Customer Reviews

ADS Pyro 1394 WebCam - Web camera - color - FireWire

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Okay. Here's the most important part-- IT WORKS. that might sound simplistic, but I tried Orange Micro iBot2 (USB 2.0) and it sort of worked. And I have a Logitec Click Smart 310...it works but is USB 1.1 and is choppy.
This Pyro one was easier to install than the instructions suggested.
It worked first time out and keeps working. I've tried Yahoo! Messenger WebCam (hint: it didn't work at first until I switched to large view in camera or supercam preferences). I also use EyeBall Patio and it works great. AMCAP that came with it helps.
The color/brightness controls are a bit awkward, but it doesn't need too much fiddling.
I am running a Sony Vaio laptop, and the firewire(iLink) port is 4-pin, so I had to buy a powered hub, but it was great.
Yeah, the orange micro only sort of worked(I returned it)and their tech support was friendly, answered the phone right away, but ultimately was useless. The drivers for the orange camera kept disappearing, and they helped me with that, but they told me that they couldn't guarantee performance unless I used their PCMCIA USB 2.0 card. ( I tried Micro Innovations, Star Tech and Apricorn Cardbusses and got no results from the camera).
SO>>> this one worked. right away, it is fast and I wish I bought it first. I'm told that USB 2.0 compresses video and FireWire doesn't...and that supposedly help...I believe it.
Try this camera. I hope this review helps.

I am using a Mac G3 tower, OS 9.1. I tried the Pyro Webcam because I didn't want to pay the exhorbitant price of the iSight.

I am *very* satisfied with the Pyro. Even though I use dial-up, the people I have video-chatted with have told me the image is clear, in focus, and streams well. The only downside to the Pyro is a problem with my computer, not the webcam - I keep my tower on the floor so the built in microphone is too far away from me to capture my speech.

All in all, a solid product and a GREAT alternative to the iSight.

**I recently upgraded my system software to OSX (10.3, Panther) and the Pyro works very well with it. The webcam integrates wonderfully in iChat, AIM, and YIM. It doesn't work with MSNChat, but that's because MSNChat doesn't include the webcam use for Mac users! *grrrrrr*

I bought this with the desire to modify and use it as an infrared camera for an installation using Max/MSP/Jitter

It worked great for my purposes. I run max on a mac and with most usb cameras on this setup you cannot control the exposure of the image (it is auto) this firewire camera solved that problem for me.

2nd it's great for modifying into a infrared camera as the filter is separate from the sensor. You don't even have to take out any bolts to reach the filter - just turn the grey focusing ring counter clockwise until it comes off - the cap on the very end can pop off and you can replace the filter to suit your purposes (in my case I replaced it with unexposed, developed slide film to filter out visible light).

This is a pretty specialized review..but I hope that it might help someone!

The very first problem with this cam is that the drivers are not XP tested. You will get a warning when installing. In fact, the drivers cause my PC to crash frequently....and upon rebooting the cam is always recognized as new hardware and XP wants to re-install it and a mystery audio device. I got tired of rebooting and removed the offending hardware & software....but still get nag panels to register the product. Their website offered no update or workaround for XP customers.