St. Gregory the Theologian speaks for himself this week, with a little extra for the children on avoiding 'silly talk.'

The appointment of Deacons in the church is the subject of today's sermon by Deacon Emmanuel Kahn.

Fr. Emmanuel Kahn speaks about St Dunstan, a 10th century Archbishop of Canterbury.

Fr. Wilbur introduces his new podcast by talking about the depth of the Psalms and how the Church views the Psalms in terms of the Historical, the Christological, and the Liturgical.

Fr.Wilbur continues his series on the Psalms of Ascent looking to the hills "from whence comes my help."

The Psalm of Ascent associated with the Pre-Sanctified Liturgy during Great Lent is Psalm 121 (122 in the Hebrew) where we "go up" to the House of the Lord.

Continuing with the Psalms of Ascent, Fr. Wilbur looks at Psalm 122 (123 in the Hebrew) which shows how we are given strength for the journey.

In the next Ode of Ascent, Fr. Wilbur shows us that God delivers us in close calls and close calls are the foundation of maturing faith.

Continuing through the Psalms of Ascent, Fr. Wilbur reflects on Psalm 124 (125 in the Hebrew) where we take comfort in being surrounded by the love of God.

In this Psalm, we reflect on the middle of our journey when the newness has worn off and the destination seems so far away.

In his continuing series on the Psalms of Ascent, Fr. Wilbur looks at Psalm 126 (127 in the Hebrew) and the assurance that God is with us in the journey.

We are now moving beyond the mid-point of our journey in the 15 Psalms of Ascent. Psalm 127 (128 in the Hebrew) talks about the "fear of the Lord" which is described as pure and enduring forever.

Fr. Wilbur begins the last set of the Psalms of Ascent with another familiar Vespers Psalm - "Out of the depths, I have cried to You, O Lord."

In his continuing series on the Psalms of Ascent, Fr. Wilbur looks at Psalm 130 (131 in the Hebrew) and says that the higher we rise into union with God, the lower we go from centering on ourselves.

In the first of his reflections on the Psalms we pray at the Pre-Sancified Liturgy during Great Lent, Fr. Wilbur looks at Psalm 119 (120) and the journey of a sojourner.

If you’re a remote worker, or even work remotely part-time, you can step up your video conference game by investing in a good webcam. Built-in cameras on laptops and desktops have improved in recent years, but you typically still get higher quality and more personalized controls with an external webcam. And if you plan on video chatting with friends across the country or game-streaming regularly, you’ll want the best webcam experience possible. But there’s a lot of junk out there, as is typical in an overcrowded space. In this buying guide, we'll dive into the best webcams that will help you look sharp, no matter where you're dialing in from.

Factors to consider before buying a webcam

Resolution and field of view

While some newer computers have 1080p webcams, most built-in cameras have a resolution of 720p, so you’ll want to look for an external webcam that has a higher resolution. FHD webcams will give you better video quality; ideally, you’re looking for something that can handle 1080p at 60fps or 30fps. If you’re considering a cheap 720p webcam, make sure to get one that supports at least 30fps (most will) or, even better, 60fps. However, if your primary concern is better picture quality during video calls, 1080p is the way to go.

Some webcams can shoot in 4K, but that’s overkill for most people. Not to mention most video conferencing services like Zoom, Google Meet and Skype don’t even support 4K video. When it comes to streaming, Twitch maxes out at 1080p video, but YouTube added 4K live streaming back in 2016. Ultimately, with 4K webcam shots having such limited use, most people can get by with a solid 1080p camera.

Field of view (FOV) controls how much can fit in the frame when you’re recording. Most webcams I tested had a default field of view of around 78 degrees, which captured me and enough of my background to prove that I really need to organize my home office. On cheaper webcams you’ll usually see narrower fields of view (around 60 degrees), and those aren’t necessarily bad. They won’t show as much of your background, but that also means you won’t be able to squeeze as many friends or family members into frame when you’re having Zoom birthday parties. On the flip side, more expensive webcams may let you adjust the field of view to be even wider than average, and some even offer features like digital zoom.

Autofocus and other “auto” features

Webcams with autofocus will keep the image quality sharp without much work on your part. You should be able to move around, step back and forth, and remain in focus the whole time. Some standalone webcam models let you manually adjust focus, too, if you have specific needs. Devices with fixed focus are less convenient, but they tend to be more affordable.

In the same vein is auto framing, a feature that some high-end webcams now offer. Similarly to Apple’s Center Stage feature, the camera automatically adjusts to keep you in the center of the frame even as you move around. This used to be a feature only available on the most premium webcams, but now you can find it on sub-$200 devices.

You’ll also see other “auto” features listed in webcam specs, most notably auto light correction. This will adjust the camera’s settings to make up for a dimly lit room. If you don’t have bright lights, or often take calls in places where you can’t control the lighting, this feature will be valuable. Alternatively, you might consider using your mirrorless camera as a high-quality webcam solution, taking all of the benefits and features with you (albeit in a cumbersome package).

Microphones

Most webcams have built-in microphones that, depending on your setup, might end up being closer to you than your computer’s own mics. Check to see if the model you’re considering has mono or stereo mics, as the latter is better. Some even use noise-reduction technology to keep your voice loud and clear. While audiophiles and streamers will want to invest in a standalone microphone, most others can get by using a webcam’s built-in mic.

Design

There aren’t a ton of fascinating breakthroughs when it comes to external webcam design. Most are round or rectangular devices that clip onto a monitor or your laptop screen. Some have the ability to swivel or screw onto a tripod stand and others can simply sit on your desk beside your computer. But unless you really like having people stare up your nose, the latter isn’t ideal. We recommend clipping your webcam to your monitor and ensuring that it’s at or slightly above eye level.

