Test and comparison of three AverMedia webcams: CAM313, PW315 and PW513. Choosing the best one for streaming and communication.
The past 2023 brought back into our lives a long-forgotten thing – webcams. Since the topic for us is relatively unexplored, they decided to limit ourselves to only one manufacturer, from whom they ordered the entire line. But, if you ask, we can order other models for tests. So, we will have three models in work today: CAM313 for 3500 rubles, PW315 for 8500 and PW513 for 17,000. Let’s see if they are worth the money and if you can launch your channel on Twitch with a regular webcam.
AverMedia Live Streamer CAM 313
Resolution: 1920х1080, 2 megapixels
Sensor size: 1 / 2.7-inch CMOS
Working distance: 40 – 100 cm
Microphones: two, mono
Connection: USB 2.0, 1.5 m
Dimensions: 9×5.3×4.7 mm
Weight: 130 g
Price for April 2023: from 3500 rubles ($ 46)
Let’s start with the junior solution: this is Live Streamer CAM 313… It costs from 3000 to 4500 rubles and comes in a small box, inside which is the device itself and a brief installation and launch instructions.
The model is assembled from plastic and made relatively simple. But it’s like with monitors: a webcam is not a device with which you constantly contact, so it can be assembled as you like – the main thing is that it works, shows a picture and looks normal on the table.
There is a non-removable folding platform for fastening. It can work as a small stand with an adjustable angle, it can be hooked onto a monitor with even the thinnest frames, or screwed onto a tripod, which will save you during broadcasting or video recording. The cable length is one and a half meters, and this is enough to throw the camera onto the monitor and reach the computer standing under the table. As for the interface, the old USB 2.0 is enough, which is not surprising against the background of Full HD at 30 frames per second.
CAM 313 starts up simply: plugged into USB, and it works. The camera is built into Windows and appears as a source in all programs from OBS to Zoom. The same thing happens when connected to Xbox.
Difficulties
The fact is that the CAM 313 has a wide-angle lens. In some situations, this is good: for example, if you are sitting at a meeting and there are three of us to get into the frame. But at home, this complicates the process: the camera captures two and a half meters around you and in order for the background to look more or less neat, you have to prepare much more thoroughly for negotiations or streams.
Naturally, there is no zoom, so if you want to remove the entire background and occupy almost the entire frame, you need to put the camera on a tripod and sit down from it at a distance of 35-40 centimeters. This, incidentally, corresponds to the minimum focusing distance. The diaphragm is completely open here, so the CAM 313 cannot blur the background.
Now about the quality of the shooting. To begin with, the sensor is very small: 1 / 2.7 inches with a resolution of 2 megapixels. Accordingly, it usually lacks light, and the camera actively uses digital processing and increases the sensitivity, which, of course, leads to noise in the picture. However, this does not mean that the CAM 313 performs poorly. If you take a purely home environment, it gives a picture better than most gaming laptops.
Correction
However, most of the complaints relate to work out of the box: you took it out, turned it on and try to shoot or communicate with something. But since we are still talking about the camera and video, then for a good image you need at least minimal attention to such things as post-processing and lighting.
You put a more powerful lamp on the table, direct it through the reflection from the nearest cabinet, and the situation changes dramatically. And if you put at least one softbox on the side and a reflector on the opposite side, then the CAM 313 is enough for a shameful picture for Twitch or even YouTube.
At the same time, problems with the “width” and the background are successfully solved by third-party programs. Is the same NVIDIA Broadcast perfectly lathers the background, and if you also put back light, it works almost without errors.
The only thing that cannot be corrected in any way is the sound. There are two microphones on the camera that record in mono, and they are enough for a maximum of Zoom: the receivers are very sensitive and almost no low range.
As a result, the CAM 313 is enough for any task. Conferences are not a question, meetings in Zoom are the same. Twitch – set the minimum of light to two or three thousand and more: the picture turns out even better than that of the front-cameras of almost all mid-budget phones. Naturally, there is no need to wait for miracles. But taking into account that the cheapest camera with which it is generally worth climbing into the video will cost 45 thousand, CAM 313, no matter how trite it sounds, works out every ruble.
