Digital Cowboy brings telephoto lens to webcams
updated 10:00 am EST, Fri January 26, 2007
DC Telephoto Zoom Webcam
Digital Cowboy this morning unveiled a unique webcam dubbed the DC-NCP130. Seeking to overcome the limited digital zoom which has become ubiquitous in webcams, the company has built an iSight-like camera with a mountable telephoto lens. When attached, the add-on brings 7X optical zoom to the otherwise static camera, allowing it to magnify distant subjects without losing detail. The option can be used for anything from observing wildlife to home security, according to the firm. A removable tripod is bundled to maintain a steady image.
At its core is a 1.3-megapixel sensor capable of 1280x1024 video at 15 frames per second, with a full 30 frames per second achievable at 640x480; the camera connects to a computer through USB and is said to integrate easily with Yahoo Messenger, Windows Live Messenger, and other IM clients. The NCP130 goes on sale in its native Japan for $81 as of early February. [via Cnet]
