Elgato offers outstanding streaming gear, including numerous camera options. In this Elgato Facecam MK2 Review, we will focus on one of the latest webcams from the company.
The new Facecam MK2 is the improved version of the Facecam. It is a 1080p streaming camera that is more affordable than the 4K Facecam Pro. Although this product is more budget-friendly, it retains the features and design philosophy of the high-end variant.
Elgato promises to deliver HDR video and other quality-of-life features with the Facecam MK2. But is this webcam worth purchasing? Read our Elgato Facecam MK2 Review to determine if its features, functions, and performance will meet your needs.
Elgato Facecam MK2 Packaging
Elgato ships the Facecam MK2 in a blue box with the product name and image in front. You will also find the Elgato logo and a brief product description below the product image. On the other side panels of the box, there are more details about the Facecam MK2.
Elgato packed the following items with the Facecam MK2:
- Monitor mount with 6.35mm thread
- 200cm USB-A to USB-C braided cable
- Quick start guide
Elgato Facecam MK2 Review – Design and Functionality
Observing it for our Elgato Facecam MK2 Review, we noticed how much of a refinement it is over the original. The MK2 takes inspiration from the larger Facecam Pro for its design, giving it a broad and flatter profile.
It is not that different from the Facecam MK1, and the Facecam MK2 is efficient and manageable as a unit. Although more sizable than the previous version, this product is still noticeably compact, even at the top of the monitor. An improvement we appreciate is the more solid and premium feel of the camera.
Like the camera body, its mounting system resembles its predecessor but also has changed. It has a lower profile that sits on the bezel rather than covering a part of the screen.
The mounting system also has better adjustment options to make mounting more convenient. It has a rotating connection between the camera and the stand. When we used the product for this Elgato Facecam MK2 Review, we noticed it was easier to make adjustments.
Since it is compatible with other mounting options from Elgato, you can set it up on boom arms and tripods. It is an excellent touch for the ecosystem if you use other Elgato products for streaming and content creation.
Although not a highly innovative improvement, we appreciate the built-in privacy shield. Since it is an integrated part of the Facecam MK2, you can conveniently slide it when necessary. There is no need to worry about misplacing snap-on covers.
Image Resolution
Elgato set a high bar for streaming webcams with the original Facecam. Thanks to its fixed-focus prime lens, it delivered superior image and video quality. With the updated Facecam MK2, the company retained most features and improved its weak points.
Although it has no 2K or 4K resolution options, its 1080p maximum resolution now supports up to 60 fps. Plus, Elgato added HDR to enhance the experience. It also supports 120 fps when lowering the resolution to 720p for smooth slow-motion replays.
Key Features of the Elgato Facecam MK2
Is the Facecam MK2 better than the previous Facecam or other webcams from its competitors? Our Elgato Facecam MK2 Review will discuss its primary features to learn the changes and improvements made to this product.
Full HD for the Best Look
The Facecam MK2 offers a sharp 1080p resolution. It captures more detail, allowing viewers to see your facial expressions.
Smooth and Seamless
No matter how you move, your waving, dancing, and juggling will be seamless at 60 fps. The Facecam MK2 has double the frame rate of other webcams, making your movements more natural to viewers. With 60 fps, it has minimal motion lag and blur.
Lifelike Vivid Colour
The Facecam MK2 captures your natural skin tone and hair hue. It reproduces colour with more depth and accuracy to make an immersive and realistic experience for your viewers.
Next-Level Detail in Low-Light
The Facecam MK2 delivers excellent detail and colour even in dimly lit spaces. You will remain visible in the shadows, even with minimal lighting.
Clarity Under Harsh Conditions
Do not worry about high-contrast lighting since the Facecam MK2 offers up to 1080p60 HDR to keep you in focus. It will remain clear without sacrificing framerate.
Precise Capturing With the Elgato Facecam MK2
The Facecam MK2 has a custom prime lens working with the latest Sony sensor to capture more light. As a result, it captures true-to-colour images that stay clear, even in dim lighting conditions.
