Webcams on Mac, which one to buy?

Which webcams work on a Mac? I took a walk into a local Target store and bought 6 models: Logitech Quickcam for Notebooks, Webcam C120, Webcam C200, Webcam C250 and the Microsoft LifeCam VX-700 and VX-5000 models. I also tried them on iBook G3, iBook G4, and on an Apple iMac. I also tried them under Tiger, Leopard, and Snow Leopard. I also test under 3 lighting conditions too. For comparison, I showed video samples from Apple's external FireWire iSight camera as well as an internal iSight camera on an iMac.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Logitech
• Webcam
• C200
• C120
• C250
• Microsoft
• Lifecam
• VX-700
• VX-5000
• USB
• 2.0

[BakuganHQ1998]

I still use ibookG4 that my mom purchased from you, My mom bought Microsoft LifeCam VX-5000 for me, and now I can use photo booth. Is there any way to add more effect? I download one free one, and it did not work. Do you use photo booth to record your video?

[adric22]

@BakuganHQ1998 - No, I use Quicktime player to record the video. Photobooth limits the resolution and reverses the image, which irritates me.

[LucasSparksMusic]

which one work for the ibook g3? Also which one do you most recommend?

[adric22]

@LucasSparksMusic - Due to the G3's older USB ports none of the cameras I've ever tested will work. However, the firewire iSight camera will work just fine.

[theinvaders100]

does the c250 work on some of the older mac minis?

[adric22]

@theinvaders100 - If it is running Leopard, most likely.

[BLAMECHUCKNORRIS]

Whats a good cam for a macmini (late 2009) running on snow leopard. I was thinking of getting the Logitech HD Webcam C270. Does this work for mac?

[BakuganHQ1998]

@adric22 I did not know Quicktime player record videos. Does it have to be Pro?

[sierboy]

@adric22 will the logitech c910 work on  a ibook g4 tiger?

[nicdem25]

If your isight camera on your iMac is 1.3 megapixels. Why do the new iMacs with 0.9 megapixel cameras shoot in 720p HD and the old ones don't?

[JoeyJoelBand]

@JamieBoydRatcliff The 910 Logitech software is supporting ONLY the Intell platform for MAC. I tested a number of cams and systems. On Windows the 910 is very good - as long as the software works. I spent about 30 hrs with Logitech on technical issues. What I found, is what I knew from my tests. The cams are good, the software tends to be very unstable, ,especially on cam sites. Also, true voice is a joke. High compression, so you can't record music. But, turn it off, and it 's good.

[Lachlant1984]

Does the iSight FireWire cameral use an analogue audio connection to the computer, or does it transmit the audio over the FireWire connection? What about the USB cameras with microphones? Do they have analogue audio cables? This could be a problem on a Mac because the audio inputs are line level and not Microphone level as I understand it, but of course I may be wrong.