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*cheap* webcam advice (NOT isight)

V

vtprinz

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Nov 30, 2004
395
0
I'll start by saying by "cheap" I mean no iSight. I can't afford a $100+ webcam. In fact I'd like to keep it under $50. The Logitech Quickcam for Notebooks Deluxe has a rebate that makes it $40 right now, and I've checked macam and it says that it works with that cam, but I've also read on these forums that macam is outdated and doesn't work with Tiger. I've searched through a ton of threads but everyone keeps saying to buy an iSight. I'm a poor college kid moving off to grad school and can't afford an iSight, but I'd like to have something, even if the video quality sucks, to keep in touch with my girlfriend.

So should I trust macam that the Quickcam for Notebooks Deluxe will work or is there a better poor-mans choice?
 
Now I'm looking at the QuickCam Communicate STX. On sale for $30 and can do 30fps (just realized the one mentioned above can only do 15fps) I've read one person that said it works, but another that said, while it technically worked, using skype it would always give a way-to-bright washed out video. Again, macam says it works, but can that be trusted?
 
10.4.9 added support for USB Video cameras, but only those that support the USB standard, not just some no-name VFW drivers. I'm sure other will chime in with new and supported models.
 
Anyone have any experience/thoughts on the Logitech Communicate STX?
 
I have the quickcam for notebooks deluxe and it works fine with skype. The rightlight corrector thing is a big help. I'm not using it on a mac but I seem to recall mac software being included in the package.

I use it to call my parents since my cheap college self won't pay for a home phone line when I'm already paying $40/mo for internet.
 
colocolo said:
If I recall correctly, that's simply a patch to make USB webcams works with iChat; it doesn't include any webcam drivers.

Since 10.4.9, ichatusbcam shouldn't be needed.

(Am I correct? Can someone confirm this? Haven't looked into it much)
Click to expand...

It's a little more complicated than that. ichatusbcam will allow you to use ANY USB camera provided that the manufacturer has drivers for OSx (not likely) OR the camera works via macam. 10.4.9 only allows UVC webcams to work natively. Someone already posted a link to these webcams that are UVC compliant. Just so you know, UVC is a fairly new driver, so you'll have to get a newer model camera. No cheapies here.

With that said, I can confirm that macam works great on my set up. In fact, let me recommend a webcam for ya: the eyetoy. I purchased a 15 dollar sony eyetoy off ebay - complete with a game to sell to help recuperate my purchase - and while it's no isight in terms of quality, it's the best 15 dollar webcam in the world! Good framerate and decent colors, plus a built in microphone! It won't work in ichat without ichatusbcam, but it works great with skype, and funny enough, photobooth.
 
djstarrock said:
I second eyetoy its a really good camera and its tiny good quality built in mic its all there plus manual focus which can be a plus so you can get in really close.
Click to expand...

Sony just announced the next-gen replacement for the EyeToy:

http://www.sci-tech-today.com/news/...Eye--Camera/story.xhtml?story_id=12200EWSUHUU

It's in Black. :D I wonder if it might work with OS X, and if it might end up being a good additional option, especially when paired with black display bezels? It has a fairly nice sounding feature set. Not the original external iSight, but still nice.
 
ichatusbcam works!

mintlivedotcom said:
Spend $10 on this:
http://www.ecamm.com/mac/ichatusbcam/

and then use almost any USB webcam.
Click to expand...

Here-here. Works great. Still can't get the camera to function in Skype, but I use iChat much more (pretty much exclusively).

I must confess that I can't stand the fact that I had to spend $50 at Best Buy and then another $10 as soon as I got home. But it sure beats another trip to the store, or--worse yet--having to purchase a highly overpriced iSight (although it is quite attractive).

So ichatusbcam has my vote!

Ceek
 
I bought a £20 Logitech QuickCam Chat from tesco. Works fine with My G5 iMac and Tiger. Using both Macam and ichatusbcam. Have also used an itoy with my G4 powerbook successfully.
 
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