Computers & Office · PRODUCT REVIEW

Creative
Live! Cam Voice

For a compatible legacy Windows call setup with software face framing. A closer look at the benefits, the limitations, and the alternatives.

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THE SHORT ANSWER

Our take

Creative Live! Cam Voice VF0170 has a documented 1280×960 live mode, stereo microphones and software face framing, but its manufacturer-listed rates are 15 fps and its driver requirements belong to Windows XP/2000. Consider it only for a compatible legacy setup.

Consider it for

Only for a user with a compatible legacy Windows environment who values the built-in stereo microphones and Creative's documented face-framing utility and accepts a 15-fps ceiling..

Look elsewhere if

Not for 1080p60, 4K, a 60-fps mode, a confirmed autofocus mechanism, or a modern operating-system setup without a verified driver path. The manual does not identify the attached cable connector as USB-C.

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Pros & cons

What could work for you, and what to consider before buying.

What works in its favor

  • Creative lists true video up to 1280×960 and distinguishes it from the software-enhanced 5-megapixel still-photo setting.
  • The guide documents stereo microphones, noise-control settings, an 85-degree ±5% diagonal field and a 15 cm-to-infinity focus range.
  • The manual describes two software face-tracking modes and digital reframing, with practical conditions for successful use.

What to weigh up

  • Creative's official mode table lists 15 fps, including at 1280×960; the model has no documented 1080p60 or 60-fps mode.
  • The manual gives a focus range but does not say whether focus is automatic or manual, and its view is narrower than a 90-degree diagonal requirement.
  • The guide requires Windows XP or 2000, Creative's Windows 7 table says no driver is planned, and the historical candidate ASIN is unverified.
Specifications and exact model details

The key details

Published product specifications
Model coveredVF0170 / 70VF017000000
Documented video modesManufacturer tables list 1280×960 video at 15 fps and lower listed modes at 15 fps; the 5-megapixel software enhancement is for still pictures.
Focus and framingThe manufacturer gives an 85-degree ±5% diagonal field and a 15 cm-to-infinity focus range; the focus method is not stated.
Light and lens privacyThe guide documents built-in stereo microphones and audio controls; playback speaker behavior is not established.
Integrated audioUSB 1.1 and 2.0 are listed; the guide says USB 2.0 is required for maximum frame rate and resolution.
Connection and mountingMinimum software system is Windows XP or Windows 2000; Creative's Windows 7 support table lists VF0170 as having no driver planned.
Identity and setup limitsAmazon ASIN B000EWIYUM returned HTTP 500; use a tagged exact-model search and verify the actual VF0170 label and package.

Performance figures are manufacturer claims. Source checked October 16, 2026. Regional models and included accessories can differ.

Full review: how the features affect your choice

What the features mean for you

Treat VF0170 as a legacy software-centered webcam

Creative's manufacturer guide names the Live! Cam Voice and describes an attached USB cable, stereo microphones and a bundle of camera software. Creative's official product announcement and support table identify the VF0170 model. Its documented face-framing and audio controls are software features running on the connected computer, so this is a different proposition from a current camera that handles tracking in firmware or has a motorized head. It may still be useful in a preserved Windows setup where those original programs are available. The same dependence makes host compatibility central to the purchase: the camera should not be treated as a plug-in replacement for a current laptop camera without first confirming a working driver and application path.

Use the true video modes, not the enhanced still number

Creative lists true video up to 1.3 megapixels, and its official model announcement gives 1280×960 at 15 frames per second plus lower video sizes at the same listed rate. The guide separately says Creative WebCam Center can software-enhance still pictures up to five megapixels. That larger still-photo number is not a live 5MP stream and does not turn this into a 4K webcam. The highest documented live height is 960 pixels, and the listed rate is a clear limit for fast movement or a preference for smooth 60-fps video. Creative also says USB 2.0 is needed for maximum frame rate and resolution, with computer performance affecting capture, so the figures describe supported modes rather than guaranteed output on every old system.

