News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Why can’t you buy a good webcam? by jokethrowaway on Tuesday December 22, 2020 @06:14AM (#25505132)
Those are great tips. I'll add a free one: just put your desk in front of a window and use that natural light
Re:Why can’t you buy a good webcam? by lmilcin on Tuesday December 22, 2020 @07:49AM (#25505728)
I kinda agree and disagree at the same time.

It takes a lot of work to beat natural light coming from your window. If you have restricted budget and can choose the time when you record, this is a very good option that I always recommend to people I talk to.

On the other hand, when you do remote work you don't choose the time. Also, you will probably have other considerations for your desk placement. In the end it is much more important that you feel comfortable when working at your desk than to have good lighting in your webcam for your coworkers.

So, if you like to sit front to the window then sure, go on. But if that would make you uncomfortable then I don't think it is worth it.

Re:Why can’t you buy a good webcam? by randycupertino on Tuesday December 22, 2020 @10:05PM (#25513946)
Also, coming from California and living on the Pacific, I have sort of a "too much light" problem. I've got sunrise on side of the house and sunset on the other and skylights in every room. I had an optimized setup in the living room but when I moved my office to the spare bedroom I am totally blasted out by the sunrise over the mountains and shadows come across my face as the sun moves.

I'm experimenting with moving my desk but the trial and error is a pita.

Re:Why can’t you buy a good webcam? by mauvehaus on Tuesday December 22, 2020 @08:25AM (#25505990)
Hello from Vermont. How does that help for meetings after, say, 3:30 this time of the year?
Re:Why can’t you buy a good webcam? by lmilcin on Tuesday December 22, 2020 @10:38AM (#25507256)
I am from Warsaw, Poland and believe it or not, Warsaw is about 7 degrees north from northernmost part of Vermont. Vermont spans 42 to 45 degrees while Warsaw is at 52 degrees.

Did you know that most of people in Canada live at the lattitude of Croatia or south of it?

Re:Why can’t you buy a good webcam? by mauvehaus on Tuesday December 22, 2020 @01:54PM (#25509753)
I lived in .be for 3 years. I believe it :-)

I think my favorite tidbit is that Rome and Boston are at the same latitude.

Re:Why can’t you buy a good webcam? by marton78 on Tuesday December 22, 2020 @06:00PM (#25512447)
Also, New York city and Naples, or Washington DC and Cairo.
Re:Why can’t you buy a good webcam? by GordonS on Tuesday December 22, 2020 @08:49AM (#25506201)
I have my desk in front of a window, facing the window. I keep the blind about halfway down though, because the glare makes be squint at the monitor uncomfortably.

The other option would be to not face the window, but then you have bright daylight shining onto your monitors instead.

Re:Why can’t you buy a good webcam? by Macha on Tuesday December 22, 2020 @10:08AM (#25506898)
Also a bright window behind you plays badly with some webcams automatic lighting adjust (including the logitech ones recommended here). It should just let the window be overexposed/blown out but it prefers to adjust the brightness such that that is reasonably lit with the effect of making the foreground look like I'm in a dark room.
Re:Why can’t you buy a good webcam? by rutthenut on Tuesday December 22, 2020 @06:53AM (#25505384)
Sod's law means that the window is often behind the desk, making video pics a silhouette, and the light that does come from the monitor can give some ghastly hues to your skin tone!