As stated in the introduction, most webcams provide high-performance and high-resolution USB-based video. For a new desktop or mobile device, they can be purchased at relatively low prices. However, they cannot provide the same level of video performance when connected to the Pi.

When webcams are connected to a Pi, they must share the USB channel with other high-data-rate peripherals such as the Ethernet controller or a Wi-Fi adapter. Image acquisition places a higher demand on CPU resources as compared to laptops, tablets, and desktops. Still, most webcams are equipped with a long-connection cable (for example, Microsoft LifeCam has a 10-foot cable), which can be beneficial for camera placement.