Ultra HD 4K Webcam with Optical Zoom Lens 3840x2160 High Definition Mini USB Camera with Sony IMX317 Image Sensor for Mac Window Linux Android (4K USB Camera, 3.6mm Lens B)

I ordered this camera to use with my MacBook Pro, assuming the camera would have some kind of USB socket so I could use any suitable, short, USB cable to connect it to my computer. But it turns out that the camera is hardwired to a very heavy, 3m long USB cable, terminating in an old-style USB-A plug, meaning I would have to use an adapter to fit the Mac. Moreover, having a cable this long would mean a lot of mess on the desk, and would make the camera a pain to store.Apart from the heavy, non-removable cable, the camera itself seems good enough: certainly it worked when I plugged into a Windows PC with the right sized USB sockets. But the lens is a serious disappointment. A 10x optical zoom, with manual focus, zoom and aperture, it seemed like it would tick all the boxes. However, the lens arrived dusty (some internal), and with a heavily marked front element.I was able to clean the front of the lens with some specialist lens solution, but then I discovered its optical limitations. Firstly, it could not focus at infinity at either end of its zoom range, making it more like an 8x zoom; secondly, the zoom mechanism was rough and tight, despite loosening the screw all the way, making precise framing tricky.But unforgivable in my opinion, when selling a "4K" (ie, 8 megapixel) camera, the lens itself was only rated to resolve to 3 megapixels ("3MP" was clearly engraved on the housing), meaning it was not possible to use the full resolving power of the Sony IMX317 image sensor.So, even though the camera "worked" first time, a combination of the ridiculously long and heavy tethered USB-A cable, and a dirty lens with focusing issues, a rough zoom action and inadequate resolving power for the sensor in the camera itself, means I have decided to return this item.Shame: it could have been SO much better with a USB socket on the camera, and a decent lens.

Good picture, but very poor sound. If you plan to use it as a webcam, you will be disappointed.

The accompanying image was taken from a single frame shot at 3840x2160 via opencv (which backs onto ffmpeg).The camera needs a lot of light to support it, which is fair enough, but what is really not good at all is to see such gross compression artefacts where there should be none at all.The image capture is cropped from a raw tiff taken from a direct feed.If you look closely you can see squares caused by compression.Sorry to say, but this is being returned.

Camera meets advertised spec. Lens does not, poor image and vignettes.

Good build quality, great sensor.No auto focus (not a biggie for me), but significant vignetting with supplied lens