I have a Logitech C270 webcam connected to my RPI via a powered USB hub.
This camera has two operation modes (or capabilities): YUYV and MJPEG.
As far as I could understand, the difference between both is that with MJPEG capability, the image is compressed in the camera itself before being sent to the host (in this case the RPI), while in YUYV, there is no image processing and the raw image is sent to the host. In practice this means that streaming in MJPEG mode uses less than 5% of RPI CPU while in YUYV the CPU goes to the top because the RPI needs to process the raw image and convert it to MJPEG before sending it out.
I guess this kind of explains the difference between ~3€ webcams and 50€ branded webcams.
Having this in mind, I'd like to get my Logitech C270 to stream as MJPEG, so I can consider to have several cameras streaming in my RPI. I'm Using MJPEG-Streamer for that because I want to see the stream in my android phone with an IPCam view app (yes, it works as any other IP cam

I've seen some other posts here in the forum that suggest the use of the -y flag when running mpeg-streamer, but what this actually does is to "enable YUYV format and disable MJPEG mode", so not a real solution and not taking advantage of the capabilities of the camera.
I have followed several tutorials on line that show how to configure MJPG-streamer and after everything configured, I can only stream with YUYV (taking the RPI's CPU to the top).
Code: Select all
root@coelheira:~# mjpg_streamer -i '/usr/local/lib/input_uvc.so -d /dev/video0 -r 1280x960 -f 15 -n' -o '/usr/local/lib/output_http.so -w /usr/local/www -p 8080'
MJPG Streamer Version: svn rev: 3:172
i: Using V4L2 device.: /dev/video0
i: Desired Resolution: 1280 x 960
i: Frames Per Second.: 15
i: Format............: MJPEG
o: www-folder-path...: /usr/local/www/
o: HTTP TCP port.....: 8080
o: username:password.: disabled
o: commands..........: enabled
However, if I run MPEG-Streamer with the camera in the YUYV mode (with the -y flag), it works perfectly from anywhere (except the CPU is going to the 100%):
Code: Select all
root@coelheira:~# mjpg_streamer -i '/usr/local/lib/input_uvc.so -d /dev/video0 -r 1280x960 -f 15 -n -y' -o '/usr/local/lib/output_http.so -w /usr/local/www -p 8080'
MJPG Streamer Version: svn rev: 3:172
i: Using V4L2 device.: /dev/video0
i: Desired Resolution: 1280 x 960
i: Frames Per Second.: 15
i: Format............: YUV
i: JPEG Quality......: 80
o: www-folder-path...: /usr/local/www/
o: HTTP TCP port.....: 8080
o: username:password.: disabled
o: commands..........: enabled
Logitech C270 supported formats:
Code: Select all
root@coelheira:~# v4l2-ctl --list-formats-ext
ioctl: VIDIOC_ENUM_FMT
Index : 0
Type : Video Capture
Pixel Format: 'YUYV'
Name : YUV 4:2:2 (YUYV)
Size: Discrete 640x480
Interval: Discrete 0.033s (30.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.040s (25.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.050s (20.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.067s (15.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.100s (10.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.200s (5.000 fps)
Size: Discrete 160x120
Interval: Discrete 0.033s (30.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.040s (25.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.050s (20.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.067s (15.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.100s (10.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.200s (5.000 fps)
Size: Discrete 176x144
Interval: Discrete 0.033s (30.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.040s (25.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.050s (20.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.067s (15.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.100s (10.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.200s (5.000 fps)
Size: Discrete 320x176
Interval: Discrete 0.033s (30.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.040s (25.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.050s (20.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.067s (15.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.100s (10.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.200s (5.000 fps)
Size: Discrete 320x240
Interval: Discrete 0.033s (30.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.040s (25.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.050s (20.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.067s (15.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.100s (10.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.200s (5.000 fps)
Size: Discrete 352x288
Interval: Discrete 0.033s (30.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.040s (25.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.050s (20.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.067s (15.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.100s (10.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.200s (5.000 fps)
Size: Discrete 432x240
Interval: Discrete 0.033s (30.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.040s (25.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.050s (20.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.067s (15.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.100s (10.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.200s (5.000 fps)
Size: Discrete 544x288
Interval: Discrete 0.033s (30.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.040s (25.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.050s (20.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.067s (15.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.100s (10.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.200s (5.000 fps)
Size: Discrete 640x360
Interval: Discrete 0.033s (30.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.040s (25.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.050s (20.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.067s (15.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.100s (10.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.200s (5.000 fps)
Size: Discrete 752x416
Interval: Discrete 0.040s (25.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.050s (20.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.067s (15.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.100s (10.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.200s (5.000 fps)
Size: Discrete 800x448
Interval: Discrete 0.040s (25.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.050s (20.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.067s (15.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.100s (10.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.200s (5.000 fps)
Size: Discrete 800x600
Interval: Discrete 0.050s (20.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.067s (15.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.100s (10.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.200s (5.000 fps)
Size: Discrete 864x480
Interval: Discrete 0.050s (20.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.067s (15.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.100s (10.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.200s (5.000 fps)
Size: Discrete 960x544
Interval: Discrete 0.067s (15.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.100s (10.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.200s (5.000 fps)
Size: Discrete 960x720
Interval: Discrete 0.100s (10.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.200s (5.000 fps)
Size: Discrete 1024x576
Interval: Discrete 0.100s (10.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.200s (5.000 fps)
Size: Discrete 1184x656
Interval: Discrete 0.100s (10.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.200s (5.000 fps)
Size: Discrete 1280x720
Interval: Discrete 0.100s (10.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.200s (5.000 fps)
Size: Discrete 1280x960
Interval: Discrete 0.133s (7.500 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.200s (5.000 fps)
Index : 1
Type : Video Capture
Pixel Format: 'MJPG' (compressed)
Name : MJPEG
Size: Discrete 640x480
Interval: Discrete 0.033s (30.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.040s (25.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.050s (20.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.067s (15.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.100s (10.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.200s (5.000 fps)
