Our take
The Microsoft LifeCam VX-3000 is an older VGA webcam with one unusually specific documented behavior: automatic face tracking through digital pan, tilt and zoom. Microsoft also documents manual focus, an integrated microphone and a 55-degree diagonal view. Part 68A-00001 is identified by an exact-part retailer record, but the historical candidate ASIN is not mapped to it. This is a narrow legacy fit, not a modern high-definition recommendation.
A legacy moving-presenter setup where the documented face-tracking behavior is useful and VGA video and old host requirements are acceptable..
Not for a buyer who needs HD video, autofocus, a wide room view, current operating-system assurances, a physical shutter, or a confirmed seller package.
Pros & cons
What could work for you, and what to consider before buying.
What works in its favor
- Microsoft documents 640×480 motion video and separates it from a 1.3MP interpolated still-image figure.
- The model sheet specifies a 55-degree diagonal field and manual focus.
- Automatic face tracking and digital pan/tilt/zoom are described in the product materials.
- An integrated microphone and USB connection are documented for the VX-3000.
What to weigh up
- VGA is the documented motion-video ceiling; 1.3MP is not a higher live-video mode.
- Focus is manual, and a 55-degree diagonal frame is relatively narrow for a shared room view.
- The exact historical Amazon offer is not cross-mapped, and a related two-camera pack must not be treated as this part.
- The checked sources describe legacy host/software requirements and do not confirm present-day application support.
The key details
| Model covered | LifeCam VX-3000, 68A-00001 |
|---|---|
| Documented video modes | 640×480 VGA motion video; the separate 1.3MP figure is interpolated still capture |
| Focus and framing | Manual focus and 55° diagonal field; automatic face tracking and digital pan/tilt/zoom are documented |
| Light and lens privacy | Integrated microphone; the checked sources do not establish a camera lamp or physical lens cover |
| Integrated audio | No integrated speaker or privacy microphone cutoff is documented |
| Connection and mounting | USB 1.1 with USB 2.0 recommended; connector shape is not identified |
| Identity and setup limits | Exact part 68A-00001 supported by a retailer record; B002T7UASY and package remain unmapped |
Performance figures are manufacturer claims. Source checked October 10, 2026. Regional models and included accessories can differ.
What the features mean for you
Exact VX-3000 part and historical offer
The frozen candidate names Microsoft LifeCam VX-3000 and part 68A-00001. Microsoft's [technical sheet](https://download.microsoft.com/download/2/d/c/2dc5a37c-bb49-4014-970f-08d99aa4d745/tds_lifecamvx-3000_0606a.pdf) supports the VX-3000 family and its technical behavior, while an [exact-part B&H record](https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/458950-REG/Microsoft_68A_00001_LifeCam_VX_3000_USB_Webcam.html) lists MFR number 68A-00001. Those sources justify a product record for that part. The historical Amazon item B002T7UASY could not be cross-referenced, so it is not used as a direct product link. Another VX-3000 part appears in a two-camera package; its bundle quantity, box contents and offer identity are not transferred to 68A-00001. The tagged search is intentionally specific to the model and part.
VGA motion video and still-image distinction
Microsoft's technical sheet lists 640×480 as the VX-3000 motion-video resolution. The 1.3-megapixel number sometimes attached to this product refers to interpolated still pictures, not a live 1.3MP stream. The exact-part retailer record gives VGA video at up to 30 frames per second. No 4K, 1080p60, or 60-fps video mode appears in the checked model materials. This is a standard-definition camera by current comparison standards, and a listing of a higher still-photo count should not be mistaken for more detailed video. It can only be a sensible fit where the tracked image is more important to the intended legacy setup than modern resolution. The published specification does not predict how old software will behave on a present-day system.
