Poly Studio P5 Webcam: A Complete Review
Poly has been innovating in the consumer telecommunication field since the 1990s, when they were known as Polycom. Now they’re a part of the HP family, and together we’re paving the way into the future of remote and hybrid work. They have a headset, video, or phone solution for every type of user.
Since more people are relying on teleconferencing than ever before, it’s important to have a webcam that helps you look and sound your best. While most laptops and even some all-in-one desktop PCs have built-in webcams, they can be pretty limited - especially when it comes to optics and flexibility. Even if a built-in webcam is high-quality, you’re limited to the range of motion of the computer display.
So if you’re someone who makes frequent use of a webcam, you should consider investing in a high-quality external webcam. Whether you’re a student, professional, or gamer, the Poly Studio P5 webcam delivers exceptional picture and sound quality without breaking the bank.
Powerful and affordable: the Poly Studio P5 webcam
Before the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of remote work, most users didn’t put a lot of thought into the capabilities of their webcam. But with more people learning, working, and playing remotely than ever before, it has become important to consider a webcam’s specifications before buying one.
Luckily, the Poly Studio P5 has been specially designed with teleconferencing in mind.
Optimized for video calls
Poly states that their Studio P5 webcam has exceptional camera optics that have been specifically optimized for video conferencing. The webcam lives up to these lofty expectations, thanks to its 4-megapixel (MP) sensor.
You may be curious about how that megapixel count corresponds to common screen resolutions. To calculate the total number of pixels in a resolution, you simply multiply the vertical and horizontal measurements. For example, a screen with a 1920 x 1080 resolution contains a total of approximately 2 million pixels.
A megapixel is equal to 1 million pixels. That means cameras equipped with a sensor higher than 2MP can capture videos at or higher than 1920 x 1080 pixels.
The Poly Studio P5 can record at 1280 x 720 high definition (HD) or 1920 x 1080 Full HD (FHD) resolution, both at 30 frames per second (FPS) - and thanks to that larger 4MP sensor, it’s capable of up to 4X zoom. You also won’t need to worry about adjusting the focus, thanks to its built-in autofocus technology.
The other key optical feature worth mentioning is the P5’s field of view (FOV). FOV indicates the width of a camera’s viewing angle. A higher FOV means you’ll get a wider view, while a low FOV corresponds to a narrow view.
A high FOV is great for taking pictures of wide landscape but not so much for teleconferencing. That’s why the Poly Studio P5 webcam has a mid-range FOV of 80 - enough to keep you in the frame and hide potentially distracting background elements.
Finally, the Poly Studio P5 webcam is also equipped with automatic low-light compensation, so you’ll never be obscured by inadequate lighting.
What about audio quality? Poly has you covered there too. The P5 has a built-in unidirectional microphone focusing on one point instead of a board area. That helps improve audio clarity by cutting down on unwanted background noise.
Plus, the microphone has a frequency response of 50 Hz to 16 kHz. Frequency response is a measure of a microphone’s ability to pick up sounds at higher and lower levels, so you won’t have any trouble picking up a wide range of sounds.
Versatile and portable
One of the most important aspects of a webcam is its flexibility. The Poly Studio P5 webcam has a full 360-degree range of motion, so you can point it anywhere. Not only that, but it’s tripod compatible and has an adjustable monitor clamp that adjust to any size display, whether you’re working from a desktop or a laptop.
And thanks to its lightweight, compact, and rugged design, it’s easy to pack up and take on the go.
With the P5, privacy shouldn’t be a concern either. It’s equipped with external LEDs to indicate whether the camera is in use, and it comes with an integrated privacy shutter to completely block the lens when it’s not.
Other features
The Poly Studio P5 webcam is compatible with Windows 8.1 machines and above, as well as Mac OS 10.7 machines and later. It can be connected to your PC via a USB-A 2.0 slot - and if you use a wireless headset, you can plug the adapter directly into the webcam to free up your other USB ports.
Finally, you can use the Poly Lens App to adjust your webcam’s settings and keep it up to date with the latest drivers and firmware. The app can also give you helpful tips on where and how to set up your camera, as well as other support features. It can even provide gentle wellness reminders to make sure you stay healthy even while working at your desk.
Who uses webcams?
In the early 2010s, video calls became increasingly prevalent. Still, many consumers did not view webcams as crucial. However, the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 necessitated work-from-home policies for companies and remote learning for schools, causing a significant shift in perception. There was a surge in both the usage and demand for webcams.
Luckily, the Poly Studio P5 webcam is versatile enough to fit the needs of a wide variety of users:
Students
At the height of the pandemic, students of all ages, from kindergarten to college, were unable to return to the classroom in-person. They had to quickly adapt to remote learning and group video calls. The P5 webcam is powerful, affordable, and durable, perfect for enabling collaboration between students in a variety of different environments.
Instructors
While a high-quality external webcam is helpful for students, it is even more important for instructors. The Poly Studio P5 webcam ensures clear communication, so students don’t miss important points or assignments due to muddy audio or low resolution.
Professionals
While working from home was once seen as a luxury, it’s now become the new normal in many industries. If you’re a busy professional engaging in multiple video meetings per day, the Poly Studio P5 is integral to being seen and heard as clearly as possible, whether you’re debriefing another department or presenting something to an important client.
Streamers
Livestreaming is becoming increasingly popular, particularly in the world of video games and eSports. Prominent streamers from around the globe are now widely recognized for their distinctive on-screen character, captured through high-quality webcams and microphones. If you have an interest in livestreaming, a low-quality webcam will not suffice, as gamers always demand the utmost quality - so consider picking up a Poly Studio P5 webcam.
Summary
Both Poly and HP have a long history of innovation in the telecommunications space. Together, they have utilized their experience to produce a top-notch webcam in the Studio P5. No matter the application, this powerful and flexible webcam has you covered at a price that won’t break the bank.
