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Are we over-criticizing the 720p webcam?
- Thread starter ian87w
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I guess I'll start: they should put a 4K camera up there. Preferably with the other Face ID components
I have a 1080p external camera that stands out in quality every time I Zoom with work.
The reason it can do that is it’s 4x as thick as a laptop lid, let alone a MacBook lid.
What people seem to want on this forum, is a super grainy camera because you just HAVE to have more pixels crammed together so they can feel better about a spec while getting a worse outcome.
You can’t even fit an iPhone camera module in this screen. But hey, it’s the NUMBER of pixels that dictates picture quality right? ?
You should be able to inversely correlate the extent of complaining based on pixel count and the understanding of f-stop.
i said this but got downvoted to hell in Reddit but if Apple put in a 1080p webcam but made inferior specs on a Macbook, people would go crazy over it.
I mean, people DO want 1080p webcams that shows their pores in a video conference over anything, right?
I mean, people DO want 1080p webcams that shows their pores in a video conference over anything, right?
Those of us who really don't care tend not to be nearly as vocal as those who do.
But this is what I was pointing out on my original post, that it seems that we judged the webcam too quickly. The video showed how it does look better than the competitor. The M1 has basically the iPhone’s ISP in it, and seems like it does a great job.
I have an external webcam that is not 720p and the quality is much better in all lighting conditions. I agree, Apple is doing some software optimization to the video, but there is still no excuse for Apple to be putting a 720p webcam on an M1 machine.
Maybe? I’m a computer guy, I don’t know a damn thing about cameras themselves (using them, I understand how a digital camera works, but not how to use them “properly”).
I’m very devoid of any artistic ability, but if you want your computer to work I’m you’re guy.
The low-light before is excellent on Zoom, even on my old iMacs. With the M1MBA, it's stellar. The office lighting is great (clinical white LED lights in the office).
Is your external Webcam as thin as a laptop lid? Physics and technology are not magic.
Of course not. But that isn't the point. There are many Windows laptops that have better webcam built-in with exactly those physics and technology you are pointing out. It is about the quality of the video which frankly you are Ok with, but some of us are not. And, nothing wrong about it. I think we need to acknowledge that Apple could have done better and move on.Is your external Webcam as thin as a laptop lid? Physics and technology are not magic.
No. At £900 for a new M1MBA. I like that they used to the camera they did. I wouldn't pay extra for a better camera.
I am happy with a 8/7/8/256/720p machine at that PP.
Well, that’s the thing I posted originally, the actual comparison with a well loved Windows laptop. I think we over-criticizing the webcam of the new MacBooks. Do watch the video.
Your eye's are far superior to anything Apple can make as a webcam so why are people worried about the high definition of a 1080p webcam for video conference calls? if you had a normal face to face meeting, you'd see everything in fine detail anyway so why the excuses about a 1080p webcam?.
Or is it a case that people are trying to find ways to defend Apple using a 720p webcam in their machines rather than a 1080p one by saying they don't want a 1080p webcam because it will show too much detail in conference calls. Pretty pathetic excuse if you ask me.
Or is it a case that people are trying to find ways to defend Apple using a 720p webcam in their machines rather than a 1080p one by saying they don't want a 1080p webcam because it will show too much detail in conference calls. Pretty pathetic excuse if you ask me.
I was happy with running my life from my Lenovo webcam. After reading MacRumors I checked resolution. It’s 720p. Now I’m outraged. /s
But really, this is probably true for most people. They don’t know and don’t care.
But really, this is probably true for most people. They don’t know and don’t care.
720p in 2020 is a disaster and a classic example of Apple dragging down the specs so they can bump them in a future model. There's zero excuse for such a low res webcam in these new models and 'it looks OK' doesn't cut it.
On paper, "720p" seems bad, but it really isn't. There is a giant mob on this forum that refuses to accept the fact that you cannot stuff a 1080p webcam into an extremely thin lid, especially compared to some Windows laptops. Resolution isn't everything.
Some people just refuse to not be mad, otherwise they will not fit in with the crowd. Getting angry over a spec sheet is not a way to spend your time well. You don't need to be mad for the sake of being mad. I find it bizarre that people insist on complaining, but then again, how else will they keep themselves occupied during the pandemic?
Also, who even cares about the resolution as long as it looks adequate for video calls? The average person could care less. In video calls, the crazy amount of compression and bandwidth makes resolution largely irrelevant.
Some people just refuse to not be mad, otherwise they will not fit in with the crowd. Getting angry over a spec sheet is not a way to spend your time well. You don't need to be mad for the sake of being mad. I find it bizarre that people insist on complaining, but then again, how else will they keep themselves occupied during the pandemic?
Also, who even cares about the resolution as long as it looks adequate for video calls? The average person could care less. In video calls, the crazy amount of compression and bandwidth makes resolution largely irrelevant.
hmmmmm i sure would like an 8k camera on a macbook ???
doesn't matter if almost all video chat apps run on 720p i need a super duper high quality hyper realistic camera to feel better about myself /s
doesn't matter if almost all video chat apps run on 720p i need a super duper high quality hyper realistic camera to feel better about myself /s
Sadly the Face ID components would be too thick. Can you imagine a MacBook with a camera bump (front or back)?I guess I'll start: they should put a 4K camera up there. Preferably with the other Face ID components
That said, I do wish when the upgraded the 5K iMac's camera this year they just gave it the whole FaceId camera module that the phone and iPad Pro use, especially since the iMac also lacks TouchId. I suspect something like that might come on the next refresh when it evolves to use whatever follows the M1+.
I for one couldn’t care less. Might even prefer lower res for video calls so it doesn’t get ”too” real. Really happy I don’t have to pay for a camera I wouldn’t need.
Exactly right. Apple doesn’t just do things to upset us, nor, do they do things on a whim. They’ve likely done a/b tests using every service with different resolutions, and if the results were not strong, chose to wait.
They don’t often change things to stay current. They change things when they can make an impact.
Maybe in a few years...
Theyre able to fit a 1080p webcam in the iMac and iMac Pro, but not the MacBooks due to their thin lids.