Webcam for Mac Pro in place of iSight?

[jonnysods]

Hey all, I just ordered a new Quad to replace my iMac, and I had a question.

Now that I'm losing an iSight in my iMac, I was looking around at the old iSight webcams, but the prices are crazy high still. I was wondering if there was a camera out there that can be used instead of the iSight?

I want it for Skype, MSN for Windows etc as I need it to talk to clients and family back in Australia.

Thanks!

[Whiteyez]

Check this out..

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/webcam_communications/webcams/devices/4528&cl=roeu,en

[Matt Dean]

I agree with Whiteyez,

the QuickCam Pro is a very nice camera. ( I wouldn't trade it for my iSight, though)

[sjobs@mac.com]

I just got the QuickCam Pro 9000 (http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/webcam_communications/webcams/devices/3056&cl=us,en) delivered yesterday, I will say that it is very sharp, but it does not capture motion well. Plug and play, so there may be additional drivers that help with that. Will have more to say in a week or so.

http://www.logitech.com/repository/471/jpg/3765.1.0.jpg
http://www.logitech.com/repository/471/jpg/3766.1.0.jpg

[Dragonforce]

I use the PlayStation Eye from SONY.
Works very good on my Mac

http://www.amazon.com/PlayStation-3-Eye/dp/B000VTQ3LU/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1239140736&sr=8-1

[Whiteyez]

Can we use a video camera like http://www.sony.co.uk/product/sdh-standard-definition-on-memory-stick/dcr-sx30e this for webcam?

[jons]

What is considered the best webcam available? Most of the ones I've used aren't very good, the iSight included.

The firewire iSights were really good though.

[grue]

What is considered the best webcam available? Most of the ones I've used aren't very good, the iSight included.

The firewire iSights were really good though.

Logitech Vision Pro is unbeatable so far, I'm VERY happy with mine.

Framegrab from it when I was testing with my PowerBook when I first got the cam:

http://spiceweasel.net/webcam-still.jpg

[TheStrudel]

I use the PlayStation Eye from SONY.
Works very good on my Mac

http://www.amazon.com/PlayStation-3-Eye/dp/B000VTQ3LU/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1239140736&sr=8-1

Really? Got any screengrabs for us or used it in iChat?

[crazeazn]

Really? Got any screengrabs for us or used it in iChat?

what this guy said.

[michael.lauden]

i used to use my PS2 eye toy as a webcam too. it's not fake although quality isn't going to be anywhere near a normal camcorder esp via firewire

[Dragonforce]

Really? Got any screengrabs for us or used it in iChat?

There... :D

[mickbab]

Is there a secret to making the EyeToy work?
I just plugged it into my iMac to see what it does, and in iChat, Skype and System Preferences it is recognized as a microphone, but it doesn't appear as a camera anywhere.
Explanation?

[Dragonforce]

Explanation?

Macam (http://webcam-osx.sourceforge.net/)

[nerdish]

I just got the QuickCam Pro 9000 (http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/webcam_communications/webcams/devices/3056&cl=us,en) delivered yesterday, I will say that it is very sharp, but it does not capture motion well. Plug and play, so there may be additional drivers that help with that. Will have more to say in a week or so.



I have the same camera on my Pro, no auto focus or face detection, those features are on windows only - but it still works great!

[mcavjame]

How about the aGent V4. New ones can be found on eBay for about $50 and shipping is often free. It is marketed as a direct iSight competitor and even looks very similar. The screen grab is from 10 seconds ago.

[Tesselator]

Logitech Vision Pro is unbeatable so far, I'm VERY happy with mine.

Framegrab from it when I was testing with my PowerBook when I first got the cam:

http://spiceweasel.net/webcam-still.jpg


Hmmm, that's not too bad (not real good but not too bad) for what looks like a total piece of junk when viewed at the store close up. By looking at it I would expect it to break in just a few days and wouldn't want to pay $100 for it. <shurg> Looks are deceiving?

[jonnysods]

How about the aGent V4. New ones can be found on eBay for about $50 and shipping is often free. It is marketed as a direct iSight competitor and even looks very similar. The screen grab is from 10 seconds ago.

Wow, that thing looks great! I wonder if it works. I'm going to dig around for some reviews because that price point is pretty good!

[MattZani]

The PS Eye is the best i have seen, ultra smooth motion. Great Stills, and the Microphone is awesome (3 Mic's, to eliminate background noise)

[jonnysods]

Is that the PS2 or PS3 Eye?

