Webcam Upgrade suggestions for 2019 27" iMac?

[quillrd]

So I have a 2019 iMac Retina 5l 3 GHz 6-Core Intel I5. I love it.

I'm a musician and do pretty heavy duty production via Logic and the iMac has handled it with aplomb. So far.

However, I've decided to delve into the video side of things, for starters recording myself while I play guitar etc. And I've come to notice one of the few areas where Apple cheated out in this otherwise incredible value for the dollar computer is in its wack webcam. FaceTime always looks like garbage and you can forget making videos with it since its apparently 720p. I've since read that it was replaced in the 2020 model with a full 1080p HD webcam.

Anyway, any suggestions for webcams? I know nothing on the subject. A previous thread on the webcam recommended the Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920, but that was written in 2020. Not looking to go crazy, but doesn't need to be budget either. Just a solid piece of equipment for making YouTube videos. Thanks!

 

[CheesePuff]

Well the easy answer is go to a 2020 model which upgraded the webcam to 1080p and added the image processor from the T2... but realistically due to the pandemic and work from home surging webcams were sold out for many many months, and then came the surge of the Chinese knockoff crap brands flooding Amazon and the like. The Logitech C920 lineup is still probably the best bang for your buck.

 

[Pakaku]

If you already have a smartphone or tablet and don't mind some setup (and a way to stand it up), you might be able to just use their cameras with some software. I use OBS Studio for video stuff, and an iOS app called OBS Camera to connect it. I also know about https://vdo.ninja/ which is free, but the setup is a little more involved.

 

[wilberforce]

For quality YT videos use a real camera on a tripod.
The 1080p webcam in my 2020 iMac is slightly better than the 720p webcam I had in my 2014 iMac, and is just adequate for Zoom and FaceTime and that’s about it.

 

[BrianBaughn]

An iPhone camera option is discussed here:

iPhone as a webcam for Mac - Looking for Beta testers

As a side project I have built an app that lets you use your iPhone as a webcam for your Mac. I know that there are similar apps out there, but my plan is to release it for free, so I think it could be useful for people. Features: - Resolutions 1920x1080, 1280x720, and 640x480 - Frame Rates up...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[Hexley]

You can use a DSLR or mirrless full frame camera as a webcam

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

So I have a 2019 iMac Retina 5l 3 GHz 6-Core Intel I5. I love it.

I'm a musician and do pretty heavy duty production via Logic and the iMac has handled it with aplomb. So far.

However, I've decided to delve into the video side of things, for starters recording myself while I play guitar etc. And I've come to notice one of the few areas where Apple cheated out in this otherwise incredible value for the dollar computer is in its wack webcam. FaceTime always looks like garbage and you can forget making videos with it since its apparently 720p. I've since read that it was replaced in the 2020 model with a full 1080p HD webcam.

Anyway, any suggestions for webcams? I know nothing on the subject. A previous thread on the webcam recommended the Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920, but that was written in 2020. Not looking to go crazy, but doesn't need to be budget either. Just a solid piece of equipment for making YouTube videos. Thanks!

I used the iphone SE (cheap old 2016 model) and got 4k@24fps video from it.
Better yet I can adjust the shooting angle, too.
It will get hot if you shooting for 2-3 hours continuously, like in online studying situation, but for video making and streaming, it won't be a problem.

I use iVCam to connect the iphone to my iMac or PC.