Opal C1 Webcam: A True DSLR Killer for Video Calls? - 33rd Square (2024)

The Opal C1 webcam promises near DSLR-quality video for your daily Zoom meetings. But does this sleek new camera live up to the hype? I put the Opal C1 to the test across work-from-home lighting scenarios. Read on for a hands-on review.

Behind the Camera: Why Opal Saw a Gap in the Webcam Market

Opal‘s founders Veeraj Chugh and Stefan Sohlstrom identified an opportunity amid the rise of remote work during the pandemic. As video calls became ubiquitous, the poor image quality from most integrated webcams became unacceptable. Major webcam companies lacked incentive to innovate until recently.

Chugh and Sohlstrom left their engineering roles at Uber in 2020 to found Opal and build "the best webcam we possibly could" according to Protocol. They recruited Lytro co-founder Kenny Sweet to lead design of the C1.

The Opal C1 promises DSLR-quality video and finer control over lighting and image settings – but does it deliver?

Unboxing the C1: Build Quality Fit For the Big Screen

My first impressions upon unboxing the C1 were overwhelmingly positive. The sleek angular chrome and aluminum body looks right at home perched atop my monitor.

Weighing just 99 grams, the C1 blends seamlessly into any home office setup. It takes up minimal footprint with dimensions of 1.49 x 3.07 inches.

The included mounting options – available in black and white – provide flexibility. I appreciated the option to angle the C1 lower or higher relative to eye level.

The handsome yet understated design reflects Opal‘s premium positioning. It looks and feels a cut above consumer-oriented options from Logitech or Razer.

DSLR-Worthy Hardware Packed Into a Petite Frame

Despite its small size, the C1 doesn‘t compromise on hardware. It sports a fast f/2.0 7.8mm lens that takes in over 2x more light than a typical webcam. This proved pivotal for handling tricky lighting scenarios.

The Sony IMX377 image sensor captures crisp 4K video at a roomy 60 fps. It madecolors come alive with incredible vibrancy.

The onboard MicMesh microphone array effectively eliminated background noise in my apartment. My voice captured rich and full-bodied on calls.

Unrivaled Image Quality Across Lighting Conditions

I tested the Opal C1 across various work-from-home settings:

Backlit against a bright window: The C1 adjusted seamlessly to prevent me from appearing too dark or blown out. No need to close blinds.

Under dim overhead lighting: The fast lens pulled in enough light to brightly illuminate me without noise.

Room lamps only after sunset: AUTO mode prevented noticeable graininess in low light. I looked brightly lit despite limited lighting.

The C1 outperformed my MacBook‘s 720p webcam by a long shot. It also beat my iPhone‘s front camera under challenging backlit and low light conditions.

For the price, the Opal C1 delivers vastly superior image quality across the board. Noticeably fewer dropped frames resulted in smoother, more professional-looking video.

Fine-Tuning Your Best Self: Opalsoft Features

The (currently free) Opalsoft desktop app unlocks the C1‘s full potential for customization. granular settings like brightness, contrast, saturation and more.

Handy touches like FaceLock auto-adjust exposure specifically around your face region. This prevented blowouts on my shiny forehead or cheeks.

Gesture controls felt gimmicky at first, but I grew to love pinch-zooming into my upper body for presentations. The peace sign finger trigger to disable video also amused coworkers.

Easily my favorite feature was Portrait Mode-esque background bokeh. Blurring my messy room heightened focus on me – perfect for client video calls.

Room for Refinement: Early Software Quirks

As sleek as the Opal C1 hardware itself looks and functions, the macOS-only Opalsoft app remains quite barebones.

Changing camera settings requires far too many clicks compared to Logitech or Razer‘s webcam software. Streamlining common adjustments would help productivity.

MacOS Monterey compatibility issues also reared up. Initially the C1 failed to deliver any video feed. An update swiftly resolved this, but tighter software integration must remain an area of focus.

The Final Verdict: Worth Splurging On?

The Opal C1 clearly delivers best-in-class image quality for desktop video conferencing. For remote professionals, creative freelancers and aspiring online content creators frustrated by grainy integrated webcams, the C1 finally offers a convenient high-quality solution.

But for the average knowledge worker, it represents a harder sell when the MacBook webcam suffices. $300 may exceed budgets, especially before economizing perks like Gesture Control and Portrait Mode.

For now, the Opal C1 stands alone as a premium option. But with renewed interest in the webcam market, competition from both startups and established players looks poised to heat up.

Savvy early adopters and remote work power users will find the Opal C1 a justifiable splurge. But more budget-conscious shoppers may prefer waiting a generation or two for DSLR-quality webcams to mature and drop in price.

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