A worthy upgrade to the great C920
- Manufacturer: Logitech
- Type: Webcam
- Platforms: PC
- Reviewed on: PC
- Device Supplied by: Manufacturer
The camera that streamers love just got even better.
The C922 is the direct update to the well-known C920, a favourite among streamers and content creators. As a result of the C920s popularity in the gaming zone, it has been upgraded and tweaked to be the perfect camera for streamers.
The upgrades are modest but extremely guided towards streamers, with the C922 now supporting 60FPS at 720p, a 78-degree field of view and an improved auto-focus sensor.
I have over the past few weeks used the C922 on my stream, comparing it to my trusty C920. The only feature that stands out immediately is the 60FPS at 720p, making my cam feed smoother than ever, although the other upgrades do their part in making an overall brilliant experience.
The improved autofocus is one of my personal favourite upgrades; I used to keep my C920 locked at a certain focal point that I was most frequently in. With the C922 I have allowed the auto-focus to work its magic. The environment I use my cam in does prove challenging, sitting in a darkened room, using artificial light to highlight my face, this usually meant a locked focus was the best option. The C922 has had no issues keeping my mush sharp all the time. It is a relief to not have to worry about my movement as much on camera, having hours of footage rendered useless due to my staying out of my locked focal range.
One function that seems to have been tweaked is low light compensation. While I did not do a huge amount of adjustment to my C920, I have applied a fair amount more to my C922, and although the C922 keeps my background nice and dark, out of the box it was overexposing me a fair amount. It’s not by any means a deal-breaker, as with a slight adjustment to my lighting and the application of a couple of filters and adjustments, I was back to my usual look.
Setting up on the C922 is a simple matter of plugging it in, and away you go. Using the Logitech G HUB you can get all the settings you might need, which is a huge pro. The G HUB software is one of my favourite interfaces; all of my Logitech/Blue hardware is in one place and so easy to access.
The G HUB is one of the best reasons to pick up any Logitech related products. G HUB currently controls my Yeti X, C922, C920 and Lightsync headset and it’s super convenient and user-friendly.
The only aesthetic change to the C922 compared to the C920 is the colour of the lights. It now sports softer white lights rather than blue. Admittedly, I was a fan of the blue lights. It’s not a huge deal, though I admit that I would one day like to be able to customise the colour of the lights. It would not be of any practical use, but given the clear streamer focus this camera has, I am sure that being able to match the lights to the rest of your setup’s aesthetic would not go amiss, and would be one of those cherry-on-the-top features.
Included in the box with the C922 is a small Tripod, something I have never really seen done before. It is really useful, as it means you can mount the C922 both traditionally on your monitor, but it also enables you to mount the C922 anywhere you can stand the tripod.
The tripod is of a nice construction, consisting mainly of metal with extendable legs and an adjustable mounting point that both rotates all the way around and tilts to a fully vertical position. Definitely a nice thing to have included especially for your first set-up, as a camera mounting solution is usually overlooked.
The only shortfall I have found with my C922 is one of the most talked-about features among streamers, and one that I have been asked about multiple times: the background removal. while it does work and it’s not bad considering it does not require a green screen or the use of any chroma key, I, personally, have chosen to not use it.
The background removal works and the background replacement is okay, but it leaves a lot to be desired. Nothing that I have ever used – with the exception of a green screen – can get you the desired sharp edges and perfect results. You will find that the C922 will almost mask around where you are when you set it up, meaning it struggles to not cut-out things that come outside of that. For example, when I raised my arms it just faded out my hands. It also struggles with small gaps. My headset of choice, the Astro A40, leaves a gap between my head and the headset either side of the head cushion and the C922 could not cut that out.
The technology is impressive, and if you really wanted a background removal without a green screen then this is a great way to go, but I personally think the C922 shines better without the use of that software.
C922 or C920?
While the C920 is still a very good camera, I do think the C922 is a worthy upgrade. Being able to use the camera at 720p and 60FPS is an invaluable tool, allowing your camera to look just as smooth as your gameplay.
I would personally recommend that, if you have the spare funds, the C922 is worth upgrading to.
Summary
Overall, the C922 is a brilliant camera and maintains the strong position in the market that the C920 holds, and while I don’t think the C920 is going anywhere anytime soon, I do think the C922 is the better option for content creators. For anyone looking for a new camera, the C922 offers excellent value, and the 720p/60 video quality makes it the superior choice over the C920, or indeed many of its competitors.
