TL;DR: Grab the Sony IMX-sensor based generic OEM modules or repurpose an old mirrorless camera via clean HDMI capture card if you want actual technical performance under $100. Most mainstream webcams bottleneck on sensor size, regardless of what resolution they push. If you want proper low-light performance and true dynamic range without paying the brand tax, look at capture card setups with a used DSLR or check out modules featuring larger Sony Starvis sensors. A 1/2.8-inch sensor or bigger will outperform a tiny 1080p webcam sensor every single time due to pixel pitch physics. Bitrate handling and uncompressed YUY2 output matter way more than bloated companion software suites that eat your CPU cycles. Do a bit of testing with manual exposure controls instead of relying on auto-gain, and your image quality will jump drastically.