Size: Discrete 160x120
Interval: Discrete 0.033s (30.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.040s (25.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.050s (20.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.067s (15.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.100s (10.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.200s (5.000 fps)
Size: Discrete 176x144
Interval: Discrete 0.033s (30.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.040s (25.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.050s (20.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.067s (15.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.100s (10.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.200s (5.000 fps)
Size: Discrete 320x176
Interval: Discrete 0.033s (30.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.040s (25.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.050s (20.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.067s (15.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.100s (10.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.200s (5.000 fps)
Size: Discrete 320x240
Interval: Discrete 0.033s (30.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.040s (25.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.050s (20.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.067s (15.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.100s (10.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.200s (5.000 fps)
Size: Discrete 352x288
Interval: Discrete 0.033s (30.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.040s (25.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.050s (20.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.067s (15.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.100s (10.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.200s (5.000 fps)
Size: Discrete 432x240
Interval: Discrete 0.033s (30.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.040s (25.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.050s (20.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.067s (15.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.100s (10.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.200s (5.000 fps)
Size: Discrete 544x288
Interval: Discrete 0.033s (30.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.040s (25.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.050s (20.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.067s (15.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.100s (10.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.200s (5.000 fps)
Size: Discrete 640x360
Interval: Discrete 0.033s (30.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.040s (25.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.050s (20.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.067s (15.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.100s (10.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.200s (5.000 fps)
Size: Discrete 752x416
Interval: Discrete 0.033s (30.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.040s (25.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.050s (20.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.067s (15.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.100s (10.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.200s (5.000 fps)
Size: Discrete 800x448
Interval: Discrete 0.033s (30.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.040s (25.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.050s (20.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.067s (15.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.100s (10.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.200s (5.000 fps)
Size: Discrete 800x600
Interval: Discrete 0.033s (30.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.040s (25.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.050s (20.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.067s (15.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.100s (10.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.200s (5.000 fps)
Size: Discrete 864x480
Interval: Discrete 0.033s (30.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.040s (25.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.050s (20.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.067s (15.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.100s (10.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.200s (5.000 fps)
Size: Discrete 960x544
Interval: Discrete 0.033s (30.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.040s (25.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.050s (20.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.067s (15.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.100s (10.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.200s (5.000 fps)
Size: Discrete 960x720
Interval: Discrete 0.033s (30.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.040s (25.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.050s (20.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.067s (15.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.100s (10.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.200s (5.000 fps)
Size: Discrete 1024x576
Interval: Discrete 0.033s (30.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.040s (25.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.050s (20.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.067s (15.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.100s (10.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.200s (5.000 fps)
Size: Discrete 1184x656
Interval: Discrete 0.033s (30.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.040s (25.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.050s (20.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.067s (15.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.100s (10.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.200s (5.000 fps)
Size: Discrete 1280x720
Interval: Discrete 0.033s (30.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.040s (25.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.050s (20.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.067s (15.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.100s (10.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.200s (5.000 fps)
Size: Discrete 1280x960
Interval: Discrete 0.033s (30.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.040s (25.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.050s (20.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.067s (15.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.100s (10.000 fps)
Interval: Discrete 0.200s (5.000 fps)
Code: Select all
root@coelheira:~# v4l2-ctl --all
Driver Info (not using libv4l2):
Driver name : uvcvideo
Card type : UVC Camera (046d:0825)
Bus info : usb-bcm2708_usb-1.2.3.4
Driver version: 3.18.12
Capabilities : 0x84000001
Video Capture
Streaming
Device Capabilities
Device Caps : 0x04000001
Video Capture
Streaming
Priority: 2
Video input : 0 (Camera 1: ok)
Format Video Capture:
Width/Height : 1280/960
Pixel Format : 'MJPG'
Field : None
Bytes per Line: 0
Size Image : 1632000
Colorspace : SRGB
Crop Capability Video Capture:
Bounds : Left 0, Top 0, Width 1280, Height 960
Default : Left 0, Top 0, Width 1280, Height 960
Pixel Aspect: 1/1
Streaming Parameters Video Capture:
Capabilities : timeperframe
Frames per second: 15.000 (15/1)
Read buffers : 0
brightness (int) : min=0 max=255 step=1 default=-8193 value=128
contrast (int) : min=0 max=255 step=1 default=57343 value=32
saturation (int) : min=0 max=255 step=1 default=57343 value=32
white_balance_temperature_auto (bool) : default=1 value=1
gain (int) : min=0 max=255 step=1 default=57343 value=32
power_line_frequency (menu) : min=0 max=2 default=2 value=2
white_balance_temperature (int) : min=0 max=10000 step=10 default=61432 value=2010 flags=inactive
sharpness (int) : min=0 max=255 step=1 default=57343 value=24
backlight_compensation (int) : min=0 max=1 step=1 default=57343 value=1
exposure_auto (menu) : min=0 max=3 default=0 value=3
exposure_absolute (int) : min=1 max=10000 step=1 default=166 value=588 flags=inactive
exposure_auto_priority (bool) : default=0 value=1
Thanks,
Jabss