JLab - Epic Cam Webcam - Black

This camera is very vivid and is adaptable for desk or on top of monitor

JLab almost had the perfect webcam here, the simple setup and on-camera controls are ingenious! The microphones work excellently, and the camera quality is sharp and clear. Low light performance is great, and the inclusion of a second magnetic fabric microphone cover is great for an extra bit of personalization on a truly "work-focused" webcam. It also features a fully articulating ball head, monitor edge mount, 1/4-inch tripod mount, and a very nice, braided USB cable! It's 2K (1440P) resolution gives the Epic Cam an "epic" leg up on most of the other offerings in the ~$100 price point! The only real negatives are the lack of software or software adjustments available with the camera (something akin to "Logi Tune") and the lack of privacy shutter in any capacity, software or hardware! This seems like a glaring design oversight on an otherwise excellent webcam, I have taken to just turning the camera around when not using it but would love to just slide or flip a privacy shutter over the lens. Overall, this is still an excellent webcam that is easy to use and setup. Software and privacy shutter aside, the 2k resolution is incredible to use for Teams calls or streaming after work, while also allowing a laser sharp image when using the physical zoom control! This camera looks equally at home in your office or a gamer streaming setup, while also providing clear images, physical aperture and zoom control, multiple mounting options, and a lot of physical adjustments to get the perfect looks. The lack of software controls can easily be updated later by releasing software and the privacy shutter just leads to creative ways of giving yourself privacy, like turning the camera around or placing a sticky note over it (trusty old sticky note!). For $100, JLab's Epic Cam stands up well against the competition and offers better image resolution versus most others, 2K vs 1080P!

The JLab Epic USB Webcam’s 2K resolution and 30 fps frame rate stands out among the virtual crowd. I was able to use the Epic webcam right out of the box as it arrived just in time for a video meeting. This webcam immediately elevated my video calls by providing high definition video resolution. It was pretty easy to use on apps like Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Meet and more. I was impressed when I instantly noticed the increase in camera quality. Connectivity I tested this USB webcam on both PC and Mac with no connectivity issues. I noticed that Microsoft Teams on my PC laptop defaulted to the Epic immediately. Most other times on PC & Mac, any app I used required me to change the camera input manually in just a few clicks, but I still found it easy to plug & play. My PCs have USB ports for a direct plug-in. My Macbook Pro only has USB-C ports so I used a multi-port hub and was able to connect successfully. Mounting & Accessories My work-from-home office environment has a multi-monitor setup, so it’s very convenient to be able to hook up the Epic webcam to my laptop and place the camera anywhere I need. This camera mounts neatly on top of a monitor or laptop by extending the kickstand. I appreciate that it also has a threaded mounting option to use with a tripod or any ¼”-20 threaded mount. If I want to make the camera physically match the ambiance, there are two woven face plates, white and dark gray to choose from which can be changed in a snap. Zoom & Exposure Buttons There are two touch-activated buttons on this webcam. The zoom button rotates through 4 digital zooms gradually getting closer to the center of the view. I prefer to stay in the first two zoom levels since I usually set it up on a monitor right in front of me. The exposure button also has 4 settings gradually getting brighter and more precise exposure control with a long-press of the button. I was initially having some trouble with the exposure, but JLab provided helpful troubleshooting tips and I was able to fix my issue in no time. Natural or LED Lighting Lighting is essential to get the best out of this camera or really any camera, but WFH environments aren’t always equipped with production lighting. Being backlit or being in a low light environment will lower the quality of any camera, the Epic being no exception. My experience was that in very low light scenarios, the exposure button levels were difficult to notice. Some kind of lighting is needed to achieve the highest quality, whether it’s natural light from a window or an LED panel. Final Thoughts I am really enjoying the JLab Epic HD Webcam because it’s easy to use, lightweight, and compact. Simply put, it has better quality than any of my built-in laptop cameras across multiple platforms so it’s an easy upgrade if you’re in the market for a webcam with these specs.

I own many cameras for my house hold and for my work. From COVID lock down to hybrid office setup to travelling for work I have done it all.. These days with team collaboration the need to connect and substitute in person meetings, having a nice camera is a need. Jlab has many products that I have tested and have been impressed with in the past. This camera is no different. The build is nice and solid. The appearance is nice and sleek. Setup was a snap. Plug and play. No need to download any software. It worked automatically with Zoom, Teams, WebEx, Google meet without any issues. Gaming and other streaming was fine as well. Mic was nice. Others heard me crystal clear. The best part was the camera. I have had other makes where the camera just did not cut it with the angle of aperture. This was waa spot on. It was just right with distance and light adjustment was perfect. Nice job Jlab. Another good product for your inventory. I would recommend this product based on my use.

EPIC USB WEBCAM from JLAB I’ve created a comfortable work station centered on a nice, really big monitor, with a separate keyboard/mouse all connected to my laptop, Before I attached this EPIC Webcam to my very large LG monitor, my current video camera was pushed off to one side because it’s embedded in my laptop. And this EPIC camera is much better in every viewing measurement. It’s sharper, far less grain, and crisp images. This is an improvement I'm very pleased with. SPECS: JLAB’s EPIC Webcam does a good job upgrading my image while simplifying my home/ office meeting staging. The EPIC USB camera has been a great addition to my work station. It offers full 2k resolution, a 5 Megapixel sensor, operates at 30fps, has a 90 degree field of view, allows adjustable exposure and zoom. SETUP: Plug it into a USB port, which on my MacBoo Pro 14” (2021) means I’ll use a connected hub or a dock. Unfold the not-really-a-clamp base so it straddles the top of your monitor or use the provided tripod screw location if you have a stand. In FaceTime or several other Meeting Apps I tested you will need to select the EPIC Webcam instead of the built-in FaceTime Cam. Using the appropriate meeting controls you should be able to view your image. Almost. I had an issue which seems unique to my MacBook Pro (2021) 14”. I needed another step. First, keep I’m mind that the MacBook Pro (and many other computers) offer no way to modify or manipulate video parameters (such as brightness, contract, color, etc). Plug in a video camera and it should automatically replace, with adequate video parameter settings, the internal camera. (As verified by JLAB …) the Epic add-on camera may need to be unplugged and reconnected. Or, as I discovered, I needed an add-on webcam software, seemingly to increase the camera’s image from its very dark picture to a more usable and brighter image. I looked for the least expensive App in the App store (Free!) and discovered that Spedal Webcam Software worked perfectly with the meeting software I tested, including FaceTime, Microsoft Teams and Zoom. I expect any other webcam software will do the same. PERFORMANCE and SUMMARY: Once I sorted out the excessively dark image issue by using a Web Cam App (SPEDAL), the JLAB EPIC CAM performed wonderfully. JLab’s confirmation of my issue suggested this was unique and related to some Macs. I have no reason to complain in any event, as the necessary (for me) App was free and required little more than opening the extra App and moving the sliders to increase video gain. in fact, I’m glad I was forced to look for an App with features that allow further adjustments of the camera, because now I can do some color correction, modify brightness, contrast, sharpness and color balance. The JLAB EPIC CAM’s own top control button for brightness worked as described, but it’s rather awkward and crude to use. Use an App. The Zoom was more limited but also more obvious in its variations. I suppose it is nice to have, but I’ll use a zoom in the meeting App if available. The picture from the EPIC was FAR superior to the image provided by my FaceTime camera. It was more natural and had better detail and color. Considering everything, the slight quirks and final outcome, this is a camera I can recommend and it will get significant use from me. For some folks, the few obstacles may be too frustrating, although it remains to be seen if this quirk is inherent to some equipment setups.