Elgato Facecam Review: A Brilliant Webcam Let Down by Software That Keeps Resetting

Our Elgato Facecam review is a bit different: this is the webcam we use every single day. The camera itself is excellent, with a picture that still makes most webcams look poor. The software is another story. Elgato's camera app has been the most frustrating part of owning it, because our settings kept resetting. We score it 7.5 out of 10: a great camera held back by its app.

Elgato Facecam review at a glance

Is the Elgato Facecam good?

The camera is. Elgato built it like a small camera rather than a cheap webcam: an eight-element all-glass lens, a Sony STARVIS sensor made for indoor light, a heat sink for running all day, and uncompressed 1080p60 over USB 3.0. In daily use that shows. The image is sharp and smooth, colors look natural, and it's clearly a step up from the camera built into a laptop or a budget webcam.

What's wrong with the Elgato Facecam?

The software. To change exposure, white balance, zoom or picture settings, you use Elgato's camera app, and in our experience it was awful to live with: settings we'd dialled in kept resetting, so we were fixing the picture again instead of just turning the camera on. That's especially frustrating because Elgato sells Facecam on its Flash Memory, which is meant to save your settings on the camera itself so they follow it to any computer.

When the hardware is this good, an app that won't remember your settings is the one thing that can spoil it, and it's why this isn't an 8 or a 9.

Does Elgato Studio 2.0 fix it?

Maybe. On November 3, 2026, Elgato released Elgato Studio 2.0, which fully replaces Camera Hub. Elgato says new features and fixes now go only to Studio, Camera Hub no longer gets updates, and existing settings carry over automatically. The original Facecam is on Studio's supported list. We'll update this review once we've lived with Studio for a while. Our Elgato Studio 2.0 guide explains what changed.

Elgato Facecam specs

• Resolution: 1080p at 60 fps, uncompressed.
• Lens: Elgato Prime Lens, eight glass elements, f/2.4, 24 mm full-frame equivalent, 82-degree field of view, fixed focus.
• Sensor: Sony STARVIS CMOS.
• Connection: USB-C on the camera, USB 3.0 needed.
• Mounting: monitor clamp, plus a standard 1/4-inch thread.
• Memory: onboard Flash Memory for settings.
• No built-in microphone.

Should you buy the Elgato Facecam?

Elgato now lists the original Facecam as discontinued, so you'll mostly find it second-hand or as remaining stock. The current model, Facecam MK.2, keeps 1080p60 and adds HDR, and costs $119.99 at Elgato US. If you want the best picture for streaming or calls and don't mind some software fiddling, a Facecam is still a great choice. If you want a camera you never have to think about, wait to see whether Studio 2.0 sorts out the settings problem.

Watch the Elgato Facecam

Elgato's own sample footage and videos are on the Facecam page. We couldn't find a current official trailer for the original model.

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