Camera for iChat

[eric j]

Her new Mini needs an iSight camera to work with the monitor.

I have no experience in this sphere. Any recommendations will be gratefully received and duly acknowledged.

eric j

[sandbox]

hey eric,

I use an iSight camera ported for firewire. http://www.amazon.com/Apple-iSight-camera-...8146&sr=1-1
 They're expencive. @$125US

Logitech makes many USB options and their service and exchange policies are the best!!
You may find one for around $70US like this http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-QuickCam-Ul...8828&sr=1-1

or this http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-960-000048-...8092&sr=1-1

[Xairbusdriver]

Good luck. I attempted to find a suitable camera last year for my grandkids. There are hundreds of model available using USB, unfortunately, most will give only marginally acceptable results when compared to Firewire. And any FireWire camera you find will be expensive, those hat have them consider them made of gold! Just make sure it is compatible with a Mac and that usually means no 'drivers' are required.

That being said, if the mini has USB2, a suitable USB2 camera may work just fine (I had to find something that would work with FW400/USB1).

However, here are some links that might help:
<LogiTech QuickCam© Vision Pro> Seems acceptable by some Mac users (including one with a mini. Around $130.
<Eyeball Mic/Web Cam> I've never owned anything from this company, but from what I've read, I wish I'd heard about this camera last year. They make great products, especially from the audio side. Check all the specs/gallery/reviews/manual links. Around $90.

[Al]

You know, I got really lucky a couple of weeks ago.

My daughter was bothering me for a web cam so she could video chat with her friend when she moves away soon.

I tried to get her eyetoy cam to work, no luck with ichat.  I researched a few usb2 cams, but, it was a real hit or miss situation with drivers and proper function.

Well, I was searching around craigslist and came across an iSight that the guy only wanted $29 for it.... Uh, wow!  I immediately called him and we made the transaction.  The iSight works perfectly!    Too bad all transactions couldn't be like this one.  But, the iSight really is the perfect web cam for a mac.

[sandbox]

I agree Al. If you add iGlasses webcam life gets a whole lot brighter!!!

[Al]

SB, I forgot about iglasses!  Thanks for reminding me, lol!  

[Mayo]

$29 for an iSight??? You got a Great Deal. I sold mine a year ago to a friend for $125 (the same price I paid for it new...) and that was a bargain compared to what they were going for on eBay.

The original iSight cameras seem to be the best webcams; if you can find one for a decent price it will probably hold its value.

[eric j]

Thanks everybody.

I had prepared myself to buy the rather expensive  Logitech Vision Pro Webcam USB for MAC, and saw it demonstrated at my local Apple dealer. However there  I found also what seems to be a recently introduced webcam - the Macally IceCam2 - for the equivalent of about USD 30.

At that price I decided to purchase it.

Now it's installed and running. The video colour is not faithful - blueish tinted - but at least it works. Perhaps the ambient light in our room is too low. May try to fiddle with it later.

eric j

[sandbox]

QUOTE

Macally IceCam2

let us know how it works out

eric most are not pleased with the audio or video from my observations.
too dark and grainy. if your not running snow leopard try iGlasses

[Xairbusdriver]

Definitely get iGlasses. it gives you control over dozens of color/lightness/contrast/sharpness/etc. of the video. It will pop up whenever an app tries to use your camera, iChat, Photo Booth, etc. Worth every nickel! Unfortunately not yet ready for SL, but it will be, by the time you move to that.