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Mac compatible webcam advice needed

I'm just looking for a webcam that will work with my G4 PB, that is within my price range (20 - 40$). I'd really really like the drivers to come with the webcam, and not have to find 3rd party drivers.

Can someone please help me out? I'd be forever grateful if someone could point me in the right direction.
 
hanaya said:
I'm just looking for a webcam that will work with my G4 PB, that is within my price range (20 - 40$). I'd really really like the drivers to come with the webcam, and not have to find 3rd party drivers.

Can someone please help me out? I'd be forever grateful if someone could point me in the right direction.
Click to expand...

If you have Tiger (10.4), then the XBox Live Camera is a good option; it works out of the box with 10.4.9, and costs about $35-40 new. See here:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/288299/

Also be careful when you dig up ancient threads like this. A lot of these threads are discussing what options were available two or three years ago, when USB cams were not supported natively by OS X.....
 
Using a digital camera as a webcam

I am in the market for a webcam for my ibook G4 1.42 GHZ and also want a digital camera to replace my old Panasonic DMC-LC20. I would like to keep the camera in the $200-$250. Does anyone know if there is a digital camera, other than the camcorder route, that will act as a webcam besides the Konica E-Mini? If not I am leaning towards the image or xbox Vision discuss here. Also I know the ibook has a built-in mic, but is it adequate to talk over the web using ichat or skype? Thanks all. :)
 
Things are getting better: UVC compliant USB 2.0 cams are a growing standard. Mac users will benefit as Windows Vista's support for UVC webcams builds. A short list of clearly working known Mac-friendly USB cams are listed here at www.mac-compatible-web-cam.com -- and native support under newer versions of OSX and now Vista should start sending BOATLOADS of just plug-n-play models from the Far East our way.

Frankly the amount of human life energy spent Dinking Around trying to get ancient Macs, outdated OS's, obsolete no-name brand web cams picked up for $5 off eBay, driver hacks, et. al. is staggering (judging by forum posts.) Logitech makes things worse. Too many models, varying part #'s, poor Macintosh support - and yet somehow are the 'Top Brand' people think of. Sheesh, just buy one that's KNOWN to work! More are on the way.
 
I know this is quite an old thread, but I'd like to add that I bought an Xbox Live bundle (Xbox Live Arcade games, Year of service, Headset & Xbox Live Vision camera) And I have to say, it worked just like the built-in camereas right out of the box. I have an old iBook g4 12 inch and I tried this on Tiger and Leopard and I just plug it in and it's good to go for Skype, iChat, and Photobooth. Even the silly little flash things work.

I visit this page because I'm looking for something for my mom, she's having trouble shopping for one for her Mac and I was looking for something that had a mic and a cam for her Mac mini. I might as well just give her the Xbox one, which would finally allow us to iChat across the state.

Good luck to everyone else, I looked in my local stores the camera alone (not with the bundle which was 70 USD) looked to be around 40 USD. Hope this helps someone... just don't expect it to include a mic or anything fancy. Just a focus knob.


P.S. I also tried to use the same Microsoft Xbox Live Vision camera on my Windows PC and it had to install about 3 drivers before it worked, which turned up not signed (or whatever that message pops up when you install ANYTHING) I thought that to be quite ironic and a little predictable.
 
More questions about webcams for Macs

I've got an iMac v 10.2.8. I read in an earlier post that the Logitech Quickcam Pro 4000 would work for a Mac, but when I read the specs it said it would work for Mac 10.1.5-10.2.6. Am I out of luck? If so, could I still use my mini DV? If so, could someone give a step by step on how to set that up? Can I still use iChat, or Skype? Sorry for so many questions.
 
JohnNotBeatle said:
XBox360 cam for older Macs (G5 iMac picks it right up in iChat). Works just fine, PNP.
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Yep, I can definitely confirm that the XBox360 web cam works great with macs.

http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-360-Live..._1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1200970299&sr=8-1

I've tried it with OS X 10.5 (though it should work in 10.4.10 and 10.4.11).

