BenQ ideaCam S1 Pro: Live demo Webcam with 15x Zoom Lens, Marco Handheld Document Camera for Flexible Demonstration, Remote Work, and Product Inspection.

I have been looking for a better webcam to replace my laptop’s camera. When I saw the ideaCam by BenQ, it caught my attention and I know this is what I am expecting for. Connect through USB port so it is very easy to activate it. At my workstation home, I plug into my surface Dock 2 and it automatically detects it; no software installed needed. Compared to my built in cam, the camera quality is much improved. I look much brighter and clearer on the screen, and I won’t worry I look dark when having a Teams meeting with my colleagues. The autofocus function is how ideaCam distinguishes itself from other competitors. You won’t feel or see any image lag when you move yourself and quality stays the best.If you need to present your hand sketches while in a virtual meeting, this webcam allows you to maneuver easily to show the sketch on your desk. The autofocus function plays an important role here. You won’t need to worry the image is fuzzy when you move the webcam around. There is another function allowing you to focus closer. My guess is for the jewelry designer, who sometimes need to show the details normal eyes couldn’t see. They also provide you EnSpire for more advanced functions such as flip your image vertically or horizontally. You can even rotate your image without rotating the camera, which is amazing to me.If you rely on much interaction on the virtual meeting, this webcam is definitely designed for you. If you need a better quality of webcam to replace the lousy built-in webcam, this is also for you.

The BenQ ideaCam S1 Pro has exceeded my expectations in both professional and creative contexts. When seeking a replacement for my office camera, it caught my attention and has proven to be a remarkable choice.The camera quality surpasses my previous camera, providing brighter and clearer visuals on the screen. The autofocus feature distinguishes the product, eliminating image lag and maintaining optimal quality even with movement. This feature is particularly beneficial for presenting hand sketches during virtual meetings, allowing easy maneuvering without compromising image clarity.The product has proven to be invaluable not only for video conferencing but also for my creative pursuits. I frequently use it to demonstrate sketches and share my ideas on paper during virtual meetings. The autofocus and auto orientation functionality ensures that my drawings remain clear and detailed, effectively communicating my creative concepts. This additional utility makes the product a versatile tool catering to professional and creative needs.Whether for professional video calls, creative presentations, or documenting physical objects, the ideaCam S1 Pro stands out. It has enhanced my virtual interactions, providing superior image quality and functionality. Despite its price, the investment is worthwhile for those seeking a high-performance webcam with extra features. I recommend it for anyone looking to elevate their online calls and content creation.

Manual focus is useful, but this should have been a function of the remote 'puck'. The remote has a nice adjustment ring which can only be used for digital zoom. At the very least, this ring could have been user mappable to focus, exposure, color balance, etc. The GUI based focus adjustment is awkward to get to in the menus of EnSpire and the 'spot focus' button of the remote and the GUI is slow and constrained to a single screen location.I find myself frequently actuating the 'capture' button on the camera without meaning to.The remote 'puck' stops working if another window (besides Enspire) is highlighted. I don't see the value in disabling a remote which only works with one application.The macro lens is very useful, but without a storage location (magnetic?) on the camera or its 'mount', I expect to lose it soon.Not being able to horizontally 'pan' (yaw axis rotation) the camera is awkward in the monitor mounted mode. Digital 'panning' during digital 'zooming' (via the puck ring function) is also missing (and useful).Digital panning and zooming could have been supported with wheel mice using existing conventions were not; mouse wheels do nothing in EnSpire. Likewise, right-clicking, shift-clicking, ctl-clicking have no effect in the Enspire window. The drawing function in Enspire has not text entry so quick labels for highlighted features isn't practical, an issue for live interactive use.These issues are almost all software addressable, if BENQ would care to address them.The hardware is better than other webcams I have used, although the focus range is limited (nothing from 2 to 10 cm) compared to manual mechanical focus cameras.I'm attaching a depth-of-field demo taken from about 1 inch off the end of a printed circuit board with focus set in the middle of the board.