The diagonal view is measured, but focus behavior is not

The manufacturer gives an 85-degree diagonal field with a ±5% tolerance and a focus range from 15 centimeters to infinity. The diagonal label makes this value comparable to other products whose makers also publish diagonal angles; it is not a 90-degree-or-wider room view. The focus range tells the buyer the distance span stated in the manual, but it does not reveal whether the lens focuses automatically or must be adjusted by hand. I therefore leave autofocus unknown instead of converting a useful focus range into an autofocus claim. A solo desk position may suit the documented view, while anyone needing a wider group frame or frequent automatic refocusing should compare a model with the corresponding feature explicitly stated.

Stereo microphones add capture, not a speakerphone

The guide identifies two built-in microphones and describes normal, noise-cancellation and directional-beam audio control. It lists a microphone frequency range of 200 Hz to 10 kHz and sensitivity of −44 dB ±4 dB. Those are manufacturer specifications, not a guarantee about speech quality in a particular room. The package list also names a hands-free headset, although Creative warns that included contents can vary by model and region. The checked material does not establish an integrated playback speaker in the camera itself, so someone who needs sound output should plan on the computer or a separate headset or speaker. There is no physical cover or cover-linked audio stop documented in the reviewed sources, so visual and microphone privacy remain separate questions.

Face framing depends on old Creative software

Creative describes a Face Tracking Utility that detects faces, zooms and reframes them during messaging or recording. It offers continuous tracking and a smart mode that waits for head movement to stop before framing. The manual says the tracker works best with an adequately lit face, a non-skin-colored background and a stable camera; it warns that rapid head movement can look jerky. A separate digital Pan and Tilt control moves the view around a zoomed crop. These features are useful distinctions for a person preserving the original software environment, but they do not move the physical camera, and the manual does not expressly define them as the finder's two-axis subject-tracking capability. I leave the strict finder tracking field unknown rather than overstate a legacy digital feature.

Confirm the driver and package before buying

Creative's guide sets Windows XP or Windows 2000 as minimum operating systems, calls for an available USB 1.1 port, and says USB 2.0 is needed for maximum resolution and rate. It also requires an installation CD drive and lists a sound card for two-way audio. Creative's current Windows 7 support table says no driver is planned for VF0170; it does not establish operation on current Windows, macOS, ChromeOS or modern calling apps. The guide lists an attached USB cable, installation CD, hands-free headset and quick-start booklet, but says package contents may vary by model and region. The historical Amazon detail page for B000EWIYUM could not be verified. Use the tagged model search and check the physical VF0170 label, working driver media and included parts before relying on an offer.

Compare for your needs

For a dual still/video camera that detaches from its PC cable, compare the Ezonics EZ-308. Its manual documents VGA still-photo storage and a Windows 98-era workflow, but the live-video mode and rate are unknown.

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Before you buy

Does VF0170 record 5-megapixel video?

No. Creative describes up to 1.3 megapixels of true video; five megapixels is a software-enhanced still-picture figure.

Does it support 1080p60 or 60 fps?

No such mode is listed. Creative's official video table tops out at 1280×960 and lists 15 fps for the published modes.

Is autofocus confirmed?

The guide gives a 15-centimeter-to-infinity focus range but does not identify the focus mechanism, so autofocus is unknown.

Does it track a moving person?

Creative documents a software Face Tracking Utility and digital reframing. The guide does not establish motorized or strict two-axis camera tracking.

Will it work with a current computer?

Current OS and app support are not established. The guide specifies Windows XP/2000, and Creative's Windows 7 table says no driver is planned for VF0170.

Is ASIN B000EWIYUM verified as VF0170?

No. Its Amazon page returned HTTP 500, so use the tagged exact-model search and verify the camera label and included package.

Where can I check the current price?

Use the Amazon link for current offers. Check the exact model, seller, product condition, delivery, and return terms. This page does not display a live price or confirm stock.

Sources and review basis

Sources & review basis

We use the linked product documentation for the features above. Our suitability notes and buying advice are editorial judgments based on those features, not measured performance results.

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Is it the right fit?

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