It's certainly way cheaper than all the other units I'm looking at (which is good because I just spent over $3K for the machine - I can't tell my wife that I'm spending $150 of a camera!).

How do you get it to work on the MP?

[jonnysods]

This is cool:

http://webcam-osx.sourceforge.net/cameras/camera.php?id=626

But there is a caution if you are using external USB hard drives:

"This camera produces an excellent image. However it uses a very high bandwidth, and the presence of USB hard-drives (even if not connected to the same controller) can cause problems (incomplete images)."

Luckily all my drives on this one will be internal!

[MattZani]

Is that the PS2 or PS3 Eye?

It's certainly way cheaper than all the other units I'm looking at (which is good because I just spent over $3K for the machine - I can't tell my wife that I'm spending $150 of a camera!).

How do you get it to work on the MP?

Its the PS Eye, not the Eyetoy, you can tell by the Cable (Seen in the pic of the Mac Pro)

The Eyetoy is a VGA Quality Camera
The PS Eye is a 720p Camera.

[jonnysods]

Its the PS Eye, not the Eyetoy, you can tell by the Cable (Seen in the pic of the Mac Pro)

The Eyetoy is a VGA Quality Camera
The PS Eye is a 720p Camera.

Just so I'm correct then, because I'm a noob with PS stuff - the PS Eye is the new camera for the PS3? I looked it up and it seems to be the one - I just don't want to make a bum purhcase!

Thanks!

[TheNightPhoenix]

I use the PS Eye (ps3 camera), my only problem with it is that the base is flat. So it doesn't sit well on my monitor. I have to very carefully balance it or place it at an odd angle on the Mac handles.

[NonBorn]

Its the PS Eye, not the Eyetoy, you can tell by the Cable (Seen in the pic of the Mac Pro)

The Eyetoy is a VGA Quality Camera
The PS Eye is a 720p Camera.

Does PS Eye works with ichat??? Because I cannot make it work...

[TheNightPhoenix]

Does PS Eye works with ichat??? Because I cannot make it work...

Have you installed this?

http://webcam-osx.sourceforge.net/cameras/camera.php?id=626

[Consultant]

Any old camcorder with firewire would do if you have one around.

[MattZani]

Does PS Eye works with ichat??? Because I cannot make it work...

Should do, i just quickly played around with it on the Macam software. Think i will find it hard to do as i have a Built in iSight.

[crazeazn]

Its the PS Eye, not the Eyetoy, you can tell by the Cable (Seen in the pic of the Mac Pro)

The Eyetoy is a VGA Quality Camera
The PS Eye is a 720p Camera.

isnt the ps eye a vga camera as well?

* Enables you to chat with up to six people at one time
* Offers a frame rate of 120 fps at 320 x 240 resolution or 60 fps at 640 x 480 resolution
* Built-in omnidirectional four-microphone linear array offers precise sound
* USB 2.0 high-speed transfer
* Free EyeCreate software download on PlayStation network

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8603111&type=product&id=1192232281142

[jonnysods]

Meh, that won't matter that much to me anyways, seeing as my previous isight on my iMac had the same resolution. Although 720p sure would be nice!

[jonnysods]

I just bought the PS Eye from Best Buy just now. Still waiting on my MP to ship, which will be a drag because it's the long weekend, so I will let you know what it's like and how well it runs with everything.

I really hope it works with Skype!!!

[NonBorn]

I just bought the PS Eye from Best Buy just now. Still waiting on my MP to ship, which will be a drag because it's the long weekend, so I will let you know what it's like and how well it runs with everything.

I really hope it works with Skype!!!

The only program I cannot make it work is eventually PhotoBooth:(:(:(

[crazeazn]

I just bought the PS Eye from Best Buy just now. Still waiting on my MP to ship, which will be a drag because it's the long weekend, so I will let you know what it's like and how well it runs with everything.

I really hope it works with Skype!!!

how is it?

[dvince2]

What monitor are you using? It's possible to get one with a webcam that will work in OS X ( Like my Dell SP230W)

[nicolasmasset]

I use the PS Eye (ps3 camera), my only problem with it is that the base is flat. So it doesn't sit well on my monitor. I have to very carefully balance it or place it at an odd angle on the Mac handles.

Dang, that's a bummer too! Although I do have an old gen ACD, but still, they should make every webcam screen hookable these days imo!