A few webcams go above and beyond by adding hardware extras like built-in lights and lens covers, too. The former can help you stand out in a dark room, while the latter makes it so hackers can’t view you through your webcam without your knowledge.

Price

Most external webcams that are just good enough to be a step up from your computer’s built-in camera cost between $60 and $150. If the webcam has the same resolution as the internal one on your laptop, you should look out for other specs like auto light correction, a wider field of view or an extra-long connecting cable that can provide a step-up in quality or ease of use.

Spending $150 or more means you might get advanced features that tend to be present in a pro webcam like 4K resolution, vertical and horizontal recording options, stereo mics, customizable video settings and more. But unless you’re spending hours on video calls each day or streaming multiple times each week, you can settle on a budget webcam and safely skip most of those high-end options.

How we test webcams

We primarily test webcams by putting them through as much real-world use as possible. We examine their design, how flexible they are and how easy they are to reposition, and make note of how heavy they are and if that affects their ability to stay put while sitting on top of a screen. We use each webcam for at least a week straight as our primary camera for all video chats, and we make sure to use the device in different lighting environments to test low-light performance. We also use any built-in microphones as our primary audio inputs on video calls as well. Finally, although most of these webcams are plug-and-play, we test out any proprietary software that’s intended to work with each webcam, tweaking things like field of view, video resolution and effects, and using any special features like Show Mode on Logitech webcams.

Best webcams for 2024

Others webcams we tested

Logitech C920s Pro HD

Our previous top pick, the Logitech C920s Pro HD webcam remains a solid option for those with less than $100 to spend and really only need a basic 1080p camera to upgrade their setup, or something affordable to make them look better on those inevitable Zoom calls. It has a 78-degree field of view, decent microphones and handy privacy shutter built in. The Brio 500 took the top spot away from this model thanks to its advanced light correction, auto-framing and Show Mode.

Dr. Rossi welcomes Fr. John Jillions, Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America, to talk about the healing nature of the Psalms.

On the last episode, Dr. Rossi welcomed Fr. John Jillions who gave some reflections on the Psalms. Today Dr. Rossi shares some thoughts about some of his own favorite Psalms.

Dr. Rossi once again interviews Fr. Sean Levine, a graduate of St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary and now chaplain in the United States Army, regarding Family Systems Theory and how it applies to our healing the growth.

Dr. Albert Rossi reflects on the way in which what we do in the present moment can change events in the past.

According to Fr. Lawrence Farley, if the Muslim has no real exposure to or understanding of the Christian message, he might still be spared on the last day if his heart was in ignorance seeking the true God.

In this broadcast—recorded "on the road"—we examine a brief word by Abba Dorotheos of Gaza on the spiritual symbolism of Christ's entry into Jerusalem.

In a broadcast for the Feast of the Nativity According to the Flesh of the Lord Jesus Christ, we reflect on two hymns of St. Ephrem the Syrian and a portion of a homily by St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco on the glory of the night of Christ's full revelation.

In a broadcast for the Feast of the Nativity According to the Flesh of the Lord Jesus Christ, we reflect on two hymns of St. Ephrem the Syrian and a portion of a homily by St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco on the glory of the night of Christ’s full revelation.

John Maddex talks with Fr. Wilbur Ellsworth about his brand new podcast Let My Prayer Arise which just began on AFR.

Bobby Maddex interviews Dan Christopulos, the U.S. Country Representative for International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC). Dan is in New York City this week coordinating the delivery of food, water, and blankets to those victimized by Hurricane Sandy.

Bobby Maddex interviews renowned Orthodox poet Scott Cairns about his new collection of poetry Idiot Psalms.

Georgia Mamalakis joins us to talk about a group of women joined together over many miles to pray the Psalms during the Nativity Fast but also during Great Lent.

Bobby Maddex interviews Dr. Christoph Schneider, the Academic Director of the Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies, about the institute's two new MA programs.

Fr. Pat discusses three problems that the Samaritan woman faces when she comes to the well and meets Jesus.

Fr. Pat discusses three points related to the account of the seamstress who was resurrected in the book of Acts: the fall, the resurrection, and integration.

Fr. Pat provides brief reflections on three parables from Matthew 24:36-26:2; the Parable of the Faithful and Evil Servants, the Parable of the Ten Virgins, and the Parable of the Talents.

An abiding sense of the beyond is utterly native to human experience. Fr. Pat Reardon makes three points about this experience.

Fr. Pat's reflections on Luke 17:12-19, the cleansing of the ten lepers.

Fr. Pat preaches from 2 Timothy 3:10-15.

A homily on 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, given on August 26, 2012.

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) Thanksgiving is a time to feel grateful. But that attitude of gratitude can go away as soon as we're done with the turkey. How do we keep it going? Saint Paul tells us to "give thanks in all circumstances." Because real gratitude is more than a feeling. As we see in the Parable of the Rich Fool, it starts with remembering one crucial thing. As always, we've prepared a FREE downloadable workbook to help you act on what you'll learn: mailchi.mp/goarch/bethebee158

Kevin's first guests were Fr. Hans Jacobse, President of the American Orthodox Institute, and Dr. John Mark Reynolds, philosopher, author, and newly appointed Provost of Houston Baptist University. The subject was The New Atheists and their claims against Christianity

Wars, cruelty, pandemic, natural disasters, even inflation. So what does the Lord say? "You ain't seen nothing yet!"