I really like the Axis network cameras:

http://www.axis.com/products/video/camera/index.htm

and have used half a dozen of them. They have an embedded (Linux) web 
server which means that you can always connect to them, the model I use 
(the 2100, now replaced by the 210) can take interchangeable C/CS 
lenses, and the image is 640x480.  With a zoom lens, we use it to read 
some gauges and flowmeters.

Karl Misselt wrote:
> Hi all - I'm looking for a good webcam to remotely monitor analog sensors
> in a clean room.  I have an old (~4yrs+) camera that is working and I can
> monitor through TightVNC, but the picture leaves much to be desired.  Any
> experience with newer camera's/recomendations?   Most of these USB cameras
> seem to "just work" under SL with something like mplayer, so the issue is
> more a quality image.  TIA!
> -Karl
> 

-- 
John Haggerty
email: [log in to unmask]
voice/fax: 631 344 2286/4592
http://www.phenix.bnl.gov/~haggerty