Later in our Elgato Facecam MK2 Review, we will share more details about the product performance and image quality.
Built-in Privacy Shutter
The Facecam MK2 has a built-in shutter for instant privacy to cover your webcam lens. Say goodbye to searching for snap-on covers and missing caps.
Custom Heat Sink
The custom heat sink of the Facecam MK2 keeps the webcam running cool. It prevents visual distortions caused by overheating, allowing long hours of use without worries.
AI Effects
Maximise the NVIDIA RTX GPU when using the Facecam MK2. You can apply virtual backgrounds, activate face tracking, and simulate eye contact.
Versatile Mounting – Monitor Mount or 6.35mm Thread
The redesigned clamp of the Facecam MK2 attaches to most monitors. It is low-profile to minimise screen interference while enhancing eye contact. Plus, it has a standard 6.35mm thread for mounting on boom arms and tripods.
Optimised Fixed Focus and Smart Field of View
The Facecam MK2 has a desk-tailored lens with a 24mm focal length and f/2.4 aperture. It has a tuned focal range of 30 to 120 cm and an 84° field of view. It covers a broad range to capture your surroundings and offers adequate focus, preserving image quality.
Onboard Memory of the Elgato Facecam MK2
The Facecam MK2 will remember your configurations and settings since it saves all your changes in its onboard memory. You will not need to redo the adjustments even if you restart your computer or switch to another one.
Specifications
- Supported Resolutions: 1080p30, 1080p60, 720p30, 720p60, 720p120, 540p30, 540p, 60, 540p120
- Optics: Elgato Prime Lens
- Focus: Fixed
- Focal Range: 30 – 120cm
- Field of view: 84°
- Sensor: Sony STARVIS
- Connection: USB Type-C
- Dimensions: 84 x 38 x 61mm
Hands-on with the Elgato Facecam MK2
We used the product to share our experience in this Elgato Facecam MK2 Review. Before discussing the image quality and performance delivered by the webcam, let us focus on its companion software.
The Camera Hub is the software app for configuring the Facecam MK2, and it is free for Windows and Mac. It offers comprehensive settings and controls, resembling a professional camera.
The Camera Hub makes tweaking the settings of the Facecam MK2 more convenient with its clean and intuitive interface. It also allows tweaking settings on the fly.
The app has a real-time preview of the video quality as you adjust its settings. You can manually control things like the ISO and shutter speed. Plus, you can make changes outside Camera Hub when using another Elgato product like Stream Deck Plus.
The footage on the Facecam MK2 impressed us during our tests since it was smooth, responsive, and detailed. It also had excellent clarity, even in low light.
We captured impressive pictures with this webcam. Its underlying quality never became an issue, and each firmware update improved the images with life and balance. We noticed the changes in colour quality, detail, brightness, and contrast.
The videos were impressive, and all movements were smooth in our recordings. It had minimal lag and blur when we tested the Facecam MK2 for video chats and online meetings.
The Facecam MK2 delivered superior image quality in natural daylight and controlled streaming lighting setups. However, we noticed the automatic exposure and white balance modes never matched the impressive image quality achieved through manual control.
We were impressed with the Facecam MK2 for videos and pictures. It captured adequate detail, accurate colours, and smooth movements with minimal lag. This webcam is ideal for online meetings, streaming, and video chats.
Elgato Facecam MK2 Review Summary
For webcams, the Facecam MK2 stands out as quite impressive. Its robust build quality, comprehensive internal hardware specifications, intuitive software, and affordable price make it a compelling option. However, achieving optimal performance may require some manual adjustments for now.
When we tested the product for this Elgato Facecam MK2 Review, we noticed all the improvements Elgato implemented. Although its automatic modes do not produce excellent image quality, you can manually customise the settings.
If you are searching for a webcam that can record uncompressed 1080p60, the Facecam MK.2 is a solid choice. It consistently produces images surpassing the quality of the original Facecam MK1, even in low-light conditions. This webcam also offers excellent value for money since it is budget-friendly and delivers what it promises.
Visit the official product page of Elgato for more details about the Facecam MK2.
