WebCam resolution | specification vs. reality | HP 255 G6

[mywischn]

Dear all

I recently I bought the notebook HP 255 G6 with the feature number 2RR70EA:

http://www8.hp.com/de/de/products/laptops/product-detail.html?oid=18405072#!tab=specs

One of the main resons I bought this PC was the specification list which says it comes with a HD Camera for videochatting.

After updating all the drivers via HP support assistant and running all possible Windows updates I can access the camera, but only with a max. resolution of 640x480 instead of the HD specification of the camera of 720p=1280x720.

An updated driver can neither be found via autamated updating nor via intensive google research.

So I came up with two possoble conclusions:

1. The Notebook does not have a HD web camera, instead only a simple VGA camera (HP 255 G6 can be delivered in different variants with VGA and with HD camera). But this would be an error in the official speicification list of this model and I would feel fooled by HP.

2. It is a driver issue. Where to get the correct driver?

Can someone confirm or help me?

Thank you very much in advance.

[banhien]

@mywischn

Sorry I can't read information from your link but from Official document

           http://www8.hp.com/h20195/v2/getpdf.aspx/c05497611.pdf     (255 G6 AMD Processor)

           http://www8.hp.com/h20195/v2/GetPDF.aspx/c05488706.pdf   (250 G6 Intel Processor)

it has

    HP webcam with single digital microphone and HD (supporting WDR- Wide Dynamic Range) or VGA camera

and

        Webcam
       HP Webcam 14
       VGA camera, indicator LED, f2.4
       480p by 30 frames per second
       Single digital microphone

Regards.

[mywischn]

Thank you very much for the fast reply.

I also read the official document with all the specific features. For me the overal model is 255 G6 which can come equipped with totally different specifications as processors, RAM, HDD ans ALSO the webcam.

I bought the specific model 2RR70EA which according to the specification sheet comes with the HD version of the camera.

Sorry the website above was in German, where it was stated that it comes with the HP TrueVision HD Camera but basically this is a similar model in the UK:

http://store.hp.com/UKStore/Merch/Product.aspx?id=1WY96EA&opt=ABU&sel=DEF

Where can I find out which webcam is really built inside?

What can I do if this is relly a lower quality cam?

[DGroves]

you might want to read these links:

http://www.toptenreviews.com/computers/articles/1080p-2.0-mega-pixels-understanding-webcam-technical...

http://www8.hp.com/h20195/v2/getpdf.aspx/c05497611.pdf

your model laptop does list the webcam specs,

but also lists the webcams ability of taking pictures in "CAMERA" mode (see below) and reading the specs i see the 

webcam specs (moving video) is listed as VGA, which is 640x480

the webcam when in CAMERA MODE, is able to take  pictures (in rapid fire mode one after the other) in 720p

Camera

HP TrueVision HD Camera 4

Indicator LED, USB2.0, HD BSI sensor,

f2.0, WDR 720p by 30 frames per second

Single digital microphone

Webcam

HP Webcam 12 VGA camera,

indicator LED, USB 2.0, f2.4 480p

by 30 frames per second

Single digital microphone

if you want/need true high resolution video the logitech C920 add on webcam is still the king in reguards to video resolution/speed/software use and is about 50-65 dollars used on the USA ebay site

[mywischn]

Thank you very much for the explanation.

I wasn
t aware that there is a difference between WebCam (moving pictures) and Camera (single shoots). But this explains everything.

Nevertheless I think HP should state this more clearly, as many re-seller webistes take only one specification for webcam and often they use the term webcam for the camera specifictation.

I will now use an external webcam unfortunately. Thanky you anyway for your hep.

[DGroves]

I agree that HP could do better in this case. the specs were there but unless you know how to interpert those specs it can be quite confusing/misleading. HP marketing should really do a better job in explaning each spec if they are going to list them