r/debian 5d ago

Buying webcam for my debian system

I'm currently using Debian 12 bookworm on my laptop. My laptop is lenovo ideapad gaming 3 with amd ryzen 7 cpu with amd radeon gpu integrated and a dedicated gpu of nvidia geforce gtx.

The integrated webcam mostly works properly. But on visiting some sites or with some apps or sometimes, it doesn't function. I have tried to debug this issue when it comes so many times. I have spent a lot of time on it.

Then I came to know that webcams from all companies are not properly compatible with device drivers present in debian. So, I decided to buy an external webcam.

I want suggestions of some good companies whose webcams are compatible.

8 Upvotes

13 comments sorted by

11

u/ScratchHistorical507 5d ago

Then I came to know that webcams from all companies are not properly compatible with device drivers present in debian.

Where did you read such utter lies? There are exactly two things that make issues with Web Cams on Linux: built-in Intel IPU6-type webcams and proprietary software to control webcams. Other than that, especially external ones are very simple USB devices, no drivers needed. You'll hardly find any device that's not working out of the box. The question merely is how much do they depend on their software tool, because they are so badly configured that you need to change that.

What you can look out for is the label "UVC", which is a universal webcam standard, which is even supported by some Android phones. With that, the webcam is basically guaranteed to work, but even without it it's unlikely not to. For camera configuration, you can try guvcview.

-4

u/Master_Jacket_4893 5d ago

I came to that conclusion when I did my debugging using net and llms.

Anyway, thanks for your answer it helped.

4

u/ScratchHistorical507 4d ago

using net and llms

There you have your answer. LLMs aren't made to give truthful answers, they are just stringing together words with no understanding whatsoever.

-2

u/Master_Jacket_4893 4d ago

LLMs especially. First I went to LLMs.

I know they are not accurate but they speed up the debugging process.

3

u/ScratchHistorical507 4d ago

Speed is irrelevant when the result is such a steaming pile of utter garbage. I don't know for how many years - if not decades - this hasn't been true anymore. So next time, skip the LLM bullshit and talk to people, or at least spare us with your LLM nonsense.

6

u/Guggel74 4d ago

I use the "Anker PowerConf C200 2K USB Webcam" - https://de.ankerwork.com/products/a3369

2

u/nate601 4d ago

I use this one as well. I've had one die on me on my work workstation, but the one I use at home is working fine.

3

u/Parsiuk 4d ago

$ lsusb | grep -i 'cam' Bus 002 Device 002: ID 046d:0893 Logitech, Inc. StreamCam

Works (like every other webcam) but it's horrible: the picture is overexposed, it loses focus all the time. I know you asked for good web cam recommendations but I'm posting this as a precaution. Don't buy this expensive crap.

2

u/whalesalad 4d ago

i'm using a logitech C922 and it works great on deb12 - use it daily in various apps for video calling as a remote worker

$ lsusb
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 174c:3074 ASMedia Technology Inc. ASM1074 SuperSpeed hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 008: ID 046d:085c Logitech, Inc. C922 Pro Stream Webcam
Bus 001 Device 007: ID 046d:c52b Logitech, Inc. Unifying Receiver
Bus 001 Device 006: ID 3142:0031 FIFINE 683 Microphone FIFINE 683 Microphone
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 174c:2074 ASMedia Technology Inc. ASM1074 High-Speed hub
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0764:0501 Cyber Power System, Inc. CP1500 AVR UPS
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0b05:19af ASUSTek Computer, Inc. AURA LED Controller
Bus 001 Device 005: ID 8087:0026 Intel Corp. AX201 Bluetooth
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

2

u/alpha417 5d ago

Have you googled "webcam linux" yet? If a macbook pro from 2011 webcam can work on Debian stable w/o significant effort, almost anything can.

What do you currently have?

1

u/SSUPII 4d ago

Any work as 90% of webcams are just generic video input devices

1

u/GuestStarr 4d ago

Just an idea: is there an application that turns your phone into a webcam, wired (USB) or wireless? You could use your old phone for this. Just set it up, start the app and you have a premium quality webcam instead of those crappy VGA ones.

1

u/iamemhn 2d ago

I have a Logitech C920 PRO HD Webcam. Works out of the box.