H.264 codec question

[Barryj]

Please excuse my simple newbee question. I have a Logitech C920 webcam that outputs H.264 video. Does this mean that it ONLY outputs H.264 video or is there a setting that can request a different type of output. I tend to think there are codec options because maybe some players do not have H.264 codecs but maybe they can decode other formats. If there is a codec selection, can VLC perform this function? I have noticed in the VLC Tools menu there is a codec information option. Can VLC change the codecs? Can someone explain how this works?
thanks
Barryj

[Rémi Denis-Courmont]

C920 can output raw (YUY2), JPEG or H.264. VLC always picks raw by default.

[Barryj]

Is there a way in VLC to select the H.264 encoder option? I would assume the H.264 would have much less latency, yes?

[Rémi Denis-Courmont]

Raw has the lowest latency.

[Barryj]

Could you explain why raw has the lowest? I have always though, perhaps erroneously, that at high resolution, 1600 X 1200, I would think the bandwidth of the USB connection would limit the frame rate and cause a larger latency than if the video stream were compressed.

[Rémi Denis-Courmont]

Raw has lowest latency because it's raw: no post-processing on the camera hardware... Of course, it also has the highest bandwidth requirements.

[Barryj]

I understand. Then, why do I get the motion lag when using VLC. Can you think of something I can do to improve performance. I know it is possible because a company called Datastead has a demo program that will display the C920 without almost no latency. I thought it was because of the H.264 but perhaps not. Also, it seems that the latency is greater when the viewing window is larger than when the viewing window is small. I have a fast computer and cannot find the problem. Movies and other videos play just fine. Any suggestions would be appreciated.