Elgato Facecam 4K

When this model makes sense

A 4K source for crop room and recordings. Start with that job, then check the surrounding connections. A feature on this device does not establish that the computer, software and destination support the same path.

This is part of the current catalog. Current availability in a manufacturer family does not guarantee retail stock, every regional variant or support for every operating-system release. Match the exact model name when reading a product listing.

Three useful fits

• Put one live camera source on a computer USB data port, with no separate HDMI capture box.
• Frame a seated presenter from the intended working distance; set the focus and field of view before adding digital crops.
• Use the documented resolution and frame rate in your streaming application. Test lighting and motion together rather than choosing from a resolution label alone.

• Best starting job: a 4k source for crop room and recordings.
• Upgrade around owned gear: use the setup builder to check this connection against your existing computer and sources before replacing adjacent equipment.
• Controlled comparison: compare the required input, output and workflow using the webcam versus camera guide. Choose the smaller sufficient path when extra hardware does not solve a declared problem.

Connections and decision fields

Read connector shape and data protocol separately. An adapter can change the cable ends; it cannot create a faster host controller, add a microphone preamp or convert protected HDMI into a supported capture source.

Exact identity

Elgato Facecam 4K

Lifecycle

Current catalog

Equipment role

webcam

Host operating systems

Windows 11+; macOS 13+; iPadOS 17+

Connector shape

USB-C

Data protocol

USB 3.0; USB 2.0 fallback; UVC 1.5

Capture output

4K · 60 fps, 2160p60 MJPEG over USB 3; 4K · 30 fps, 2160p30 HDR; 1080p · 60 fps, 1080p60 over USB 2 or USB 3

Usb Gbps

5

Video Formats

YUY2; NV12; MJPEG

Sensor

Sony STARVIS 2 1/1.8-inch CMOS

Lens Aperture

f/4.0

Focal Length Equivalent

21 mm

Field Of View

90 degrees diagonal

Focus

Fixed focus; 30-120 cm at 4K and 25 cm-infinity at 1080p

Dimensions

104 x 54 x 52 mm without mount

Weight

112 g without mount or cable

Mounts

Monitor mount; 1/4-inch thread; 49 mm lens-filter thread

Cable

Detachable USB-C to USB-C 3.0 cable, 200 cm

Included parts

Facecam 4K; Monitor mount; USB-C to USB-C 3.0 cable

Use the listed modes as a starting point for the connection. Before a live session, select the exact source in OBS and record it with the other devices connected. If the required mode is absent, lower the output or change the connection before replacing the source.

Check these conditions first

1. The main limitation: Connect it through USB 3 for the full video path, then select the exact mode in OBS. A USB 2 connection exposes fewer modes, even with a Type-C plug.
2. The rest of the path: the operating system must recognize the input, and the production application must expose the selected mode. A device visible in a system panel may still be unavailable to OBS if another application owns it.
3. The session conditions: check the full intended duration with all the other devices connected. A short isolated test does not expose shared USB contention, camera runtime limits, accidental monitoring loops or changing household upload.

For a webcam, test the intended crop, lighting and frame rate in the actual application. A large output resolution can help a tighter crop, but it does not establish low-light quality or prove every feature is available without manufacturer software.

If the builder reports a hard blocker, solve that requirement before buying an alternative. A conditional result needs the named check. An unknown result means the information is insufficient; it is not a negative review of this model.

What is included, and what may be missing

• Facecam 4K
• Monitor mount
• USB-C to USB-C 3.0 cable

Write down both cable ends and the required data rating. Check length against the real desk route, allowing slack at moving joints without putting tension on a socket. If a host has USB-A and a device arrives with only a C-to-C cable, choose a suitable data cable or adapter; the host’s underlying data speed still applies.

Mounting parts deserve the same check as signal cables. Confirm thread, clamp thickness, load and available space where these apply. “Mount compatible” is incomplete without the mating connector or dimensions. Keep adapters in the plan so the final wiring sheet does not conceal an extra purchase.

Use the optional cost fields in the builder for amounts you have observed yourself. A missing purchase amount stays unknown and is excluded from the known subtotal; it is never shown as a free item. The site does not display hardware prices or stock.

Place it in the complete setup

The diagram illustrates a direct USB setup. Put Elgato Facecam 4K in its webcam role, then follow each required input to an actual source and each output to an actual destination. For an HDMI or XLR component, insert the required capture device or interface between the source and host; do not interpret the direct USB illustration as a universal connection.

1. Connect mounts and power before plugging in the signal cables. Keep the input gain or monitor volume low while changing connections.
2. Select the exact device and mode in the operating system and production software. Close any second application that may be using the same video device.
3. Add each source once. If a routing application already feeds the capture audio to OBS, do not enable a second direct route for the same sound.
4. Record a representative sample with speech, movement and other sources active. Play it back independently of the live monitoring path.
5. Test the platform preview with the intended network and output settings, then save a recovery scene and reconnection order.

Use the Setup Path Builder to produce a connection ledger, or go directly to the pre-stream checklist when you have finished the wiring. For the underlying choice, see webcam versus camera.