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![[F]](/Images/i7/site.gif) TidBITS  TidBITS TidBITS Talk
Alternatives to iSight?![[Stanger, Nigel]](/webx/?31@@30544674@2) Nigel Stanger (apparently) - 02:14pm Oct 11, 2007 PSTvia email - Dunedin, New ZealandI was rather annoyed to discover yesterday that after finally deciding it
was time to buy an iSight like I'd been planning for ages (and which I now
have a use for), Apple discontinued them last December! I can't quite fathom
that decision as they were light years ahead of most of the competition, but
that's all pretty much moot. What I need to do now is find a near-enough
equivalent that performs much the same as the iSight did.
I've narrowed it down to three options, and I'm wondering if anyone on the
list has used any of these and has an opinion on them:
Unibrain's Fire-i  $119
< http://www.unibrain.com/Products/VisionImg/Fire_i_DC.htm>
Harmonic Inversion's iSweet $140
< http://www.smalldog.com/product/34405>
GlobalMedia's StealthFire $79.95
< http://store.globalmedia.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Cod
e=GM051395&Category_Code=Web-Cameras&Product_Count=2>
None of them has a microphone like the iSight, but I'm intending to use it
as a camera initially (with Delicious Library to scan barcodes) rather than
for conferencing. I can always buy a headset later if need be. They're
pretty much a wash on video features. The Fire-i is nice in that it has two
FireWire ports, whereas the StealthFire is cheap :) I don't know much about
the iSweet, the main company web site appears to be in Japanese with no
obvious English version.
Thanks!
Any recommendations or alternative suggestions welcome. Note that Delicious
Library states that it supports "FireWire DV cameras", so I think that
pretty much rules out USB devices; certainly the one I borrowed last night
wasn't recognised. Basically if it works with iChat and iMovie, then it'll
probably work with DL. I suppose I could just go and buy a DV camera, but
they're a bit more expensive :)
--
Nigel Stanger, Dunedin, NEW ZEALAND.
http://xri.net/=nigel.stanger
johnbaxterlists (apparently)
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Oct 12, 2007 5:21 am
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Re: Alternatives to iSight?
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Randy B. Singer (apparently)
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Oct 12, 2007 6:13 am
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via email - Co-Author: The Macintosh Bible (4th, 5th, and 6th editions) |
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Re: Alternatives to iSight?
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dr (apparently)
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Oct 12, 2007 6:13 am
(#3 Total: 16)
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Re: Alternatives to iSight?
Nigel Stanger wrote:
> I was rather annoyed to discover yesterday that after finally deciding it
> was time to buy an iSight like I'd been planning for ages (and which I now
> have a use for), Apple discontinued them last December! I can't quite fathom
> that decision as they were light years ahead of most of the competition, but
> that's all pretty much moot.
Blame or applaud EU environmental regulations for the demise of many electronic devices. Had to do with lead and other heavy metals and chemicals that were banned. I think this was the fate of the iSight. It wasn't worth a re-design. The Panasonic KX-TDxxxx phone system which many of us had user installed was a digital PBX which met this fate.
David Ross
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fnjaf (apparently)
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Oct 14, 2007 3:40 am
(#4 Total: 16)
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Re: Alternatives to iSight?
Nigel-
I was also frustrated to learn of the discontinuation of the iSight. I
understand it's because it has a significant amount of lead in it and
Apple is working hard to make themselves the most
environmentally-friendly computer company. That and all the new Apple
laptops and iMacs have built-in cameras.
My suggestion would be to look for an inexpensive DV camcorder with a
firewire out. You get a mic and, best of all, you have a camera to
record your vacation videos with.
Doing a quick search for "most inexpensive DV camcorder" on Google led
me to several vendors who had refurbished DV camcorders in the $150
range. Just make sure that it has a Firewire port, as some cheap DV cams
don't.
Jeff
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Nigel Stanger (apparently)
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Oct 16, 2007 3:27 am
(#5 Total: 16)
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via email - Dunedin, New Zealand |
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Re: Alternatives to iSight?
