Docooler USB 2.0 12 Megapixel Review: Too Good to be True Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Best Products > Computer Components
Docooler USB 2.0 12 Megapixel Review
An HD camera for under $10? It’s too good to be true
By James Huenink James Huenink Writer Concordia University Wisconsin Concordia Seminary James is a writer and copywriter who has written for various publications including VPNside.com, The Federalist, Amendo.com, and Brew Your Own Magazine. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on February 5, 2020 Tweet Share Email We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. 1.4 Docooler USB 2.0 12 Megapixel
Lifewire / James Huenink What We Like Very inexpensive Easy setup What We Don't Like Feels cheap Difficult to adjust Poor quality video Poor quality audio Manual focus The Docooler USB 2.0 12 Megapixel webcam promises HD video and quality sound, but it delivers low quality audio and video with flimsy housing. View On Amazon 1.4 Docooler USB 2.0 12 Megapixel
Lifewire / James Huenink View On Amazon in this article Expand Design Setup process Camera Quality Performance Price Competition Final Verdict Specs We purchased the Docooler USB 2.0 12 Megapixel so our expert reviewer could thoroughly test and assess it. Keep reading for our full product review. 80’s movies promised a lot of cool future tech that hasn’t appeared. We’re not riding on hoverboards, nor do our cars fly. The one thing we did get is inexpensive and simple video calling. The Docooler USB 2.0 12 Megapixel promises to make that a reality with an HD camera for the lowest cost in its class. Can this dirt-cheap camera deliver on its promise to connect us in HD? Lifewire / James Huenink Design Flimsy and difficult to use
The first thing we noticed about the Docooler USB 2.0 12 Megapixel is how cheap it feels. The camera itself has a plastic, silver housing with a shiny silver focus ring on the end. It feels like it could break at any moment. The base is made of a transparent plastic, which is also available in blue and black. The plastic is so rigid that we expect it to break under regular use. Every time we adjusted the camera, the plastic creaked like a rusty door in a haunted house. Even in our short testing period, the joints started getting loose. We had to check several times just to make sure it wasn’t broken. The base looks like a binder clip with a hinge on the back end. The front of the camera houses the focus ring, which twists to focus in or out but doesn’t turn very smoothly. When we used it for the first time, it didn’t feel like it was supposed to rotate at all. Just like everything else, the focus ring feels like it will crack or fall out at any moment. One side of the clip has a squishy pad to keep the camera from slipping when it’s mounted on a smooth surface. The two are connected by a ball joint, which allows the camera to spin around 360 degrees and tilt approximately 15 degrees forward or backward or side to side. Lifewire / James Huenink Setup process Awkward to position
It takes almost no time to get the Docooler USB 2.0 12 Megapixel up and running. We just plugged the USB cord into the computer and it worked. It was easy to set up when we clipped it to a laptop, but terrible when we tried to put it on our HD TV. Every time we moved the computer or the USB cable, the camera slid, twisted, or fell off the TV. The ball joint, which connects the camera to the base, didn’t move smoothly, so we struggled to point the Docooler USB 2.0 12 Megapixel in the right direction, and we were too worried about breaking the plastic to try and force it. Camera Quality Not even close to advertised
The Docooler USB 2.0 12 Megapixel is advertised as a 12 megapixel camera capable of HD video, but it wasn’t even close to that. We tested the resolution by taking photos through photobooth, and they were only 640 x 480, or .31 megapixels. We tested the video resolution by using an online webcam testing tool, and it showed exactly the same results. The manufacturer claims the camera has 38 times more resolution than it actually does. We should have known that the manufacturer’s claims were too good to be true given the $8 asking price, but claiming a disparity that huge is really brazen. The Docooler USB 2.0 12 Megapixel is advertised as a 12 megapixel camera capable of HD video, but it wasn’t even close to that. We tested the camera’s field of view by placing it 13.5 inches from a wall and measuring the field of view, 8.25 inches. After running those measurements through some trigonometric calculations, we found that it has a 34 degree field of view. The camera also has a surprising amount of distortion. Vertical lines in the background had a significant tilt backwards, and we saw tremendous barrel distortion everywhere except for the very center of the image. Lifewire / James Huenink Performance Underwhelming performance in video and audio