I tried it on both my PowerPC iBook G4 1.33 GHz 12-inch and also on my Intel Mac Pro. Works great. The video quality is amazing compared to other's I've tried.

You just plug it in, and start using it. Works great with iChat.

I've also used it with AOL Instant Messenger in Windows Vista and it works great there as well.
 
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Get a Logitech!

AlBDamned said:
Hi All,

I'm just looking at getting a webcam for use with my Powerbook and any advice would be much appreciated. Most of the ones I've seen don't mention Mac compatibility but would they 'just work...'?

What are the rest of you guys using?

Cheers


AL
Click to expand...
The Apple iSight was taken off the market last year. Many new "off the shelf" Logitech USB webcams now work with OS X 10.4.9 and above. The Logitech site doesn't mention OS X support for some strange reason. You must have a minimum 600MHz G3. My Logitech Ultra Vision works great with 10.5 -Photo Booth and iChat AV 4.0. I bought it at Best Buy. No extra drivers needed, they are in OS X. Here's the list!!
http://blog.smalldog.com/article/628/apple-os-x-1049-update-adds-usb-webcam-support
 
Web Cam for MacPro

pzob22 said:
I have one of these iMage webcams and it works great on my PowerBook:

http://www.ecamm.com/mac/imagewebcam

price is right too.

-Jim
Click to expand...

What I need to know is which camera to get to use with my new MacPro~

Yes, I am very lucky/blessed :) to have one, but also broke btw it, my Hubby's new iMac (in his office so that doesn't help) and the supplies and texts for an Art Major at University. HELP Please, anyone?

Pattianne
 
problems with logitech quickcam vision mp for mac

Hi,

I got a logitech quickam vision mp for mac from an Apple store. It works
for Skype and iChat. However I am having problems using Photo Boot
and iMovie. First of all iMovie doesn't recognize the camera at all.
Regarding Photo Boot I have the following problem. I also have an
EyeTv Hybrid. If I connect it, then Photo Booth doesn't seem to recognize
the camera. I only get a black screen. If the EyeTv Hybrid is not connected then Photo Booth recognizes the camera, but i only get video and no sound when I record.
Any suggestions?

Thanks!
 
DCARDOZE - PhotoBooth must be buggy, video clips is a new feature for the Leopard 10.5 version - I too have had real unreliable audio results recording video-clips for YouTube with it. First attempt OK, but if I stop and start a new clip - audio is missing and don't know it till I play a new recording back. Have to restart. So I don't know that its related to Your EyeTV unit. PhotoBooth also seems to have audio sync/lag problems so I've given up and use a different capture program - in the Audio Settings, many show a sound-level meter before you start recording.

Definitely keep your Logitech UVC Webcam on a separate USB port from the EyeTV USB tuner (and not shared on a USB hub.) Since the Logitech SE webcam has a built-in microphone it's a VERY demanding USB device - as is a TV tuner pushing both audio AND video. Bandwidth overload on a single bus can cause USB ports/functionality to choke & temporarily shut down. So it's always been smart to 'balance the load' of your demanding USB devices between 2 ports/hubs.

iMovie simply doesn't recognize external USB webcams. So recording with some other video capture program and importing into iMovie IS the solution...
 
Webcam chat vehicle

So I've gotten my Logitec webcam to work with my iMac using Maccam. My issue now is that since I have an older iMac (10.2.8), I can't use my ichat, and skype requires a newer OS. Any recommendations?
 
zim said:
I love my iSight, best cam I have ever purchased!

I also have a Cannon miniDV. When I go on trips I video talk with my wife through iChat (her on the iSight at home and I on the Cannon at a remote location). The only issue that I have with using video cameras is that a lot of them, including mine, have auto shutoffs that can not be overridden so you either a. keep fiddling with the zoom so that it does not shut off or b. have to keep restarting your camera... typically b is what happens.
Click to expand...

I heard that with many cameras, if you take out of the tape, the auto shutoff will shut-off. But, I haven't verified it. Might be worth trying!
 
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