On 13/10/2007 2:13 AM, "Randy B. Singer" <randy macattorney.com> spake thus:
> Macam (free)
> driver for USB webcams on Mac OS X. It allows hundreds of USB webcams
> to be used
I just learned about USB Video Class (UVC) cameras over the weekend, which
unlike earlier USB cameras use a standard protocol and thus can have
built-in drivers on all OSes. (This is similar to the state of affairs with
FireWire cameras, which use a standard protocol called IIDC, I think.) I
wonder if a UVC camera would work? I saw a reference on a forum somewhere
about using a recent Logitech webcam as a replacement.
On 14/10/2007 11:40 PM, "Jeff Fay" <fnjaf uaf.edu> spake thus:
> My suggestion would be to look for an inexpensive DV camcorder with a
> firewire out.
On the other hand, I'd already begun to think that this might be a better
option overall, as I've also been vaguely thinking of getting a helmet cam
for cycling, and this would enable me to record the results :) The trick
would be to find one that isn't too big and heavy.
I looked at Flash-based and HDD camcorders, but they were either too
expensive or didn't have FireWire (i.Link) output :( The only
consumer-grade one I found that had FireWire was a recent JVC HDD camera,
and that was in the docking station, not the camera. Everyone else seems to
be USB 2.
--
Nigel Stanger, Dunedin, NEW ZEALAND.
http://xri.net/=nigel.stanger
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barry.wainwright (apparently)
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Oct 16, 2007 3:33 am
(#6 Total: 16)
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Re: Alternatives to iSight?
On 14/10/2007 11:40, "Jeff Fay" <fnjaf uaf.edu> wrote:
> I understand it's because it has a significant amount of lead in it
I thought it was Cadmium.
--
Barry
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odysseus
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Oct 16, 2007 3:33 am
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Re: Alternatives to iSight?
There has been extensive discussion of this topic on Macintouch, and usually Logitech webcams are mentioned, but most recently someone recommended something new: the Creative Live! Cam Optia AF, available on amazon.com. It appears to have most of the features of the iSight, such as autofocus and a built-in microphone.
Just remember that there really aren't any webcams available that are as good overall as the iSight.
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jeffreym205 (apparently)
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Oct 17, 2007 5:26 am
(#8 Total: 16)
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Re: Alternatives to iSight?
On Oct 11, 2007, at 4:14 PM, Nigel Stanger wrote:
> Any recommendations or alternative suggestions welcome. Note that
> Delicious
> Library states that it supports "FireWire DV cameras", so I think that
> pretty much rules out USB devices; certainly the one I borrowed
> last night
> wasn't recognised. Basically if it works with iChat and iMovie,
> then it'll
> probably work with DL. I suppose I could just go and buy a DV
> camera, but
> they're a bit more expensive :)
I routinely connect with my G5 Powermac with iSight to my nephew who
uses a Mac Mini (original) with a Logitech Quickcam Communicate STX
and iChatUSBCam from ecamm.com. We have used iChat and it works with
the Logitech's mic as well, so he did not need a USB mic. We've also
tested it with Yahoo and Skype.
Jeffrey
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depower872 (apparently)
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Oct 17, 2007 5:34 am
(#9 Total: 16)
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Re: Alternatives to iSight?
On Oct 16, 2007, at 3:27 AM, Nigel Stanger wrote:
> I looked at Flash-based and HDD camcorders, but they were either too
> expensive or didn't have FireWire (i.Link) output :( The only
> consumer-grade one I found that had FireWire was a recent JVC HDD
> camera, and that was in the docking station, not the camera. Everyone else
> seems to be USB 2.
Nigel: I have had for several years a Canon ZR10 Mini-DV camcorder which I have found excellent. I have used it as a substitute for iSight, although long enough ago that I do not remember the exact settings. The ZR10 has both Firewire and A/V in/out ports which I have found useful. My original purchase was a different brand that did not have the A/V port, so I traded it in for the ZR10.
Don Power
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michael.macaskill
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Oct 17, 2007 5:34 am
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Re: Alternatives to iSight?
Returning to the original post, the iSight cameras built in to MacBooks/iMacs actually run off the internal USB bus rather than Firewire, so perhaps external USB webcams are more of an option now for any software that is able to access the built-in iSight.
