Are we over-criticizing the 720p webcam?

[Hammerd]

Hey I get it and yes a 1080p camera would be nice but I still think we are making a bigger deal about this than we need to be. Even the Razer Blade 15" and 17" laptops which are higher end PC gaming laptops only have 720p cameras so it isn't exactly fair to act like Apple is doing some kind of injustice here. Where is the constant public outrage over the Razer using a 720p camera?

The M1 macbook are presented as revolutionary products with cutting-edge technologies

 

[bsmr]

Apple does have Facetime.
FaceTime with and actual MacBook sticks that much... can use an old iPhone which is much better than any Apple Notebook device!

 

[bsmr]

The M1 macbook are presented as revolutionary products with cutting-edge technologies

??

 

[smetvid]

The M1 macbook are presented as revolutionary products with cutting-edge technologies

They are. There about 100 other features of a laptop other than the webcam. Plus with the advanced processing the 720p webcam has better exposure and color for a more pleasing image than most other laptops that use the video as is. Compared side by side with other laptops with a 720p camera the M1 Macs look a lot better and more pleasing and natural.

Resolution isn't as important as exposure, color and handling noise. Not calling the M1 revolutionary for the 100 of things it nailed because of just the webcam seems a bit silly to me.

 

[bsmr]

They are.. Compared side by side with other laptops with a 720p camera the M1 Macs look a lot better and more pleasing and natural.

For me my old 2013 MBP is much better than M1 MBP/MBA cam.

the M1 cam makes the picture look soft and washed out with loosing contrast.

even if more grainy I like the old Webcam much more.
Maybe will correct the ultra soft filter issue within next OS Update.

 

[AutomaticApple]

Not sure what you mean. What I meant is - people hate their computer cameras because the camera faces them as they work on their computer. Their phone can be in their pocket, on the table facing the ceiling, in another room, whatever. The computer camera can't. It's always there.

My point was that people have their iPhone camera/MacBook webcam pointed them for equally long periods of time (sometimes many hours).

The M1 macbook are presented as revolutionary products with cutting-edge technologies

They are a small part of something much bigger. A complete processor transition...

Apple does have Facetime.
FaceTime with and actual MacBook sticks that much... can use an old iPhone which is much better than any Apple Notebook device!

Maybe because the iPhone is much thicker?

They are. There about 100 other features of a laptop other than the webcam. Plus with the advanced processing the 720p webcam has better exposure and color for a more pleasing image than most other laptops that use the video as is. Compared side by side with other laptops with a 720p camera the M1 Macs look a lot better and more pleasing and natural.

Resolution isn't as important as exposure, color and handling noise. Not calling the M1 revolutionary for the 100 of things it nailed because of just the webcam seems a bit silly to me.

Exactly my point.

For me my old 2013 MBP is much better than M1 MBP/MBA cam.

the M1 cam makes the picture look soft and washed out with loosing contrast.

even if more grainy I like the old Webcam much more.
Maybe will correct the ultra soft filter issue within next OS Update.

Preferences are subjective.

 

[deevey]

edit

 

[MarkAtl]

You just don't know how technology works. Few in the 80s thought we could shrink a computer into a handheld device and get much better results either.

At some point it’s about light hitting sensor pixels and optics. Yes, the sensors themselves have improved greatly - and why iPhones today take great pictures - but those modules are still bigger than those in a FaceTime HD camera.

I don’t need to say more as the following post references the physics.

 

[AutomaticApple]

At some point it’s about light hitting sensor pixels and optics. Yes, the sensors themselves have improved greatly - and why iPhones today take great pictures - but those modules are still bigger than those in a FaceTime HD camera.

I don’t need to say more as the following post references the physics.

Yes, why don’t people understand that?

 

[MarkAtl]

Yes, why don’t people understand that?

otherwise why would you buy a large expensive telescope instead of a beginner one like this

when you can see through the same eyepieces?

well...

vs

All about the optics.

 

[lysingur]

You don't seem to know much more.

This person clearly knows their stuff. We should listen to them.

Please define "knows their stuff." He's clearly confusing (limitation of) physics with (technological) progress with the original post that I was quoting.

And the quote you used below isn't even his quote.

 

[lysingur]

Yes, why don’t people understand that?

And why don't some people understand that some other people want and need 1080p webcams?

 

[lysingur]

otherwise why would you buy a large expensive telescope instead of a beginner one like this

when you can see through the same eyepieces?

well...

vs

All about the optics.

You're comparing a telescope with an eyepiece now?

You know iPhone and iPad have 1080p camera in them, right?

And you know some laptops already have 1080p camera in them, right?

It's not about optics. It's about aesthetics and economics. For all the pretense about the ability to grasp basic physics, you seem woefully inept when it comes to comprehending the gist of simple arguments.

 

[lysingur]

Can you prove that you actually know what you're talking about? Actually, are you just trolling? ?

Why are we beating a dead horse? I guess you couldn't let the thread die and just had to continue the bickering...

Seriously, I don't want to argue about this anymore, and I hope that you agree with me. We should just come to a conclusion that satisfies both parties and end it there on a high note.

You know you can just leave, right?

 

[lysingur]

At some point it’s about light hitting sensor pixels and optics. Yes, the sensors themselves have improved greatly - and why iPhones today take great pictures - but those modules are still bigger than those in a FaceTime HD camera.

I don’t need to say more as the following post references the physics.

"You can’t just shrink this 1.5lb camera to a fraction of an ounce and expect the same results." → This is from your original post and it has nothing to do with optics. As far as I know, lb is a unit of mass. The latest iPhone is clearly superior to the camera you cited as an example in terms of image quality so your argument fails.

 

[AutomaticApple]

And why don't some people understand that some other people want and need 1080p webcams?

Yes, in whatever reality you live in.

You know you can just leave, right?

You could too, but you insist on having the last word.

 

[lysingur]

Yes, in whatever reality you live in.

You could too, but you insist on having the last word.

You should check who replied to whom first. But I guess in the reality you live in, it doesn't matter. ?

And I'm not the one who said he doesn't want to argue anymore. So having the last word is my prerogative.

 

[CheesePuff]

I seriously cannot believe this same discussion is still happening. Tens of millions of people every day use the same 720p webcam in calls all over the world and no one has an issue with it. Why do you demand 1080p or 4K quality in an entry level device? (yes the 2-port 13" MBP is entry level too)

 

[AutomaticApple]

You should check who replied to whom first. But I guess in the reality you live in, it doesn't matter. ?

And I'm not the one who said he doesn't want to argue anymore. So having the last word is my prerogative.

Please ignore me then. I encourage you to do so.

I seriously cannot believe this same discussion is still happening. Tens of millions of people every day use the same 720p webcam in calls all over the world and no one has an issue with it. Why do you demand 1080p or 4K quality in an entry level device? (yes the 2-port 13" MBP is entry level too)

I'm glad that I'm not the only one who is getting sick of this discussion.

 

[Haribokart]

I like cheese. Cheddar is nice.

 

[deevey]

You're comparing a telescope with an eyepiece now?

You know iPhone and iPad have 1080p camera in them, right?

And you know some laptops already have 1080p camera in them, right?

It's not about optics. It's about aesthetics and economics. For all the pretense about the ability to grasp basic physics, you seem woefully inept when it comes to comprehending the gist of simple arguments.

So, serious question: Would you be happy if the screen on a MacBook was as thick as an iPad ?

Because with current technology, that's really the only the option to get a decent image at that resolution.

And of the other laptops with 1080p camera they have one or more of the following issues

a) Bad decent performance without great lighting
b) Much thicker screens
c) Ridiculous camera placement

Outside of content creation or broadcast, I still fail to see the NEED for a 1080p camera on a thin and light laptop. And if its content creation or broadcast, a built in laptop webcam is the wrong tool for the job anyhow regardless of the resolution.

 

[lysingur]

Please ignore me then. I encourage you to do so.

I'm glad that I'm not the only one who is getting sick of this discussion.

You're trying very hard for people not to be able to ignore you, especially for someone "who is getting sick of this discussion."

 

[dadders6]

I just got a new iMac (21" catalina) When I facetimed my daughter, my impression of the imac camera was that it seemed 'softer' than my older (2011) 21" imac. It's certainly usable, but I was expecting it to be better. I have a zoom on Saturday, that will be another test. In photobooth it looked a little better.

 

[MarkAtl]

Please ignore me then. I encourage you to do so.

I'm glad that I'm not the only one who is getting sick of this discussion.

I just got this Avaya device today for web conferencing. 4K camera that digitally crops, but I’m waiting for someone to say it should fit into a MacBook Air. Because it’s all the same you know.

 

[AutomaticApple]

You're trying very hard for people not to be able to ignore you, especially for someone "who is getting sick of this discussion."

I cannot exactly prevent anybody from pressing this button, can I?