Elgato's Cam Link 4K vs a Cheap Capture Card (Comparison)

---SAVE MONEY ON STREAMING GEAR---

---GENERIC CAPTURE CARD---
Because these keep going out of stock, I've listed multiple listings. They are all the same, so go with the best price!

---CAM LINK 4K---

---MY DSLR CAMERA---

---HDMI CABLE FOR DSLR TO PC---

---LOGITCECH C920 WEBCAM---

---ELGATO WAVE:3 USB MICROPHONE---

Whether you stream on Twitch or YouTube (or even Facebook?) you've probably considered leveling up your streaming setup to use a DSLR camera as your webcam. In order to make that happen, you've got to invest in a video capture card. The Elgato Cam Link 4K is one of the most popular options out there, but at $130 you may be looking for cheap capture card alternatives. I grabbed a cheap capture card that a lot of content creators are raving about and put it up next to the Cam Link 4K to see how it stacks up.

TIMESTAMPS:
Intro: 0:00
Capture Cards 101: 0:32
The Specs: 1:58
Comparison Tests: 2:32
Logitech C920: 3:11
Cheap Capture Card: 3:35
Cam Link 4K: 4:01
Capture Card Breakdown: 4:52
Conclusion: 6:47
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DISCLAIMER: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. But don't worry, it doesn't cost you anything extra!

[jodiitem]

Using generic connected to HD camcorder for almost 1 year for our church live streaming. 3 services each week, it good durable.

[ZeoWorks]

The generic card can do 720p at 60fps, it's very impressive! This should've been mentioned.
It's great for recording gameplay from a console or streaming.

[wyze_media]

One note for the audio delay, you can adjust that slight delay on your webcam to sync up very easily, and you can fine tune it down to the 100th of a second with ease. That flaw is super easy to overcome if youre using OBS or SLOBS.

[zulfphotography]

Great comparison, I have used the generic card in many scenarios and it has been great for the price. A little adjustment and that audio sync can be fixed easily.

[TechVerveyt]

Great video! That generic capture card is pretty impressive for the money. Not sure if I would spend more for the elgato when I really only saw minor differences

[ProfSimonHolland]

that was helpful....I bought a $13 capture card and its seems ok.... I wonder how it syncs with an external sync on clapping test.

[SVBOW]

Thanks! This was really helpful and well explained! While watching the video I was convinced that maybe the Elgato was worth it... then when it came to shopping I just couldn't bring myself to drop that extra £100 for a relatively minor difference. The generic one is so cheap that I think you can always re-upgrade later if you really wanna get super professional with your camera

[FrederickDunn]

Thank you for this video, I would most definitely pay the extra for a catch-all capture card that I don't have to think about. I always want equipment that can do what I need it to do without limitations. Thanks for the explanation. I need to feed from a camera to a computer AND a large high-resolution monitor at the same time. This helped. Thumbs up and I wish you all the best!

[ataraxisproductions]

Your details on the audio sync was absolutely what I needed to hear since I've been looking for DSLR capture. Thank you so much for focusing on that!

[MdLanguage]

First time I see a video that addresses the topic of sound and video sync related to quality of equipment used. Your clapping test is simply genius. Thanks a lot for the video, really clarified things for me.

[mgrimes]

finally someone that addressed the audio video sync. Legend.

[丸山碧-jk]

This is an amazing video comparison, between all those devices, I found it really clear and useful since I am a musician and as a student or teacher the sound delay is a prior thing while in class or recording at home. You won a subscriber

[carsonlight_lapse]

lmao actually checking discord and it was in your audio lmao

[stefanmoraru]

Awesome video!

The discord notification sounds were so confusing :D Spent some time trying to figure out where I was mentioned

[theeactivone]

Man...so glad I finally came across some who brakes it down in the most simplest comprehensive way...THANK YOU! I’m new to this YT grind and trying to get my computer rig set up. 👍🏼

[PlectrumShorts]

Excellent comparison! I’m looking at these for the first time and, as an example, I would never have thought of the syncing aspect. This is very helpful.

I’m late to the party and the video is 2 years old now. I’m going to check your channel to see if you have revisited the subject with other or newer devices.

[Impossible_Fishy]

those discord pings got me i was checking my inbox like what's going on

[MindLessWiz]

Thank you for the latency test! I also hate that the latency difference is not being talked about.

[brookswhitford]

I think it will all depend on what you want to do. For a gaming streamer just starting out, I think saving some money is the important pat and it can be upgraded later

[BoostAndRedline]

would've loved to see the video comparison side by side