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Elgato Facecam MK.2: problems, parts and running costs

Checked: 2026-10-19

Summary

The Facecam MK.2 is a 1080p60 webcam with manual controls, on-device settings storage and a built-in privacy shutter, but every review flags the same gaps: no microphone by design, a Camera Hub app that uses 1.6-2 GB of RAM, HDR capped at 1080p30 that is divisive in testing, a fiddly shutter tab and an all-plastic body. There are no subscriptions and no consumables, so running costs are effectively zero beyond a separate microphone and, for the AI effects, an NVIDIA RTX 2060-class GPU. At Elgato’s current $119.99 it is reasonable for a buyer who already has audio gear; at the old $149.99 MSRP the value objections carry more weight.

Common problems and fixes

Parts and consumables

No replaceable parts or consumables reported.

Yearly running cost

No subscriptions: Camera Hub is free. There are no consumables such as filters or pods. The only extras are one-time: a separate microphone or headset (no mic is built in) and, for the AI effects, an NVIDIA RTX 2060-class GPU. Electricity consumption and any dollar running cost are not quantified in the sources, so no yearly figure can be given.

When it is a good buy

Store prices: Elgato direct $119.99 (checked 2026-10-19) [1]; launch MSRP $149.99 (March 2024) [3][4][5]; Best Buy $119.99 (April 2024) [4][5]; Origin PC $149.99 (April 2024) [4][5]; AntOnline $132.77 (April 2024) [4][5]; Elgato direct $149.99 (April 2024) [4][5].

Thresholds: at $111-$125 it is good value for buyers who want uncompressed 1080p60, manual controls with on-device persistence and a hardware shutter, and who already have or do not need a microphone [1][3][4][5]; at $126-$140 it is fair, still defensible for streamers who value the Elgato ecosystem [3][7]; at $141-$150 it is weak to fair and only makes sense if the manual-control and shutter combination is the priority [3][4][5][6][7]; above $150 it is poor value, since 4K60 webcams such as the Elgato Facecam 4K at $199.99 and 2K cams with microphones such as the Dell Pro Webcam at $99.99 sit nearby [3].

Named alternatives: the Dell Pro Webcam at $99.99 (2K with a microphone) when an all-in-one calling camera matters more than manual control; the Elgato Facecam 4K at $199.99 when 4K60 is the priority; and the Logitech Brio 500, which Tom’s Hardware found stronger in overexposed backlight scenes. [3][4]

Sources