Elgato Facecam Vs Facecam Pro – What’s the Difference?

With the Facecam released and now the Facecam Pro from Elgato.

You will no doubt want to be working out the difference between the two.

Elgato Facecam Vs Pro – what’s the difference – and is the difference really worth the extra buck?

Those looking for a quicker answer on the differences:

• Improved picture resolution and framerate (1080p60 vs 4K60)
• Greater field of view on the Pro (82° vs 90°)
• Enhanced sensor (Sony Starvis CMOS Vs Sony Starvis 4K CMOS)
• Difference in arpeture and focus range as well.

Many are now aiming to become streamers or content creators themselves and share their love for gaming while striving to earn good money from advertising, subscriptions and the donations of devoted followers. 

If you are looking to jump into the world of streaming or content creation, you will need a good quality camera and Elgato provides two solid solutions in the Facecam and Facecam Pro.  

Whether you’re looking to be the next big thing on Twitch, enhance your video quality in work calls or simply catch up with your friends online in high definition, we will be breaking down the pros and cons of the Facecam vs. the Facecam Pro. 

Elgato Facecam Vs. Facecam Pro comparison

Which To Go For Standard or Pro?

The Facecam and the Facecam Pro are both excellent cameras for streamers, content creators or gamers who are looking to level up their video quality, despite the disappointment that they both do not come with a microphone built-in. 

Most people would be satisfied with the high definition visuals that the Facecam offers, although for those of you looking to showcase objects up close or move around the room regularly, the Facecam Pro’s variable focus will be a welcome addition. 

Only those truly serious about quality who can afford to splurge an extra $100 should opt for the Facecam Pro, since you will also need to invest in a decent microphone to complete your set up, which could get expensive overall. 

Aesthetically, the Pro is bigger but sleeker, and the slimmer frontal form factor may appeal to those who are picky about their room presentation. 

No matter what your pick, the Facecam range will offer you dynamic settings and strong visual fidelity no matter what you are using it for.

Elgato Facecam Features

The Elgato Facecam is a premium webcam product offering a fully high definition video quality and framerate at 1080p60fps. With a fantastic lens and a great image sensor, you can most definitely expect sharp visuals. 

One innovative feature of the Facecam is that it comes with built-in memory which can remember the settings on your devices to save you time with set-up every time you connect the camera. 

To connect the Facecam to your computer, it comes with a USB-C cable and USB 3.0 support to minimize latency. There is a clamp on the underside of the Facecam, allowing you to easily mount the device to any monitor or desk setup.

Through the included ‘Camera Hub’ software, the Facecam’s settings can be adjusted with a wide range of options including field of view, saturation, contrast, shutter, speed and much more. If you don’t want to spend time tweaking these settings, there is a smart auto mode which adapts your video to your environment. 

The one obvious drawback to the Facecam is that it doesn’t have a microphone. Elgato says this is so that they can focus on the uncompressed video outputs but this may be a hindrance for those looking for an all-in-one solution. 

In terms of the form factor, the Facecam is a little bulky which won’t be to the taste of some but its clean black casing is simple and effective to ensure it doesn’t feel too out of place in any room. 

So, in short, the Facecam is a very good camera and it comes in at a price of $199.99. But how does it compare to the Pro version that Elgato offers? 

Elgato Facecam Pro Features

The Elgato Facecam Pro bills itself as the world’s first 4K60fps webcam. While this quality and framerate are impressive, you will definitely pay for the privilege. The Pro features a wide field of view with a variable focus system, perfect for content creators and streamers who are displaying products on screen or frequently moving around. 

Much like the standard model, the pro comes equipped with onboard memory, high quality lens and the same sensor technology. Again you will get access to the Elgato Camera Hub software package, with a much wider spectrum of controls available to you, including manual exposure options much like a DSLR camera. 

Much like the standard model, the Facecam Pro does not come with a microphone. For this price, this revelation is a little disappointing and Elgato should have gone all out to deliver an all-round premium product. 

The Pro version is still a bulky unit, although it is much sleeker and narrower when looking at it head on. Aesthetically, the Pro does outshine the Facecam although the clamp system does give you less flexibility as standard. 

To get the full benefit of the Facecam pro and its 4K visuals, it will set you back a whopping $299.99. 

Harry Ligma

A gaming enthusiast who started their gaming venture all the way back on a Gameboy Advanced (Purple) on Pokemon Yellow.