Logitech announces Reach articulating webcam for streaming, e-learning and presentations

Content creators and online educators are well aware that while streaming is pretty straightforward if you’re just talking into the camera, it can be quite a pain if the content requires talking to your audience while showing them something offscreen, like teaching arts, crafts, DIY or playing an instrument, or solving a problem on a notebook. With precisely such scenarios in mind, Logitech has announced the Reach camera – or rather, what it calls a “versatile, articulating camera experience”.

This is because the webcam itself is not new: it's Logitech’s StreamCam with 1080p/60fps video, dual noise-reducing mics, and autofocus as close as 10 cm. What is new is the flexible mounting system, which can smoothly be moved horizontally as well as vertically to get closer to the subject. The perspective doesn’t have to be top-down: the camera can be rotated and pointed at any angle, from straight down to front-facing towards one's face, and anywhere in between. The table-lamp-like setup can either stand on a base or be clamped to the table edge, and folds away neatly when not in use.

Normally, the alternative would be switching between two cameras, or holding the object to be shown up to a front-facing camera. With the Reach, switching or adjusting the perspective is effortless and smooth, eliminating the need for a second camera. Additionally, it has a neat trick to ensure an upright image and prevent accidentally orienting it to, say, upside down. A rotating ring around the camera with visible markings indicates the upright orientation without having to check the screen.

Interestingly, earlier this year, Creative announced its Project Watcher to solve a very similar problem but with a different approach of using two webcams instead of one; that project is live on Indiegogo. Logitech too is running an Indiegogo Enterprise campaign to gain some feedback, and is yet to announce the final launch date and price.

Buy the Logitech Brio 4K webcam with noise-canceling mics on Amazon