To understand what is a Firewire Webcam, first it’s necessary to know what is Firewire. It is an digital video interface that offers high-speed communications and real-time data services and is being adopted by all producers of modern computers and digital webcams. This system usually is used for the connection of data storage devices and digital video cameras. It is used in place of the common USB due to its effective speed.

The Firewire has also higher power distribution capabilities and doesn’t need a computer host. It’s performance provides superior pictures and video quality and, with a good Internet connection, like Cable or DSL, people can have the clearest and smoothest video of Internet. The great difference between the Firewire webcams and the older cams is that the last ones compress the video due to the speed limitation of the interface.

The video compression usually tends to result in loss of quality in the video. The Firewire webcam, however, has a high speed interface and supports super high quality video without the need to compress it. Almost all firewire webcams also features very low power consumption in that speed of 30 frames per second and 640x480 video resolution.

A firewire digital webcam is perfect for monitoring applications, video conferencing and home or office surveillance. Yet certain varaints of firewire webcams are employed for industrial purposes, due to their quality and characteristics like high sensitivity, low smear and low dark current.