Logitech's C922 Pro Stream webcam has been on the market for a good while now. Released in 2016, this version is improved over the lauded C920, and it's one specifically geared toward providing pro-quality video to new and veteran streamers alike.
Coming in at an affordable $99, the C922 has proven over the last two years to be a widely popular webcam: Dozens of streamers use it for their broadcasts every day, and it's easily made Top 10 lists around the web for its crisp video and sleek design. It also helps that the C922 is intuitive and easy to set up.
We recently decided it was time to take the C922 for a spin and see what all the fuss was about. Here's what we thought.
Design
Out of the box, the C922 comes in two parts: the webcam itself and a detachable tripod. Both are sleek, if understated, and will fit right in with all the other peripherals on your desk. The point of a webcam isn't to call attention to itself, and the C922's utilitarian aesthetic nails that ethos.
Looking at the wedge-shaped cam itself, the C922 has a single lens in the center and two omnidirectional microphones on either side. When the webcam is in use, two soft-white, half-moon lights flash to easily indicate you're live. With Logitech's more recent push to incorporate more RGB elements into their products, the C922's soft-white is a bit drab knowing what could be -- but then again, you can't fault a two-year-old product for not implementing more recent design decisions.
Underneath the lens, the webcam is seated on a sturdy, L-shaped clip which has an adjustable mechanism that allows it to be clipped to a monitor (or other display). When in use, most of the clip sits on the back of what it's connected to. In most cases, I didn't find that to be a problem, but thinner displays may prove a tad fickle depending on the make and model.
If you find yourself falling into that boat, or just don't want to mount the C922 on your display, then the included tripod is going to be your best bet. The bottom of the L-shaped clip is where you'll find the threaded hole for the tripod. Once attached, you can position the webcam how you want it and lock it into place.
At its initial height, the tripod stands at about 7 inches when fully unfolded. Depending on your setup, this might work for you or it might not. I found that the tripod was the easiest, sturdiest way to mount the C922, but I also found that it didn't always provide the most flattering angles. In the end, it's completely up to personal preference since the tripod and clip both work as advertised.
Lastly, the C922's 5-foot cable means you can basically place the webcam anywhere on your setup. It's nice to see a webcam afford its users flexibility in this regard, even if I'd prefer the cable to be braided instead of the usual plastic.
Performance
Considering you buy webcams to actually use them and not look at them sitting on your desk, we're all really here to see how the C922 performs. And from our time with it, we can say it performs exceedingly well.
The C922 camera can record (or display) video at both 1080p and 720p. However, unlike the C920, the C922 is able to hit 60 FPS at both resolutions, making it a much better option than its predecessor. What's more, whether you're streaming on Twitch or catching up with pals via Skype, this webcam's video is super crisp and clear.
With the C922's easy-to-install software, you can tweak a ton of settings, too. Everything from contrast to field of view and more has a dial to turn. Even in low-light conditions, the C922 performs very well, taking photos and capturing video that were clear and essentially lag-free.
Integrating the C922 into something like OBS is hassle-free. In my experience, I took the C922 out of the box, attached it to the tripod, plugged it in, and started using it in the streaming software in less than five minutes. And that's on the initial setup. When you're a streamer or YouTuber, time is always of the essence, so it's great to see that Logitech's made a quality webcam that's super simple to use.
When it comes to actually streaming, I tested the C922 on my high(er)-end desktop. With an i7-770k 4.2GHz processor, 32GB of RAM, and a GTX 1080 8GB in my rig, I was able to stream Warhammer: Vermintide 2 on Twitch without too many issues. Although I would've liked to have gotten a solid 60 FPS, I was able to get 1080p video out of the C922 at about 45-50 FPS -- even with streaming the game on High settings at 2560x1440. That's pretty damn good for a $99 webcam. In fact, I'd argue it's more than enough for your average streamer.
Green Screen Effect
The C922 Pro Stream also comes with Personify Chroma Cam, which lets you put various overlays on your video, among other things. But its biggest draw is that it purportedly allows you to remove your background sans green screen. In theory, it's an awesome bit of tech, saving you the hassle of buying and setting up your own green screen. But in practice, it's more hit or miss.
If you're in a brightly lit room, Chroma Cam does a pretty darn good job of removing your background, although if you're like me and wear glasses, there are some areas that it just won't remove, such right through the lenses. In a darker room, Chroma Cam is considerably choppier, cutting off parts of your ears and head if you move too much -- or not removing all of the background, such as your chair.
If you want to look as professional as you possibly can when you're streaming, it's a bit hard to rely on Chroma Cam to get things done. You're still going to want to grab a green screen and go that route. But if that type of thing doesn't bother you too much, then the C922's Chroma Cam works fine enough.
Verdict
Right now, this two-year-old webcam is still one of the very best on the market -- especially at its price point. Its popularity is underlined by its easy setup and ability to output 1080p video at 60 frames per second. It works with OBS and Xsplit out of the box, as well as PC, Mac, and Xbox One.
It might not have all the bells and whistles found in other webcams, but it provides the essentials in a convincing manner. Sure, Chroma Cam green screen can be hit or miss, but most software solutions to background removal encounter issues from time to time anyway (that's why a lot of streamers still use actual green screens). Just buy the C922 and a green screen -- and you're more than future-proofing your setup.
Reliability often comes at a price, but Logitech is giving it away at a steal.
You can buy the C922 Pro Stream on Amazon for $99.
[Note: Logitech provided the C922 Pro Stream webcam used in this review.]
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