We used Photobooth and Skype to test out the video and audio performance using the webcam for recording and conference calls. It was difficult to position the Docooler USB 2.0 12 Megapixel correctly, because by the time we clipped it on and sat down, the camera had slipped out of position. This happened several times before we finally resigned ourselves to using a tilted camera in our calls. The limited field of view and the distortions weren’t a problem when we tried a single-person call, but it would be a big problem for a group. It would be difficult to get everyone into the picture unless your table was very narrow and far away from the camera. The image and audio quality are both terrible, and the camera is difficult to use. We had trouble getting the focus right, too. The focus ring was hard to turn, so we had to put our hand over the lense to get a good grip. We turned the ring a little, and then we’d pull away to check the focus. Then we’d repeat until it was ready, a frustrating experience. The audio performance of the Docooler USB 2.0 12 Megapixel was also lackluster. The built-in microphone produced poor quality sound, and when we tested it on Skype, voices were both muffled and echoey. People on the other end could understand what we were saying, but it was an unpleasant experience. Price Cheap price even cheaper webcam
The Docooler USB 2.0 12 Megapixel is the most inexpensive webcam you can buy, ranging from $8 up to around $15, but there’s a reason it’s priced so low. The image and audio quality are both terrible, and the camera is difficult to use. Competition Falls short
Logitech C270: The Logitech C270 is a low-cost webcam that goes for $40 MSRP, though you can frequently find it for approximately $20. For $10 more than the Docooler, you get a big upgrade. It has 720p video calling and takes photos at 3MP. The microphone filters out background noise, so it shouldn’t have the same echo effects as the Docooler Web Cam. Even though it’s twice the price, you get a lot more camera for your ten bucks. HXSJ USB Webcam 480P HD: We were most disappointed with the false claims about the Docooler webcam’s resolution, but HXSJ sells what looks like the same camera with honest advertising. In fact, the design, the frame, and just about everything else looks nearly identical to the Docooler webcam. Even the price is close to the same. We think the honest claims about the HXSJ should be rewarded, so we’d definitely recommend buying this camera over the Docooler. Coromose USB 50MP HD: The Coromose USB 50MP HD looks exactly like the Docooler USB 2.0 12 Megapixel, down to the last detail. The base and camera look exactly alike, even the writing on the focus ring, and they go for about the same price, $8. There is no way, however, that this camera can do 50MP. It’s the same camera saddled even more egregious, deceptive marketing. Final Verdict Impossible to recommend. The Docooler USB 2.0 12 Megapixel is one of the most inexpensive cameras on the market for a reason. This camera doesn’t come close to delivering what it promises, meaning it's not worth even the trifle you'd pay for it. Specs
Product Name USB 2.0 12 Megapixel Product Brand Docooler UPC B00OB883F6 Price $8.00 Weight 2.5 oz. Product Dimensions 3.75 x 1.5 x 3 in. Color Transparent, blue, black Connections USB 2.0 A cord 56.25” long Aperture F/2 - F/4 Focus Manual Focus 8mm to infinity Field of vision 34 degrees Resolution 640 x 480; 12 MP claimed, 0.31 MP tested Frame rate 30fps What’s Included Docooler USB 2.0 12 Megapixel, Quick Start Guide Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire Logitech C920 Pro HD Webcam Review: Real HD Video Yamaha RX-V483 Review: Good Value, though Lacking Format Support Logitech C615 Webcam Review: Performance and Affordability AKASO EK7000 Pro 4K Action Camera Review: Great Quality At a Budget Friendly Price Kodak PIXPRO Friendly Zoom FZ53 Review: A Great Point and Shoot Camera for the Budget Conscious The 5 Best Webcams of 2022 Genius WideCam F100 Review: Pixelated image and echoing sound Nikon COOLPIX B500 Review: A Wi-Fi Camera That Does Not Impress Canon EOS Rebel T7 Kit Review: The Newest Rebel Camera is a Noteworthy Improvement HP Spectre x360 15t Touch Laptop Review: Fantastic Performance and an Attractive Design Nikon COOLPIX A10: An Inexpensive Camera That Takes Great Photos But Is Hamstrung by a Frustrating User Experience. Nikon COOLPIX P1000 Review: The World's Most Extreme Superzoom Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ80 Review: An All-Purpose Camera with Value HelloBaby HB32 Video Baby Monitor Review: A Wallet-Friendly Way To Watch Your Kids Canon PowerShot SX740 HS Review: A Simple, Pocket-Sized Camera VTech Kidizoom Duo Camera Review: Endless Entertainment Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies