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Webcam for use with mac mini? [Facetime, Skype, ...] [MERGED]
- Thread starter gogel-geek
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Just about any of them will work fine. My normal webcam is attached, it did require a FW400-800 adapter to work on the 2012 mini, and it works great - probably not the best choice if you don't already have one laying around though
That iSight cam takes me back... I sold mine a few years ago for what I paid for it. For a while they were commanding a premium price on eBay; if I remember correctly they were selling for a lot more than the original cost.
I got mine to work with my 2012 Mini, but unfortunately only if it's the only thing on the FW port. I have a FW external drive I use for Time Machine backups and if I plug the iSight into the drive's port, it's not recognized by the Mini.
Logitech lists the following as mac compatible :
C910, C615, C510, C310, C270. I found several vendors selling C615 for around $40, Mine shipped out yesterday. So I can update in a few days, and let you know. It seemed like a good camera for the price.
That's a bummer! On the other hand, the original iSight is rather outdated webcam technology. I bet that there is someone out there willing to buy it for what you paid for it. Then you can replace it with a Logitech or similar webcam that doesn't use the Firewire port.
With USB3.0 in the new Mini, this is the only FireWire accessory I still use. I like the nostalgia of it
and it's still a darned decent webcam.
Actually the prices on iSight's on eBay have fallen quite a bit in the past couple of years. It's not uncommon to find them for $30 shipped in the U.S. There was another thread where several of us talked about that recently.
I guess it's been a while since I looked at the prices on eBay... Like around four years now that I think about it. It makes sense that prices would drop for the original iSight camera with so many alternatives and Firewire slowly disappearing from Macs.
I wouldn't recommend it but the faceVsion N1 HD webcam works with Mountain Lion. I originally bought it when I was running Snow Leopard and it worked perfectly. When I upgraded to Lion, it stopped working altogether. It is mostly working again with ML.
I bought a Logitech C615 HD....works great. I'll keep the iSight to go with my G4 iMac (lampshade)
I bought a Logitech C615 HD....works great. I'll keep the iSight to go with my G4 iMac (lampshade)
That G4 iMac is the most ergonomic Mac ever designed. It's a real pity the company replaced it with the current ergonomic disaster...
It's a funny looking thing but Gawd the display adjustment options are wonderful.
Apple's wholesale switch to flash over function has been a real bummer for me. I use my Macs everyday for work and I value my health over brushed aluminum...
The 2006 iMac I recently replaced with a Mini will be my last iMac. My 24" NEC2490WUXi2 display isn't beautiful but it is a thing of beauty to me. It has a matte anti-glare display with excellent hardware adjustments that I can use all day long without eyestrain. And I really appreciate being able to adjust its height to within 3" of the desktop. (Some NEC displays can be lowered so they almost touch the desk; the 2490WUXi2 was designed to be used with an optional media bar that attaches to the bottom of the monitor.)
Agreed. Adjustment issues can be alleviated with the use of stands or dedicated arms like I have with my ATD, but it stands to be noted that these options can be quite expensive and shouldn't have to be needed in the first damn place.
My Logitech C615 arrived today, plugged it in and works fine with Skype, Facetime. For $40.00 it'll be perfect for my needs.
Just about any of them will work fine. My normal webcam is attached, it did require a FW400-800 adapter to work on the 2012 mini, and it works great - probably not the best choice if you don't already have one laying around though
Can you please tell me if you are using mountain lion 10.8.2 with your old isight. i have the same one but i don't want to waste money on a firewire 400 to 800 adapter if it won't work.
thanks
My iSight produced video on my Mac mini but I couldn't get any audio. I still haven't solved this - the iSight works great on an old 10.4 Mini.
I picked up the cheapest Microsoft LifeCam "Model 1407" (I think it's a "VX-800 USB connect") which works OK, decent microphone audio and average quality pictures. The higher spec models of Microsoft's LifeCam require many drivers with increasing layers of complexity that aren't supported in 10.8.x... whilst MS's cheapest cam works ok.
my FW400 to FW800 adapter was only around $5, so maybe not a waste of money, and I might get my iSight to work..?
To be honest I'd never tried the mic in the iSight - I have a USB headset that I use for FaceTime or anything else requiring my voice. But I did just try it, recorded a little clip in iMovie and it sounds OK.