This topic has been covered elsewhere, but I want to shed a little more color on what should be a simple solution.
I do not see ANY USB camera that requires extra libraries to be installed via command line to be a viable option for your Octoprint setup. The PS Eye that I bought many years ago (based on the recommendation in these articles, no less) does NOT work. A cheap USB camera purchased from Amazon did NOT work without running some command on startup each time your instance was rebooted. To me.. A USB camera should work the moment you plug it in to your Raspberry Pi, OrangePi, or whatever you’re using. That’s non-negotiable.
I really just wanted to draw attention to the fact that some cameras out there do not work, or present issue, and thus - a list like this is necessary. I think the most important things to consider when picking a webcam are:
Mounting style: Is the camera encased/protected and has a clamp style mounting system made for the tops of laptops and monitors? Is it bulky? Or - is it minimalist and exposed, requiring I print my own case?
Price: Do you really want to spend $100 on a webcam for your $200 Creality Ender 3?
Autofocus (and other “features): Auto-focus makes for a nice crisp shot, but the depth sensor can get confused when your print head is moving around - focusing on the printer’s frame, or print head, or the printed part itself.
An example of the autofocus on a Logitech C920
Option Two Raspberry Pi Cam
Notes:
Small form factor, easy to mount or encase
Inexpensive
Option Three Microsoft LifeCam Cinema
Notes:
Side-to-Side Rotation (Pivot)
Autofocus
Rigid mounting
720p
If you’re like the hundreds of thousands of others that use the Polar Cloud to monitor their 3D printer’s camera stream when they’re away from home (among other things), yes, you can also use these cameras to monitor your Flashforge Finder that does not have a native camera like the Inventor IIS does. Just plug it into the USB port and you’re good to go!