Controlling Logitech Brio Webcam on Ubuntu: Customizability and Accessibility

The Logitech Brio 4K Ultra HD webcam is a versatile device that offers a multitude of settings and features. However, when it comes to controlling it on Ubuntu, you may find the options limited or non-existent. This article will guide you through the process of controlling and customizing your Logitech Brio webcam on Ubuntu, focusing on the tools and utilities that can help you achieve this.

Understanding Webcam Settings

Before we dive into the tools, it’s important to understand the various settings that you can control on a webcam. These include brightness, contrast, saturation, white balance, gain, power line frequency, sharpness, backlight compensation, exposure, focus, and zoom. However, some features such as viewing angle, fps, and video resolution may not be adjustable through standard Linux command-line or programming APIs.

Tools for Controlling Your Webcam

Guvcview

Guvcview is a simple graphical interface that allows you to customize various settings of your webcam. While it offers a wide range of controls, it may not provide the ability to adjust the viewing angle.

To install Guvcview, open your terminal and type:

sudo apt install guvcview

Once installed, you can launch Guvcview and select your webcam from the device list. You’ll then be able to adjust various settings using the sliders and checkboxes.

V4l-utils

The v4l-utils package provides command-line utilities that allow you to control and configure video4linux devices, including webcams. The v4l2-ctl command is particularly useful for inquiring and changing the camera’s settings.

To install v4l-utils, use the following command:

sudo apt install v4l-utils

You can then list the available controls for your webcam using:

v4l2-ctl --list-ctrls

To change a specific control, use the --set-ctrl option:

v4l2-ctl --set-ctrl=control=value

Replace control with the name of the control you want to change and value with the desired value.

Cameractrls (Flatpak version)

Cameractrls is a more fully-featured utility that allows you to control various settings of your webcam, including the field of view (FoV) for Logitech Brio webcams.

To install it from the Flatpak repository, use the following command:

flatpak install hu.irl.cameractrls

Once installed, you can launch Cameractrls and select your webcam from the device list. You’ll then be able to adjust various settings using the sliders and checkboxes.

Conclusion

While you can control several properties of the Logitech Brio 4K Ultra HD webcam on Ubuntu, the ability to adjust the viewing angle, fps, and video resolution may be limited or not available through standard Linux command-line or programming APIs. However, with the right tools and a bit of patience, you can customize your webcam to better suit your needs.