---
title: "Lesson 3.4 - Under $400 Camera"
description: "Under $400 Camera: Elgato Facecam Pro. The premium streaming-specific camera that bridges webcam and DSLR quality. ~$400 retail. What you get: 4K 60fps video (4x the resolution of standard webcams)..."
url: https://thestreameragency.com/courses/streaming-setup-pro/lessons/setup-pro-3-4-under-400/
date: 2026-05-06
modified: 2026-05-06
author: "The Streamer Agency"
type: lp_lesson
lang: en
---

# Lesson 3.4 - Under $400 Camera

**Under $400 Camera: Elgato Facecam Pro.** The premium streaming-specific camera that bridges webcam and DSLR quality. ~$400 retail.

**What you get:**

- 4K 60fps video (4x the resolution of standard webcams)

- True 1080p crop options from 4K sensor (gives you headroom for reframing without quality loss)

- Sony Starvis 2 sensor (excellent low-light performance)

- Manual exposure control via Elgato Camera Hub software

- USB-C 3.2 for the bandwidth required for 4K 60fps

**What you don't get:**

- Interchangeable lenses (still a fixed lens)

- The shallow depth of field of a true mirrorless camera

- Cinema color profiles

**Where the Facecam Pro wins:** the 4K sensor is the differentiator. Even when you stream at 1080p, the 4K capture lets you crop in or reposition during edit without losing resolution. Low-light performance is significantly better than the Brio 500. The Camera Hub software gives you actual control over exposure, white balance, and framing.

**Where it falls short:** at $400, you're approaching DSLR territory where a Sony A6400 with a 50mm prime lens delivers visibly better image quality at similar price.

The Facecam Pro is the right answer for streamers who want premium quality without the complexity of a full mirrorless setup.