How do you feel about the webcam on Studio Display?

[Arctic Moose]

The image noise is truly appalling.

The noise is terrible, but for me it is severely exacerbated by the attempted mitigation. I would much rather have the noise without the smoothing.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

This is highly frustrating. As others are pointing out, Apple’s own iMacs have good built-in webcams. Slap the same one in the Studio Display and this would be a complete non-issue. As is, most of us are going to need to plunk external webcams on top of the otherwise beautiful Studio Dusplay.

But this is the point; it is the same camera hardware. The issue is that that the size of the display is amplifying the relative small size of the sensor. Apple should have used a larger camera module, but keep in mind that if you are on the receiving end of a video call from a Studio Display and you're using a notebook/iPad, the definition will improve dramatically because you're viewing it on a smaller display.

Therefore I believe a greater test is to actually view the camera output on a device other than the Studio Display, since you're not going to be looking at yourself at a full 27" during a video call.

 

[coffeym]

But this is the point; it is the same camera hardware. The issue is that that the size of the display is amplifying the relative small size of the sensor. Apple should have used a larger camera module, but keep in mind that if you are on the receiving end of a video call from a Studio Display and you're using a notebook/iPad, the definition will improve dramatically because you're viewing it on a smaller display.

Therefore I believe a greater test is to actually view the camera output on a device other than the Studio Display, since you're not going to be looking at yourself at a full 27" during a video call.

I do agree there's something to the point you make around viewing yourself stretched up to 5K versus looking at an image on an iPad. That said, I'm pretty sure the cameras in the 24" iMac and Studio Display are different hardware. Do you know this not to be the case?

 

[blen]

Therefore I believe a greater test is to actually view the camera output on a device other than the Studio Display, since you're not going to be looking at yourself at a full 27" during a video call.

This really has nothing to do with it. I tested iMac and Studio Display side by side with both Photo Booth and FaceTime, relative size windows with the same screen PPI.

And it’s not the same hardware as the iMac. It does really come down to a full 1080p image on iMac vs. what can be very intense cropping of the 12MP ultra wide on Studio Display.

I don’t understand this design decision. I imagine the vast majority of users for a product at this price point will be individual using the webcams, not groups…

 

[bluespark]

But this is the point; it is the same camera hardware. The issue is that that the size of the display is amplifying the relative small size of the sensor. Apple should have used a larger camera module, but keep in mind that if you are on the receiving end of a video call from a Studio Display and you're using a notebook/iPad, the definition will improve dramatically because you're viewing it on a smaller display.

Therefore I believe a greater test is to actually view the camera output on a device other than the Studio Display, since you're not going to be looking at yourself at a full 27" during a video call.

I'm pretty sure this is not correct. It's a wide-angle camera, whereas the one in the outgoing 5k iMac (which had the same 27" of display size) was not. Wide-angle makes sense for Center Stage (e.g., the whole family crowds in the room to say hello to grandma) but effectively is software cropped when used by a single person sitting in front of the screen (and therefore highly sub-optimal for desktop videoconferencing (e.g., a Zoom call for work)).

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

I'm pretty sure this is not correct. It's a wide-angle camera, whereas the one in the outgoing 5k iMac (which had the same 27" of display size) was not. Wide-angle makes sense for Center Stage (e.g., the whole family crowds in the room to say hello to grandma) but effectively is software cropped when used by a single person sitting in front of the screen (and therefore highly sub-optimal for desktop videoconferencing (e.g., a Zoom call for work)).

Apologies, I was getting mixed up with the iPad's Centre Stage cam.

 

[bluespark]

Apologies, I was getting mixed up with the iPad's Centre Stage cam.

Ah, that makes sense, and this does seem to have very similar properties to the iPad camera (which works on the iPad because of the different typical focal length involved). Frankly, I think Apple at this point should quietly revise its camera hardware in the Studio Display to something more optimized to normal desktop use.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Ah, that makes sense, and this does seem to have very similar properties to the iPad camera (which works on the iPad because of the different typical focal length involved). Frankly, I think Apple at this point should quietly revise its camera hardware in the Studio Display to something more optimized to normal desktop use.

Agreed. I get the impression that Centre Stage is more of a consumer orientated feature where you have family/friends and people moving around more spontaneously. Not to suggest that professionals don't behave this way, but if I were to hold a video call with a client or colleague then I'd take narrower-but-higher quality image over a cropped one that tracks me shifting in my seat any day.

 

[southerndoc]

Agreed. I get the impression that Centre Stage is more of a consumer orientated feature where you have family/friends and people moving around more spontaneously. Not to suggest that professionals don't behave this way, but if I were to hold a video call with a client or colleague then I'd take narrower-but-higher quality image over a cropped one that tracks me shifting in my seat any day.

I don't understand why Apple doesn't get this.

Create an app that will allow us to manually adjust settings (zoom, vertical/horizontal adjustment, etc.).

 

[apple fan23]

I noticed a lot of 'floating' the other day in a zoom call - the camera was slightly moving from left to right all the time even though I was sitting relatively still. Was wondering if others would find that annoying. But, as mentioned, if you turn off centre stage, the camera aims straight ahead and your face will be somewhere at the bottom of the screen. Only when you angle the screen at an insane angle (making it hard to see the screen) are you in the middle. It ain't great.
But I don't mind the quality and prefer not to have a cable so will keep it on for now. If it drives me mad I'll grab my Logitech again, but I'd also have to get a USB adapter - more cables...