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Anything wrong with this?.

kman wrote:

Anything wrong with this?.

If you are going to go with a DV camera I would recommend one that has the option of attaching an external light source. The quality of video increases dramatically when you have a light source pointed at the subject (in this case you), especially since many people have their computers located in areas without great lighting.

Like some of the other here, before buying my MacBook Pro, I used to use my Sony Digital 8 camcorder with the external light for iChat. It worked great aside from the fact that it usually sat on the side of my screen so I had to turn to face the person and turn back to see them. The video quality was incredible though.

The other problem you are going to have is not knowing if the camera will work over Firewire, unless you know someone that has used it. Unfortunately, it seems that not all DV cams work, even those with Firewire. As I mentioned earlier, my sister has a DV cam from Panasonic with Firewire and USB and it will not work with iChat via Firewire.

Later, Frank

knobtwirler wrote:

kman wrote:

Anything wrong with this?.

I looked at about 4 of those canon ZR cameras, and they are all USB. I don't know if this will work with iChat.

I haven't looked at all ZRs but the one he pointed to had Firewire: http://www.crutchfield.com/S-49KTQROgfs … 0zr500#Tab

Frank

frankly wrote:

knobtwirler wrote:

kman wrote:

Anything wrong with this?.

I looked at about 4 of those canon ZR cameras, and they are all USB. I don't know if this will work with iChat.

I haven't looked at all ZRs but the one he pointed to had Firewire: http://www.crutchfield.com/S-49KTQROgfs … 0zr500#Tab

Frank

Cool! Apple website has it for $219. Much better deal than an iSight! It didn't list connectivity so I assumed it was not worth noting. Turns out it's just old!

CrashingtehWarehouse wrote:

You would think that since apple is still selling iSight accessories, that they'll be bringing back the actual webcam.

That's what weirded me out about the removal of it, wondering if it was just bad timing, leaving a gap in there that will be filled soon. Did they really deplete all of their iSight stock?

I don't care about DV Cams with FW hook-ups and neither would my dad. I specifically am looking at Webcam alternatives that are similarly priced to the iSight and just as good. Webcams are simple, I want to keep it that way.

Why is iSight's FW so much a premium over USB cams?

i did miss that one. thanks.

hmm i just rememberd. My dad's laptop is the original titanium 400mhz from 2001. I don't know if it's USB is 2.0 or not. He does have a G5 iMac at work though, and that's where his high-speed interweb is. Perhaps they'll just have to conference from there.

frankly wrote:

personified8 wrote:

I don't care about DV Cams with FW hook-ups and neither would my dad. I specifically am looking at Webcam alternatives that are similarly priced to the iSight and just as good. Webcams are simple, I want to keep it that way.

Why is iSight's FW so much a premium over USB cams?

Perhaps you missed it earlier when I said:

Found this alternative. Looks darn good and inexpensive. I'd love to hear from someone that has tried this because I am thinking about picking one up.

http://www.ecamm.com/mac/imagewebcam/faq.html

Frank

Since it doesn't have a mic and looks like a Fisher Price toy, I'd like to see a video capture of how it works. I'd be more interested in getting a patch that allows you to use ANY USB camera with iChat.

here's another vote for iChatUSBCam from ecamm