Tracking, focus and field of view
The VX-3000 documentation describes automatic face tracking together with digital pan, tilt and zoom. This is a documented tracking behavior, not evidence that the camera physically turns on a motorized head. The sheet also lists a 55-degree diagonal field. That is a narrow view relative to wide-room cameras, so it is better suited to a single moving presenter in front of the webcam than to showing several people or a broad table. Focus is manual, which means the user may need to adjust the lens for the intended subject distance; autofocus is not listed. Tracking can change the digital crop, but it does not change the base lens angle or turn VGA video into a higher-resolution mode. The current availability or compatibility of the old tracking software is not verified.
Microphone, privacy and light
Microsoft identifies an integrated unidirectional noise-cancelling microphone in its technical sheet. The separate B&H record also lists a built-in microphone, but neither source establishes an integrated speaker. No physical lens cover, integrated light, or microphone-cutoff privacy control is documented for this part. The word tracking does not say anything about privacy behavior. Users who need to block the lens or stop audio should select a product with a specified physical shutter or audio-mute control. The microphone descriptions are product claims, not the result of listening tests; they do not provide a verified pickup radius or a comparative noise measurement. Because the product dates from older USB/software generations, confirm that the intended host exposes both image and audio devices to the current calling program.
USB generation and legacy setup
Microsoft lists USB 1.1 for the VX-3000, with USB 2.0 recommended, and the retailer record says it is compatible with USB 1.1 and 2.0. The USB version does not establish the physical connector shape, which remains unknown for matching purposes. The original system requirements are from the Windows XP/Vista period; they are historical setup information rather than a current compatibility promise. A buyer considering this used or older model should confirm the camera's driver or class support, the audio device behavior, cable and stand, and the exact included accessories on the live offer. The inspected sources do not establish whether the old software components needed for automatic face tracking install on a current operating system.
Who should consider it
Consider this VX-3000 only when a legacy setup benefits from the documented face-tracking function and VGA output is acceptable. Its 55-degree diagonal view and tracking description make it distinct from a basic fixed webcam, but its manual focus, narrow frame and old support context are real constraints. A buyer who needs a recent 1080p call camera should choose a newer documented model; a buyer who wants to frame a small group should prefer a wider diagonal angle. This record stays separate from 68A-00013 because the part/package boundary matters, and the tagged Amazon search does not claim that B002T7UASY is the exact offer. Verify the part and included accessories before purchase.
What else to compare
For current calls, choose a camera with documented HD modes and current host support. For a wider legacy desk view, choose a model with a documented larger diagonal FOV; the VX-3000's tracking does not expand its 55-degree base frame.
Before you buy
Does the 1.3MP figure mean 1.3MP live video?
No. Microsoft's technical sheet identifies 640×480 motion video; 1.3MP is interpolated still capture.
Does the VX-3000 physically pan to follow a face?
The documentation describes automatic face tracking with digital pan, tilt and zoom. It does not establish a motorized camera head.
Is the camera autofocus?
No. Microsoft lists manual focus for the VX-3000.
Is B002T7UASY confirmed as part 68A-00001?
No. The exact Amazon item was not mapped to the part, so use the tagged model-and-part search and check the current offer.
Will the tracking software work with a current computer?
The inspected system requirements are from the product's legacy era and do not confirm current operating-system or app support.
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 & review basis
We use the following manufacturer documentation for the product features above. Our suitability notes and buying advice are editorial judgments based on those features, not measured performance results.
- Microsoft LifeCam VX-3000 technical sheet and exact-part B&H record ↗ — checked October 10, 2026.
- Microsoft LifeCam VX-3000 technical sheet: VGA motion video, FOV, focus, face tracking, microphone and USB ↗ — checked October 10, 2026.
- Exact-part retailer record for LifeCam VX-3000 MFR 68A-00001 ↗ — checked October 10, 2026.
- Search this model on Amazon · Tagged exact-model and part Amazon search; historical ASIN not mapped ↗Paid link · We may earn a commission. — checked October 10, 2026.
The decision
VX-3000 68A-00001 is a niche legacy tracking webcam. Choose it only when VGA, manual focus and old setup requirements fit and the part/package are verified.
Is it the right fit?
Check the exact model and today’s offers on Amazon.