Webcam with digital/optical zoom

[desertman]

Every $100 smart phone has a camera that can zoom in or out; my $2,500 MacBook Pro does not. A weak performance from Apple in my opinion, but nothing that I can change.

I do have a Logitech C615 webcam, and previously (or for previous macOS versions) Logitech offered a software that enabled some zooming - at least in Skype. However, there is no such software for macOS 10.15, which is a very weak performance from Logitech, but - again - nothing that I can change.

Are there any external webcams with software for macOS that make it possible to zoom in or out in applications like Zoom, Skype, Facetime, and others?

Thanks - deseartman

 

[casperes1996]

Digital zoom is something any camera is capable of, because it's not a function of the camera. You cannot zoom the camera within FaceTime on iOS either, and I would assume not Skype either, right?

The camera in the Mac is low resolution so digital zoom won't look great, but plunk it into iMovie or Final Cut and you can use zoom to transform the image with zoom. You can also use screen zoom on macOS. After enabling it, just hold the control key and scroll up with two fingers.

Now, in terms of using the camera with Skype, et al. Since the software doesn't inherently offer zooming, you'll want something with optical zoom or in-camera digital. A solution would be to get a DSLR and set that up to work as your webcam. Some DSLRs can be plugged in directly others will require a capture card in between

 

[desertman]

In short, your answer to my question regarding an external webcam with zoom capability is "no" - right?

 

[casperes1996]

In short, your answer to my question regarding an external webcam with zoom capability is "no" - right?

I would say it is; "It can most certainly be done, but a plug-and-play solution; I haven't seen one of those"

 

[desertman]

I just found a camera that claims to be able to do this - the "Polycom Eagle Eye Mini." Polycom is apparently part of Plantronics.

I have posted a question on Amazon: "Does this camera come with software for macOS 10.15 that allows optical or digital zooming in applications like Zoom, Skype, etc?" Plantronics has answered previous questions. Let's see what they do here.