As for resolution, the higher the numbers, the clearer and larger the image will appear on the computer screen. It's important to remember, however, that what the camera maker lists as the high-end resolution for a camera doesn't mean that it's the resolution of transmitted video. Most DVCs can capture still images at resolutions much lower than that of video images. Likewise, transfer rates ultimately depend on the type of communications line to which you connect. If a product's transfer specification is 30 fps, you can be pretty sure that the figure is achieved over a T1 or Integrated Services Digital Network line, not a plain old telephone service line.
System requirements for most cameras are quite specific.
Sony Corp. of America's CCD-Z5 camera is designed to work with the Sony VAIO Tower PC line. Toshiba America Information Systems Inc. Unlike still-video cameras, most DVCs use software to adjust photographic levels such as brightness, contrast and sharpness. Silicon Vision Inc.'s iVision Camkit 512L includes One Touch Camera Control software, and Intel Corp.'s Create and Share Camera Pack ships with its own software driver controls. Other cameras ship with videoconferencing, video creation or video-editing software. Usually the software provides some control of photographic properties.