Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Best Skype mic/camera for Mac Pro?

B

bengle3rt

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 11, 2008
45
0
Unfortunately I do not have a beautiful Apple monitor with a built-in iSight camera and microphone. Right now I take Skype calls on my iPad while working on my Mac Pro, but that's silly and it's hard to share files from the computer etc.

I work remotely for a lot of different clients so I spend a good chunk of my day on Skype. What would you guys recommend as far as USB/FW microphone and camera? Audio quality is important, video not so much (although good low-light performance is desirable). I've heard good things about this Polycom unit, but for that kind of money I'd love if it had a camera as well.

And of course, my inner Apple nerd is just dying to pick up an old Firewire iSight on eBay. But I have no idea whether those actually sound good.
 
I'm pretty happy with my Logitech C510. It's not terribly expensive and both video and audio are good. The software that comes with it doesn't work on Macs, but I don't think there's any decently recent/good webcam whose software works on Macs.
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
Yes, just plug it in and it works with Skype, PhotoBooth and everything else I've tried.
 
ergdegdeg said:
Yes, just plug it in and it works with Skype, PhotoBooth and everything else I've tried.
Click to expand...

Awesome. I'll check it out.

Can anyone comment on the performance of the old firewire iSights? I see a few different model numbers on eBay - I assume they improved the resolution at some point? Is there a definitive list of which model numbers have which features?
 
To my knowledge Apple never increased resolution on the external (FireWire) iSights, which means they're all 640x480. Modern webcams from other brands reach (e.g. Autofocus) or even outperform the old iSights e.g. in terms of low-lighting performance or resolution.

As USB-Cams are now natively supported by Apple, there simply is no need for an iSight anymore, except if your machine has only USB 1.1 and/or a weak CPU (e.g. Cube).

Personally I have very good experiences with a Logitech webcam, too - in my case I'm satisfied with the Logitech Pro 9000.

Edit: The Polycom CX-100 you referenced is indeed a very good unit (from personal experience), but it obviously has no cam. You could still buy this and please your inner Apple nerd by getting an old iSight in addition, as those are still acceptably good units and your focus is on audio anyway...
 
szolr said:
If you can afford a Mac Pro, shouldn't an Apple Thunderbolt Display be hardly more of a dent in your wallet?
Click to expand...

Mac Pros start at $2500. a Cinema Display is $1000. how is that hardly a dent? and spending $1000 for a webcam and mic is rather stupid.
 
Thanks for the tips, everyone.

szolr said:
If you can afford a Mac Pro, shouldn't an Apple Thunderbolt Display be hardly more of a dent in your wallet?
Click to expand...

I am actually thinking about 30" ACDs - I don't do well on glossy and like the design of the older monitors better. Sadly it doesn't look like Thunderbolt support is coming to my Mac Pro by way of an expansion card, either...

Those 30s don't have a built in camera or mic to my knowledge, so whatever I get now will remain in use once they arrive...
 
I use a Logitech C910 for both Skype and FaceTime in Lion and it works very well, like the other folks mentioned it's plug and play even though there are drivers available for Leopard though their website.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back