobody needs a literal view of my domestic chaos.)
Was I looking for settings on the web apps for both? Yes. Was that really very dim? Also yes.
posted by DarlingBri at 2:29 PM on January 5, 2022 [1 favorite]
(Which is a complete lie, of course, but nobody needs a literal view of my domestic chaos.)
Was I looking for settings on the web apps for both? Yes. Was that really very dim? Also yes.
posted by DarlingBri at 2:29 PM on January 5, 2022 [1 favorite]
Remember that having more light in your face also helps your appearance. I actually have a desk task light that I can bend to be behind the webcam.
posted by kschang at 6:40 PM on January 5, 2022
posted by kschang at 6:40 PM on January 5, 2022
Response by poster: Remember that having more light in your face also helps your appearance. I actually have a desk task light that I can bend to be behind the webcam.
I have USB ring lights :)
posted by DarlingBri at 1:58 AM on January 6, 2022 [1 favorite]
I have USB ring lights :)
posted by DarlingBri at 1:58 AM on January 6, 2022 [1 favorite]
« Older A simple repeating task in Windows | Looking for rigid steel 6" and 12" rulers with... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by sailoreagle at 1:41 PM on January 5, 2022 [1 favorite]