AVerMedia PW315
Resolution: 1920х1080, 60 fps, 2 Mp
Sensor: CMOS
Viewing angle: 95.8 °
Microphones: two, stereo
Connection: USB 2.0, 1.5 m
Dimensions: 9.5×5.4×4.6 cm
Weight: 136 g
Price for March 2023: 8500 rubles ($ 113)
The next model is PW315… It costs more serious – from 8500 to 9500 rubles – but according to the description it offers much more. There are 60 frames, and zoom, and noise reduction, and even autofocus with artificial intelligence.
In terms of the delivery set, everything is the same as for the CAM 313: a box, instructions and a 1.5-meter cable with USB 2.0. Externally, the PW315 is different. First, it is bigger and heavier. Secondly, it is partially made of metal. Third, the lens here is fisheye and captures much more space than the CAM313. Unfortunately, the last point slightly limits the scope of the camera, well, or expands, depending on the tasks.
For some reason, for the 315th model in the same proprietary software now has the ability to crop the image, which was so lacking in the CAM 313. Plus, the automatic digital zoom that tracks subjects. If you move around the frame, then the software, albeit with a delay, sprinkles the image so that you are always in the center. At the same time, he is also able to highlight the person who is speaking, which can be useful during group conferences when several people are sitting in front of the camera.
But in the picture, the only thing better than the PW315 is the frame rate, 60 versus 30 fps. Otherwise, everything is plus or minus the same as in the CAM313.
The conclusion on the 315th camera will be as follows: although formally the camera is of a higher class, it solves tasks that are quite specific for an ordinary user. Rather, it is a tool for holding some kind of meetings for 2-5 people in one room or master classes in which you need to cram as much space as possible into the frame. For pure chatting on Zoom or Twitch streaming, the 313 model is much better suited.
AVerMedia PW513
Resolution: 3840×2160, 30 fps, 8 MP
Sensor: CMOS
Aperture ratio: F2.8
Viewing angle: 94 °
Focusing distance: 10 cm
Connection: USB 3.0, 1.5m
Dimensions: 13×5.3×3 cm
Weight: 199 g
Price for March 2023: 17,000 rubles ($ 225)
Finally the top model – PW513… This is already almost 17,000 rubles, and the money is asked, in fact, only for 4K. Externally, the camera is much larger in size, although the metal is used only on the back, where all the electronics are apparently located.
AVerMedia does not say about the size of the matrix, but its resolution increased from 2 to 8 megapixels, and the lens was given a brightness of F2.8, which is pretty good. True, as on the PW315, we are talking about a “fish eye” that captures almost the entire room. But, due to the resolution, here you can already safely scribble a picture and not lose much in quality.
The only thing to be warned is that not all programs work with 4K. If the same OBS and AverMedia RECentral easily accept the capabilities of the camera, then Zoom takes the stream in Full HD.
As for the quality of shooting, in conditions without preparation – that is, in the absence of light – the camera is not far from its younger brothers. She clearly lifts up the sensitivity and produces a decent amount of noise. But if you do everything smartly, then the difference between the PW 513 and the younger 313 is huge. Yes, the resolution of the older model is still not enough, and in no case can it be compared with semi-professional cameras, but in general the picture is more detailed.
Let’s summarize. Every single model works fine, does not glitch, does not fall apart and performs its functions as it should. But before buying each of them, you need to clearly understand why you need them and what you want to get.
CAM 313 is probably the smartest option we’ve tested to try your hand at Twitch. With minimal light, the camera gives a shameful picture, from which you can not only chat at the bottom of the screen against the background of the game, but also bring yourself to the fore and communicate with the audience.
The camera copes well with all Zoom needs. Of course, a short trick will force you to tighten up with cleaning the background, but no one bothers to master programs like NVIDIA Broadcast, which blur everything that is behind you.
PW315 is already a solution for conferences and some general lessons or meetings. For comfortable streaming, it has a too wide viewing angle, which is much more difficult to deal with than on the 313rd model.
Likewise with the older PW513: it is rather a tool for conferences or additional plans during broadcast or video filming. As the main camera, it is too picky about the accuracy of the background. Although the matrix is much better than that of the PW315.
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