How I fixed my webcam issue

[whiba]

just wanted to add that when you adjust the brightness setting through Live Messenger, the settings are maintained in other applications, even when just taking a picture.

Again, NO NEED TO OPEN YOUR LAPTOP.

Thanks to user "isp" on the hp support forums for that info.

[Mako]

I've tried every software solution possible I could think of...Some slightly worked but was still extremely dark for anything but extremely bright lighting conditions which wasn't acceptable.


edit:

I'm wondering if they used the exact same webcam in all models, or such..


Mine is a 1010NR, what model was you guys that had the camera work through the software? Can you post an in use photo as well please?



Now comes the question of when HP is going to supply us a webcam utility...

[JKoltner]

Whiba -

One can always take an image, no matter how dark, and just "gain up" the individuals pixels until the brightest one is 255 (or whatever, depending how many bits per pixel you're using), but it's a false economy: You can't imagine the *signal to noise ratio* of the picture (effectively, graininess) with this approach.

Removing the filter provide a *true* increase in image quality. OK, *conceivably* it could still be a software problem, but even if that were the case, the chances that a software fix actually causes removal of the filter to be a *problem* are quite remote.

Go ahead, remove your filter too, you'll be happy that you did.

[aperry]

All, I found this solution on another webpage, and it worked GREAT for me.....

Whiba, would you mind posting some webcam screenshots to show us how effective this is? I'm a little skeptical only because I installed Ubuntu specifically to determine whether this could be a software problem. I was able to boost brightness and gamma and everything in Ubuntu, but it really didn't make a difference. Instead of a grainy black image that's completely useless, I was able to get a lighter gray image that was also completely useless. The image quality never even slightly approached the picture that's posted on the first page of this thread.

Thanks,
Aaron

[Mr. Heat Miser]

+ for removing the tint square. It is a least 50% improvement in the amount of light shown on the camera.

[elipsoid]

I already posted some pictures before the site went down. This is a screenshot from skype of unmodified and unadjusted webcam.

[aperry]

Nice. Thanks for the pic. Prior to removing the film, mine would never give me a picture like that. Maybe you got one of the good ones!

[whiba]

I don't doubt that removing the tinted piece improves the image. Of course it will, you're removing a tinted piece that sits in front of the camera!

I myself was wary of opening the computer (even though many here have done it), so that brightness solution worked for me. I'm using the webcam solely for being able to see my wife/kid when I'm on the road. I'm not trying to take high quality pictures (this is a pretty crappy camera anyway).

I will post some pictures later - some before and afters.

Not to mention the tinted/mirrored piece does actually look pretty nice aesthetically when it's left in.

[Mako]

I already posted some pictures before the site went down. This is a screenshot from skype of unmodified and unadjusted webcam.

What model of the 1000 that do you have? I'm wondering if some models are having an issue with the camera, mine is the 8.9" screen what size is yours and such?

[Jurai]

mine was a 1030nr, had dark webcam problem and removed tinted plastic to fix

[elipsoid]

What model of the 1000 that do you have? I'm wondering if some models are having an issue with the camera, mine is the 8.9" screen what size is yours and such?

I have a 10" screen. I ordered mine about a week after the mini became available, so it is one of the first batch.
I totally understand that the plastic in front of the webcam takes some light away, but I still think that setting the webcam properly in skype and other programs should make it usable. I don't believe there are more different webcams.

[aperry]

I have a 10" screen. I ordered mine about a week after the mini became available, so it is one of the first batch.
I totally understand, that the plastic in front of the webcam takes some light away, but I still think that setting the webcam properly in skype and other programs should make it usable. I don't believe there are more different webcams.

Elipsoid, no offense but if your photo above is really from an "unmodified and unadjusted" webcam, then your Mini does not suffer from the problem that mine did. So it may not be right to assume everyone will get the same results that you did simply by tuning the software settings.

Aaron