ELP 960P Low Illumination USB Camera Module with 2.8-12mm Varifocal Lens Mini 1.3megapixel Manual Zoom USB Camera for Computer UVC USB2.0 Embedded Video Webcam Board for Close-up Image

This camera rocks!! If you're having trouble getting it to work in IR mode- you may need an IR board to plug into this unit. Also; if you pay attention to the shutter noises, you can effectively disconnect the IR filter controller while it's still in IR mode, and it will never revert back to normal mode again, until the IR shutter controller is plugged back in.It starts in IR mode for about a second; then switches over to normal mode when I used it (NO IR board attached)Note this camera has an active IR controller shutter, and can switch between normal webcam mode and IR webcam mode.Recommend high quality webcam software if you want the 24 fps out of the unit.

I bought two of these for a stereo vision project. One camera came with a bad cable, causing it to reset if I touched it. Amazon sent a replacement camera, which came sooner than expected and worked fine.I've tested the cameras on Debian and Slackware, and both work. The lenses work as advertised, however the zoom and focus are interdependent (i.e. you must adjust the focus after changing the zoom).The only real frustration so far has been finding software or documentation on how to control the IR filter, and potentially an IR illuminator should I add one. The manufacturer's web site lists a Linux SDK on the download page, but the link is broken.

I am using two of these in a pick-and-place machine vision application, and the ability to set and lock the focus and zoom is awesome (especially for the price). Good image control as well thanks to UVC compatibility.

If I were to describe this camera in comparison to all other cameras/webcams I have tried, I must say this has some attractive features that you might want to consider vs what a typical webcamera would offer. While this module I got is more of a bare PCB camera module with an attached lens, it is still rather adaptable to various applications. While there are connection ports to attach accessories like an IR light, there are spots and mounting holes on the PCB itself that you can utilize.The lens is the most attractive part to this camera besides the sensor's nice picture. The lens is seemingly a telescopic type of lens as you can adjust it by turning, which you can see the lens retract and extend within. There is what appears to be the "zoom" and a focus. These positions can be secured and tightended down by the tension screws/knobs that are attached to lens, helping keep things from drifting out of focus etc.The lens has the inscription of : HD 2.8 - 12mm 1/2.5" 3MP 1:1.4 CCTV LENSI find the image and video quality to be very good, and this does well for my use case of maintaining a very close and clear image of electronics inspection, like PCB boards and any very up-close image I might need to get from such. There are a lot of other applications I am sure this thing can handle, although I have not ventured into utilizing the IR capabilities or not, they are there if you need.

now spending lots of time in video conference and recording videos, and this camera works great.lens gathers a lot of light, so has to be focused

Great camera. Works well and easy to configure