Verdict
The Opal Tadpole is a middling webcam for quite a high-pitched price . Its Full HD television quality is good , in a range of environments , but it fails to dwell up to the grand expectations provided . It is at least tiny and easy to mount , while the software bid some good customisation . For the price , you’re able to do better , though .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
The Opal Tadpole offer a solution to a problem that not many people may have thought about – a portable webcam specifically designed for use with laptops .
It ’s a different take in a market that ’s slowly but surely becoming more advanced , and at $ 175 , it is n’t exactly cheap . That kind of money can get you some top grade 1080p or 4 K performers such as theLogitech StreamCamandHP 960 4 KiB Streaming Webcamfrom more established mark .
However , the Tadpole may well tender a compelling choice for laptop users if the spec sheet is anything to go by . I ’ve been putting it through its paces to see if it endure up to those claims , and to see if it ’s one of thebest webcamswe’ve tested .
Design and Features
The Opal Tadpole builds on Opal ’s tropes for modernistic and minimalistic design , opt for an all - clean , square plastic chassis , punctuate by the black round lens . It ’s perhaps one of the plainer webcams I ’ve seen in recent time , but it looks excellent .
The tiny almost - square chassis means it does n’t take up much space atop a laptop , and it was the ideal width to occupy my 16 - inch MacBook Pro ’s webcam notch without looking out of place . It ’s also especially thin and thick , emphasising the item that this is a webcam design specifically for laptops .
On that point , the Opal Tadpole is simple to get on , with a cartridge clip attaching it to the top dialog box of the laptop lid . It necessitate only a matter of moment , and is one of the easier webcams I ’ve set up . The clip is your only option for rise though , as there is n’t a tripod in the Tadpole ’s packaging , nor is there a thread for attaching one to it . There is a privacy covert , though , but on a webcam at this price , a humble rubberised cover was n’t what I was expecting . At least it ’s effective .
Connectivity is kept gracious and simple , with aUSB - Cended connector that plugs into your legion twist . The cable is braided , too , which is a nice touch .
The webcam also features a wristband on it . Opal say this is for get the Tadpole from fill to meeting sling around your articulatio radiocarpea . That ’s a ready to hand affair , but perhaps not as ready to hand as the integrated microphone mute clitoris on the last of the connecter that glows violent when you do n’t need to be get wind .
The Tadpole works plug and play with both Windows and Mac devices , which is a step onwards from the sword ’s late C1 webcam which was a macOS - only choice .
There is some extra computer software too , in the flesh of Opal Composer . However , unlike most software package suites which are unremarkably window only , Composer works entirely on macOS . There is simply no option to download it for Windows , which is a shame .
Composer is a elementary install , and it provides fair customisation for adjusting everything from dividing line to white balance and more besides . Everything is manually adjustable , although there is n’t much in the way of automatic balance for those who want the software to take care of the displayed image .
There ’s the option to alter the focal duration and f / stop of the sensing element , too , as well as the extent to which a bokeh effect appears around you , confuse the background . you could also enable motorcar head tracking within Composer and it did a decent job of tracking my straits movements in examination . While you may adapt the sensitivity of it , on the default scene , I did find it to be a little too eager .
Performance and Video Quality
On paper , the Opal Tadpole packs in an awful slew of quality into its dinky flesh . Opal says it utilises a Sony IMX582 Exmor RS sensor to allow for a 4 special K resolution , but in practice , things are different .
The Tadpole is actually locked to a 1080p resolution with a 48MP sensor , and even in Composer , the resolution ca n’t be upped beyond Full HD . Opal claims this is because most television conferencing applications ca n’t handle 4 KB resolution , so it has lock the Tadpole to 1080p instead . For a webcam this expensive , that feels like a bit of a bull - out .
Even with this in mind , I ca n’t fault the output of the Tadpole . It provides lifelike - look figure with good colours and detail , and does look better than a comparable laptop computer webcam . However , it perhaps is n’t that much better compared to class leading options , such as my 2021 MacBook Pro , and its subsequent revisions .
Low - short performance is good too , with the Opal Tadpole doing a rather decent occupation at balance out the dark surroundings . Whichever lighting environments I was in though , I did get the fixed 70 - degree FOV a picayune sozzled . Other webcams in this high price bracket lean to put up a choice of field of view options that are traditionally a tad wider at 90 degrees or 110 .
Opal also draw a lot of the Tadpole ’s microphone , lay claim that it ’s the first webcam microphone that trance only what it can see . In other words , it should only enchant the voice of whoever is in front of it . In practice , the Tadpole ’s mike does a solid occupation of isolating ambient screen background noise and focusing in on my own articulation . It is quite tender , and I did need to speak up a little for the Tadpole to register my voice amply .
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Should you buy it?
The Opal Tadpole is a unparalleled option in the webcam sphere as a smaller form factor choice , and if that ’s what you ’re after , it ’s a dependable choice .
The Tadpole ’s downscaled 1080p closure is bettered by more full size choices from more established brands .
Final Thoughts
The Opal Tadpole place quite a specific exercise vitrine , and for that use case – with a laptop – it ’s a reasonably successful endeavor . It provides better telecasting caliber than comparable laptops , although falls inadequate of other bigger webcams that offer the same or better quality turnout such as theHP 960 4 K Streaming Webcam , which offers 4 grand output for similar money to the Tadpole .
Nonetheless , the Tadpole is a fashionable and advanced - looking webcam that ’s idealistic for travelling with . It ’s well-to-do to habituate and connect , and the optional Composer software offers extensive customisation , albeit quite manual configuration , which may suit some better than others .
However , for more general computing want , more establish option such as the aforementionedHP 960,Logitech StreamCam , andLogitech Brio 500will suit well for a like expenditure to the Tadpole . They each volunteer easier to use software and good overall mental image tone . For more choice , feel liberal to control out our list of thebest webcamswe’ve tested .
Trusted Score
How we test
We expend every webcam we test as our main machine for video conferencing throughout the critique menses , while also running its proprietary software package through its gait .
We also check the machine ’s compatibility with more widely usable software for professional and subject creators .
FAQs
The Opal Tadpole natively offer 4 K outturn , but it downscales to 1080p/30fps .
Full Specs