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dr (apparently)
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Oct 20, 2007 5:47 am
(#11 Total: 16)
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Re: Alternatives to iSight?
odysseus wrote:
> There has been extensive discussion of this topic on Macintouch, and
> usually Logitech webcams are mentioned, but most recently someone
> recommended something new: the Creative Live! Cam Optia AF, available
> on amazon.com. It appears to have most of the features of the iSight,
> such as autofocus and a built-in microphone.
>
> Just remember that there really aren't any webcams available that are
> as good overall as the iSight.
Why not get a low end camcorder such as the Canon units. I have a Canon ZR500 connected via firewire as we speak. Auto focus with a wide range of optical zoom. Plus you get a camcorder in the deal.
The current ZR800 line can be had for $250 or less. I got my ZR500 for $200 on sale last year. Plus <onecall.com> was selling the ZR500 "renewed" for $135 recently. I almost bought one just to have a spare and a chat camera.
David
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odysseus
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Oct 23, 2007 5:51 am
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Re: Alternatives to iSight?
They are indeed, since Mac OS X 10.4.9. Just make sure that the USB webcam that you purchase is labeled as "UVC" (USB video cam) compatible.
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j-beda (apparently)
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Oct 25, 2007 4:26 am
(#13 Total: 16)
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Re: Alternatives to iSight?
At 3:27 AM -0700 10/16/07, Nigel Stanger wrote:
>On the other hand, I'd already begun to think that this might be a better
>option overall, as I've also been vaguely thinking of getting a helmet cam
>for cycling, and this would enable me to record the results :) The trick
>would be to find one that isn't too big and heavy.
This one looks nifty:
< http://www.thinkgeek.com/electronics/video/980e/>
--
* Johann Beda - contact link: < http://xri.net/=j-beda> *
* Johann's MostlyMac Computer Consulting - < http://mmcc.beda.ca/> *
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Nigel Stanger (apparently)
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Oct 25, 2007 4:32 am
(#14 Total: 16)
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via email - Dunedin, New Zealand |
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Re: Alternatives to iSight?
On 25/10/2007 2:58 AM, "Johann Beda" <st-tidbits.com beda.ca> spake thus:
> This one looks nifty:
> < http://www.thinkgeek.com/electronics/video/980e/>
Ooo, nice, although the helmet mount looks a bit ugly and sticks out quite a
lot. Most of the ones I've seen have been much lower profile. Then again,
none of them were self-contained like this one is (i.e., separate recording
device required) and most were more expensive. I'm sure you could improvise
a more compact mounting system.
Hmm, NTSC only. Bummer :(
--
Nigel Stanger, Dunedin, NEW ZEALAND.
http://xri.net/=nigel.stanger
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schinder (apparently)
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Oct 26, 2007 2:42 am
(#15 Total: 16)
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Re: Alternatives to iSight?
Johann Beda wrote:
> At 3:27 AM -0700 10/16/07, Nigel Stanger wrote:
>> On the other hand, I'd already begun to think that this might be a better
>> option overall, as I've also been vaguely thinking of getting a helmet cam
>> for cycling, and this would enable me to record the results :) The trick
>> would be to find one that isn't too big and heavy.
>
> This one looks nifty:
> < http://www.thinkgeek.com/electronics/video/980e/>
I don't know. If I'm "riding your bike through a path in the woods"
here in central Pennsylvania, which I do often, I can be dead certain
that a low lying tree branch will take that camera right off the top of
my helmet :-) A nice little camera that could fit in an air vent would
be more to my liking.
--
Paul Schinder
schinder pobox.com
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Nigel Stanger (apparently)
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Oct 26, 2007 2:54 am
(#16 Total: 16)
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via email - Dunedin, New Zealand |
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Re: Alternatives to iSight?
On 26/10/2007 12:32 AM, "Nigel Stanger" <NStanger infoscience.otago.ac.nz>
spake thus:
> Hmm, NTSC only. Bummer :(
Hmm, also appears to have no microphone. Double bummer :( :(
--
Nigel Stanger, Dunedin, NEW ZEALAND.
http://xri.net/=nigel.stanger
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TidBITS TidBITS TidBITS Talk Alternatives to iSight?
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